Are Veneers for You?

Veneers are a quick, easy way to fix imperfections that prevent you from having that beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. Everything from stains and discoloration to cracks, chips, and gaps can be fixed with veneers.

While veneers can provide amazing results and almost instantly fix your smile, not everyone is a good candidate for this type of cosmetic dentistry procedure. Learning more about veneers can help you decide if they may be able to help improve your smile.

What are Veneers?

Veneers are an extremely thin shell of resin or porcelain that is adhered to your teeth in order to correct or cover up any imperfections. Before the thin shell of resin or porcelain is placed on your teeth, your dentist will shave or trim the enamel of your teeth. Shaving or trimming the enamel helps prevent the veneers from looking bulky or unnatural.

Some of the reasons why you may consider getting veneers to include:

• Correcting tooth discoloration or staining
• Correcting the appearance of misaligned or crooked teeth
• Fixing the length of your teeth so they all appear the same length
• Covering up cracks, chips, or breaks on a tooth
• Provide stabilization for broken or cracked teeth
• Strengthening teeth that may have weakened due to minor tooth decay or alignment issues
• Preventing the spread of tooth decay
• Fixing minor bite problems

The Benefits of Choosing Veneers

There are a number of reasons why people choose to get veneers instead of opting for other cosmetic dentistry procedures. Some of the benefits of veneers include:

• Extremely resistant to stains – this means they won’t stain if you drink coffee, tea and other dark colored beverages or if you smoke
• Material looks just like natural teeth – porcelain veneers have a certain light-reflecting quality to them that makes them appear like natural teeth
• Various shades of white available – the materials used for veneers come in various shades of white which allows you to create a more natural look as the veneers match your natural teeth
• Alternative option for dental crowns – for people with healthy teeth, veneers can be used as an alternative for when a dental crown may be needed

Exploring Possible Drawbacks of Veneers

As with any dental procedure there are some drawbacks to getting veneers. Some of the possible disadvantages of veneers include:

• Irreversible process – once veneers are applied to the teeth they cannot be removed
• Tooth sensitivity – you may experience more tooth sensitivity with veneers as a layer of your enamel is removed in order to place the veneers on your teeth
• Not strong enough to withstand the pressure from teeth grinding – if you grind your teeth the veneers can break or chip
• Tooth decay is still possible
• Veneers can occasionally pop out leaving you with gaps or unsightly teeth

Who is a Good Candidate for Veneers?

After learning about the advantages and disadvantages of veneers, if you are still interested in getting them it is time to see if you may be a good candidate for this procedure. A good candidate for veneers is someone with the following qualities:

• Good oral hygiene
• Does not grind or clench their teeth
• Good, healthy teeth – extensive tooth decay can disqualify you from getting veneers
• Very few previous dental procedures – some dental procedures, such as having a large filling, may disqualify you from getting veneers

Book a Consultation to See if Veneers are Right for You

Interested in hiding tooth imperfections with veneers? Schedule a consultation at Langley Dental Care. During the consultation, we will discuss how you want to improve your smile. With the information you provide, our cosmetic dentist will be able to determine if veneers can help you achieve your dream smile.

If you are not a good candidate for veneers, our cosmetic dentist can provide other treatment recommendations, such as dental implants or Invisalign, which can help you improve your smile.

Schedule a consultation by calling our office or by completing our form online. We look forward to helping you improve your smile.