Family Dentistry

What are Dental Veneers and How Can They Revitalize My Smile?

If you’re thinking about getting dental veneers, chances are you have some unanswered questions in mind. What are dental veneers made of anyway? What’s the process and how much do dental veneers cost? These are all important questions to ask your Lexington general dentist before getting dental veneers. That way, you can be sure you’re making the best decision for your smile. Fortunately, Palmetto Smiles is here to share all the pros and cons of dental veneers. Read on to learn everything you need to know.

What are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are paper-thin layers of tooth-colored porcelain that are bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth to improve their appearance. Veneers are meant to correct the color, shape or positioning of your teeth to address a variety of aesthetic or physical issues. If you have discolored, chipped, broken or misaligned teeth, or gaps between your teeth, you may be a good candidate for dental veneers.

You might be wondering what the difference between dental veneers and crowns or implants is. Dental veneers differ from crowns or implants in that they only cover the portion of the teeth that’s visible when you smile, whereas crowns fit over the existing tooth and implants replace the tooth entirely.

While dental veneers can work wonders to enhance your smile, they’re also permanent, so it’s important to have all the information before deciding to get veneers. Your dentist will also have to change the natural structure of your teeth to create space for the veneers, so it really is an irreversible process.

The Dental Veneer Procedure

So what should you expect when you get dental veneers? First, you’ll have a consultation with your Lexington cosmetic dentist, Dr. Jamie Gomez. During this appointment, you’ll discuss the results you’re looking for and Dr. Gomez will examine your teeth to determine if veneers are right for you. If all looks good, we’ll take x-rays and impressions of your mouth so we can create a treatment plan.

Next, it’s time to prepare the teeth. To make space for the veneers, Dr. Gomez will reshape your teeth to remove a thin layer of enamel that’s equivalent to the thinness of the porcelain veneers. Then, we’ll take more impressions and send them to a laboratory where your veneers will be created. Your dentist may suggest using temporary dental veneers while we wait for your permanent veneers to come back.

Now it’s time for the bonding process. Before fixing the veneers to your teeth, Dr. Gomez will place them on your tooth surfaces to ensure proper size and color. If needed, she’ll trim the veneers to fit your teeth perfectly. Then, we’ll clean and polish your teeth to create a better surface for the cement to adhere to. We’ll apply the cement to each veneer and then press the veneer onto your tooth. Once in the correct position, we’ll apply a light beam to activate the cement and bond it into place.

Finally, your dentist will remove any excess cement and evaluate your resulting smile. You may need to come in after a week or two so we can check in on your progress and the placement of your veneers.

Benefits of Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are a fantastic solution for anyone who is confident that they want to permanently improve the look of their teeth. If you’re still feeling a little unsure, here are the pros of dental veneers:

  • Veneers give you instantly whiter teeth. There are many reasons why some people are unhappy with the color of their teeth. Coffee, cigarettes and even highly pigmented foods can cause unappealing discoloration. Whitening treatments at the dentist or at home can help, but they’re usually a temporary solution. Dental veneers, on the other hand, are a permanent way to get whiter teeth that last.
  • Dental veneers can fix minor cosmetic issues. One of the most common reasons our Lexington dentistry patients choose to get veneers is to improve cosmetic problems, such as chipped or broken teeth, or crooked smiles. While veneers can’t straighten teeth or improve your bite in the same way as braces or Invisalign, they can help hide minor orthodontic issues.
  • Veneers replace damaged enamel. Acidic foods and drinks, over-brushing or symptoms of acid reflux can all contribute to the deterioration of your tooth enamel. Fortunately, dental veneers cover the front portion of your teeth and can restore the physical appearance and strength of your teeth.

Cons of Dental Veneers

As you’ve seen so far, there’s a lot that goes into the decision to get dental veneers. They can go a long way to improve your smile, but dental veneers are not for everyone. To give you the full picture, here are some of the downsides of dental veneers:

  • Dental veneers can be costly. The cost of dental veneers depends on how many teeth you want to treat, but they can be expensive. That’s why it’s important to be fully committed to your decision if you choose to get dental veneers.
  • There’s no going back. This isn’t totally a bad thing, but it’s something you need to keep in mind before getting dental veneers. Since your dentist needs to alter the shape of your natural teeth to make space for the veneers, you won’t be able to go back to your original teeth if you’re not happy with the result. But don’t worry. The Palmetto Smiles team is confident that if you do decide to get dental veneers, you’ll love your smile more than ever.

Still have questions about dental veneers or ready to book your consultation? Call Palmetto Smiles today.

 

Palmetto Smiles

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