Dental veneers have recently grown in popularity as a way to repair damaged teeth or simply give patients the smile they have always dreamed of. A veneer is a thin porcelain or ceramic shell that encapsulates the current tooth and can be custom designed in shape or size and matched to a desirable color. While you may be interested in getting veneers of your own, it is a serious procedure and it is important that patients understand the process beforehand.
Preparing for Veneers
One of the most important things to know is that veneers cannot be removed to expose your natural tooth again, they can only be replaced. This is due to the veneer fitting process. Before your veneers are fitted, a small layer of your tooth’s enamel is removed to fit the veneer and match your tooth’s natural thickness. Since your natural enamel is removed your veneer will then work in its place to protect from decay and infection. This means that if you are to remove veneers and leave your original tooth exposed the lack of enamel will lead to a high risk of infection and other oral diseases. Luckily, if veneers are properly cared for with good hygiene it is highly unlikely that they will ever need replacing.Myths About Veneers
Many patients are hesitant about getting veneers of their own due to horror stories they read on the internet about veneers leading to severe damage to their natural teeth underneath. Rest assured, this is far from the truth! In fact, veneers often lead to even less natural decay thanks to the lack of exposure your natural tooth sees. While any dental procedure comes with some risk, these tall tales patients read about are usually the result of poorly done dental work. Here at Whiting Dental Arts, we put an emphasis on comfortable and quality dental care for all patients, especially when it comes to veneers.Why Are Veneers Used?
As mentioned earlier, veneers are often sought after by patients without oral issues who simply want them for cosmetic reasons, usually a better-looking smile. But veneers can be used for a wide range of reasons including but not limited to:- Yellowing or discolored teeth
- Broken teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Crooked and unaligned teeth
- Large gaps between teeth