Dental veneers are thin, tooth-coloured shells that are usually made from porcelain or composite materials.
Owing to their material, they are sometimes called porcelain veneers or laminates. Veneers are permanently bonded to your teeth to provide a better colour or shape. If you are thinking of getting a set for yourself, you have got to know all about it.
Why might you want dental veneers?
Are your teeth discoloured? Are they broken? Are they wearing out with age? Or do you need to fill the gaps between your teeth? One solution to all these issues is dental veneers.
There are a lot of outside factors which may affect our teeth. Drinking tea, coffee or red wine, or smoking cigarettes can eventually lead to teeth discolouration. With age, our teeth may undergo severe wear and tear. Or sometimes, we might just have crooked or uneven teeth through no fault of our own, purely due to genetics. But, the attitude that nothing is impossible has led to some marvellous inventions, and dental veneers is one of them.
However, despite the benefits of dental veneers, you ought to know that it is a serious dental procedure. So, here are a few things you should to know before you make decisions about whether or not they might be the right option for you.
Is veneers the right choice for you?
Before you make a decision, speak with an experienced cosmetic dentist. They can assess your situation and discuss your treatment options with you, whether the best alternative turns out to be veneers or something else.
Different types of veneers
Veneers can be broadly categorized into traditional and no-prep dental veneers (Lumineers and Vivaneers). The application of traditional veneers is generally more invasive and requires more tooth preparation than no-prep veneers, which demand little tooth preparation. Applying traditional veneers may involve removing part of the original tooth. This generally requires a local anaesthetic. As the name suggests, minimal alterations are made in the case of no-prep veneers. In most cases, a local anaesthetic is not needed.
Veneers are often confused with implants, but the two are very different treatments. Veneers are applied only to a part of your tooth, whereas implants require extraction of the entire tooth.
The procedure
Once you and your cosmetic dentist have agreed on a suitable treatment plan, the dentist will make preparatory observations and take an initial set of impressions of your teeth. Then they will prepare your teeth for applying veneers. Depending on the requirements and type of veneers, you will be provided with a local anaesthetic. After this, a final impression of your teeth is made.
The veneers are custom-made based on the impressions. This takes about 2 to 4 weeks. On your next visit, bonding is conducted, where the veneers are permanently attached to your teeth. The veneers are tested to ensure you are happy with the colour, shape, and size, and any final adjustments are made.
Pros and cons
After having had dental veneers fitted, you could walk out of your dental clinic with natural-looking but sparkling white teeth. No one would be able to recognize that they are not real. Because having dental veneers fitted is less invasive when compared to some other procedures, it will also be less painful. Veneers also generally last long. The secret behind this is their material, which is stain resistant, and its compatibility with your natural teeth.
Veneers offer a lot of benefits, but everything has a downside to it. The process of applying veneers is often irreversible. This means that you can?t simply get rid of them and return to your old look if you change your mind. If you were desperate to eliminate them, you would have to undergo a complicated procedure. So think carefully before you decide to undergo the treatment. Because some tooth enamel is removed when fitting the veneers, your teeth might become a little more sensitive to extremely hot or cold food and drinks. Applying veneers also does not mean that the tooth is protected from decay. You will need to keep up your regular dental hygiene routine.
Dental veneers can offer significant cosmetic benefits with minimum invasion and discomfort. This is why dental veneers have become the most famous cosmetic dental procedure and is gaining popularity across the world. If you think they might be the right option, book a consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist!
