If you are looking for a way to improve your smile, porcelain veneers may be the cosmetic dental option for you. Porcelain veneers can improve your teeth’s color, shape, and alignment to eliminate stains, promote a more even appearance, and correct minor structural issues. Many people choose porcelain veneers to improve their smile because of their ability to correct a range of issues with one simple treatment.
What are veneers?
Veneers are customized, wafer-thin shells that are adhered to the front surface of your teeth. Despite their thinness, they are extremely durable and can withstand the force of chewing. They are most commonly made from porcelain, which is not only durable, but has a natural stain-resistant appearance as well.
When applying veneers, a small amount of tooth enamel must be removed so that the veneers can be securely placed without looking bulky. Only about less than a millimeter is removed to make ample room for the veneer. Once the tooth has been properly prepared for the veneer, a light-sensitive resin is applied between the tooth and the veneer and then hardened. The light-sensitive resin acts as a binding agent to secure the veneer to the tooth.
Do You Need Veneers?
There are countless reasons that could indicate you need veneers. One primary reason is that you are simply not satisfied with your current smile. Specifically, if you are unhappy with your smile because your teeth are discolored, misshapen, uneven, gapped, or crooked then you may need veneers.
You may also need veneers if you have teeth that are chipped, cracked, or broken. Depending on the severity of the damage, veneers can be applied to the front surface of your teeth as a way of restoring the damaged tooth. Veneers can also be used on teeth that have become worn down as a result of teeth grinding or clenching.
Veneers are also ideal for individuals who have severely stained teeth that do not respond to traditional whitening treatments. Sometimes, certain medications can cause the teeth to become discolored and unresponsive to whitening treatments. In these cases, veneers are a great option to restore a whiter, brighter smile.
Why veneers?
- Versatility: veneers can help correct a variety of cosmetic concerns, including stains, misshapen teeth, unevenly sized teeth, fractured teeth, gapped teeth, and crooked teeth.
- Customizable: veneers are customized to fit your individual smile in terms of color, shape, and size. Even when used to correct these issues, veneers still take your natural smile structure into account blending in with the rest of your smile to look like natural teeth.
- Durable: veneers are most commonly made from porcelain, which is a highly durable material. Porcelain is also known for its stain-resistant properties, meaning that not only are your veneers durable against chewing forces, but their color is also durable against staining agents.
- Quick and Easy Application: within two visits over the course of a few weeks, veneers can be matched, manufactured, and placed onto your teeth. Once the veneers are placed, your smile is completely restored in terms of color, shape, and size.
- No extended recovery: veneers do not require an extensive recovery process. Essentially, your normal chewing and speaking ability is only impaired until the anesthetic wears off. Once the anesthetic wears off, you can return to your normal diet and activities as usual.
- Long-lasting: once applied, porcelain veneers generally last about 10-15 years, sometimes longer if well taken care of.
- Cost-Effective: because of their long lifespan in relation to their cost, veneers are thought to be one of the most cost-effective long-term cosmetic dental options. The average cost of veneers can range from $925-$2,500 per tooth.
- Minimal maintenance: veneers require the same amount of maintenance as your natural teeth and nothing more. Their maintenance consists of what Dr. Sadati recommends for you based on your individual dental condition. In addition, you should avoid damaging habits such as using your teeth to open packages, teeth grinding or clenching, and chewing on hard objects like pens, ice, and fingernails.
Are you a candidate for veneers?
To receive the most benefits from veneers, you will want to be an ideal candidate. Ideal candidates have a better chance of successful, long-lasting treatment with veneers. To be considered an ideal candidate for veneers, you should be committed to your oral health and should practice good oral hygiene practices.You will also need to be in good oral health and have healthy gums prior to veneer placement. Any possible dental health issues must be treated and resolved before the placement of veneers.
To be an ideal candidate for veneers, you will need to consider your specific goals for cosmetic dental treatment to ensure that veneers are the best option for your aesthetic goals. As such, you should consider what specific aspects of your smile you want to fix, how much effort you want to put forth for treatment, your budget, and what your end goals are.
Overall, an experienced cosmetic dentist such as Dr. Sadati can help you determine if veneers are the best cosmetic dental option for your oral health needs and cosmetic goals.
If you are interested in determining whether you are a candidate for veneers, schedule a consultation with South Florida dentist, Dr. Sam S. Sadati of The Sadati Center for Aesthetic Dentistry today!
