Often, people avoid social settings or stop smiling because they feel self-conscious about their teeth. Even tiny chips or fractures in a single tooth can affect how you smile. That’s why many people are choosing dental veneers to hide these defects. If you’ve stopped smiling, here are some of the advantages and types of dental veneers.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers enhance how a tooth looks, as well protects the surface of a tooth from damage.
Dental veneers consist of wafer-thin layers of material that a cosmetic dentist in Sydney places over a tooth. This is doneto enhance how a tooth looks as well as to protect the surface of a tooth from damage.
After a dentist removes only 0.5 millimeter of enamel from the surface of a tooth, the wafer-thin layers are cemented to the front of a tooth. This alters a tooth’s shape, length, size and color. It’s much like sticking false nails over real nails.
Advantages of Veneers
- Immediate results.Unlike getting orthodontic braces, dental veneers, also called “instant orthodontics,” can quickly fill in gaps. This means you don’t have to wait for weeks, or even months, for your teeth to shift.
- Ability to correct stains.Dental veneers can cover up severe tooth stains caused by tetracycline and flurosis, which is a condition caused by taking too much fluorine compounds. The antibiotic, tetracycline, causes discoloration of teeth, while flurosis results in permanent teeth in children becoming stained. It can be hard to get rid of these stains by bleaching teeth, so it’s better use veneers.
- Durability.Your dental veneers should last for several years, just as your normal teeth. The average lifespan ranges from 5 to 10 years before they need replacing.
Pros and Cons of Composite Veneers
The two main types of dental veneers are composite and porcelain veneers. Composite veneers, which are done within a single dental appointment, are constructed directly inside your mouth and are made of engineer plastic or resin. How long the appointment takes depends on the number of veneers you’re getting. They’re not only quicker and more affordable, but they also aren’t as destructive for correcting milder cosmetic defects.
On a negative note, composite veneers are more prone to staining more than porcelain veneers. This is mainly because of their porosity as they absorb water more easily. Therefore, you’ll need to polish them more so that they look natural.
Benefits and Disadvantages of Porcelain Veneers
These veneers have a more natural look, so they’re more cosmetically appealing than cosmetic veneers. Because they don’t absorb water, they don’t stain. Unlike composite veneers, porcelain veneers are constructed outside of the mouth and are made by a dental technician. They involve from two to three appointments.
Porcelain veneers are recommended for more severe cases of chipped, fractured, uneven or discolored teeth. They last longer than composite veneers and are resistant to stains caused from smoking, in addition to drinking tea or coffee.
However, they cost considerably more as they involve a more complex procedure. They also can be harder to repair than composite veneers. Also, they can be more harmful to the teeth that are underneath your veneers.
Considerations and Warnings
- You must be a suitable candidate for this procedure. This is determined by your dentist examining your teeth, besides evaluating your general oral health. For example, if you suffer from gum disease or tooth decay, you’re not a good candidate. On the other hand, you may qualify after being treated for these problems.
- You should not have porcelain veneers if your teeth don’t have enough enamel on them. This is because these veneers must be cemented to tooth enamel.
- If you tend to grind or clench your teeth, your dentist may not recommend veneers as grinding and clenching can cause fractures and chips in veneers.
- Dental veneers are non-reversible as some enamel has to be removed so that the veneer is bonded to a tooth.
- Check with your insurance company to see what is covered before signing up for dental veneers.
If you have questions about this procedure, don’t hesitate to contact us. Even if veneers aren’t the best choice for you, we can still discuss other cosmetic procedures to improve the appearance of your teeth. At Hills Dental Care, our main priority is your comfort. Our highly dedicated team is committed to attending to every need of all our Sydney patients.
