We want all of our patients to share their beautiful smiles with the whole world! We know it can be devastating to self-esteem and confidence when your teeth have gaps, chips, stains, or are otherwise misshapen. Sometimes even shoddy dental work from other dental offices when performing fillings and other procedures can leave teeth different colors.
With veneers, you no longer need to hide your smile. With these simple corrective measures, you can easily correct your teeth’s imperfections to help you have a more confident, beautiful smile. Veneers are natural in appearance and are a perfect option for patients wanting to make minor adjustments to the look and feel of their smile.
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells made from tooth-colored materials such as porcelain. They are designed to cover the front side of your teeth and look completely natural like your own unique smile. When your veneers are placed, you’ll be pleased to see that they look white and properly shaped as teeth should be! Veneers can be applied to correct many visible dental problems, such as:
Before veneers can be applied, however, your teeth must be free of problems such as cavities or gum disease. While veneers are stain-resistant, your doctor may recommend that you avoid coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco to maintain the beauty of your new smile. In the case of people who tend to grind their teeth or clench them during sleep, veneers can chip and detach if not taken care of. Because of some of these reasons, veneers may not be right for everyone.
To prepare for veneers, your dentist will create a unique model of your teeth. This model is sent to a dental technician who creates your veneers. Much like a filling, your dentist will apply the veneer to each desired tooth and make sure they match perfectly with each other. Before placing your new veneer, your dentist may need to conservatively prepare your tooth to achieve the desired aesthetic result.
A few of the pros of veneers are fairly straightforward. They include:
Veneers last about ten years before they need to be replaced. Keep in mind that if you and your dentist decide that veneers aren’t the proper option between then and now, we can discuss the next choice of treatment.
You may have heard about bonding, a small version of tooth correction that can cosmetically fix issues much like a veneer. However, the difference between bonding and veneers is that veneers cover the entirety of the tooth, whereas bonding only covers a minor portion of a tooth that may have been damaged or misshapen. In addition to the coverage of the tooth, porcelain veneers are typically stronger than bonding in keeping a tooth protected and properly shaped.
It is a misunderstanding that veneers and bonding are incompatible. If you decide a bonded tooth does not achieve the desired look or decay miscolors the teeth surrounding the bonding, veneers can be used as a backup procedure. Technically, veneers can be placed over bonding. But if both the bonding and the veneer experience decay, it can be a tricky complication to fix both the overlaying veneer and the underlying bonding.
If you’re interested in veneers or want to learn more to see if this is the right treatment for you, contact our Marietta office. We’d be happy to answer your questions and set an appointment for you to improve your smile today!
