Dental Veneers

What are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers (sometimes called porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates) are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of teeth' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' >tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve your appearance. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth changing their color, shape, size, or length.

Types of Dental Veneers

Dental veneers can be made from porcelain or from resin composite materials. Porcelain veneers resist stains better than resin veneers. They also better mimic the light-reflecting properties of natural teeth. You will need to discuss the best choice of veneer material for you with your dentist.

What Types of Problems Do Dental Veneers Fix?

Veneers are routinely used to fix:

Teeth that are discolored because of:

root canal treatment

stains from tetracycline or other drugs

excessive fluoride

large resin fillings

other causes

Teeth that are worn down

Teeth that are chipped or broken

Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped (for example, have craters or bulges in them)

Teeth with gaps between them (to close the space between these teeth)

Dental Veneer Procedure

Getting a dental veneer usually requires three trips to the dentist – one for a consultation and two to make and apply the veneers. One tooth or many teeth can undergo the veneering process at the same time.

Diagnosis and treatment planning

You will tell your dentist the result that you are trying to achieve. During this appointment, your dentist will examine your teeth to make sure dental veneers are right for you and discuss the procedure and some of its limits. They may take X-rays and possibly make impressions of your mouth and teeth.

Preparation

To prepare a tooth for a veneer, your dentist will reshape the tooth surface, which is an amount nearly equal to the thickness of the veneer to be added to the tooth surface. You and your dentist will decide whether they numb the area before trimming off the enamel. Next, your dentist will make a model, or impression, of your tooth. This model is sent out to a dental laboratory, which makes your veneer. It usually takes 2-4 weeks for the veneers to come back from the laboratory. Temporary dental veneers can be used in the meantime.

Dental Veneer Benefits

Veneers offer these advantages:

They provide a natural tooth appearance.

Gums tolerates porcelain well.

Porcelain veneers are stain resistant.

A color can be selected to make dark teeth appear whiter.

They generally don't require as much shaping as crowns do, yet they are stronger and look better.

Dental Veneer Risks

Downsides to dental veneers include:

The process cannot be undone.

Veneers cost more than composite resin bonding.

Veneers usually cannot be repaired if they chip or crack.

Because enamel has been removed, your tooth may become more sensitive to hot and cold foods and drinks.

Veneers may not exactly match the color of your other teeth. Also, the veneer's color cannot be altered once it’s in place. If you plan on whitening your teeth, you need to do so before getting veneers.

Though not likely, veneers can dislodge and fall off. To minimize the chance of this occurring, do not bite your nails, chew on pencils, ice or other hard objects, or otherwise put too much pressure on your teeth.

Teeth with veneers can still experience decay, possibly necessitating full coverage of the tooth with a crown.

Veneers are not a good choice for people with unhealthy teeth (for example, those with decay or active gum disease), weakened teeth (as a result of decay, fracture, large dental fillings), or for those who don't have enough existing enamel on the tooth surface.

People who clench and grind their teeth are poor candidates for porcelain veneers, as this can cause the veneers to crack or chip.

Dental Veneer Lifespan

Veneers generally last between 7 and 15 years. After this time, the veneers would need to be replaced.

Dental Veneer Aftercare

Dental veneers do not require any special care. Continue to follow good oral hygiene practices, including brushing, flossing, and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash as you normally would.

Even though porcelain veneers resist stains, your dentist may recommend that you avoid stain-causing foods and beverages (for example, coffee, tea, or red wine).

Dental Veneer Cost

What your veneers will cost may depend on what part of the country you live in and how much work you want done. Generally, the price is between $1,000 to $2,000 per tooth. The cost usually is not covered by insurance. To be sure, check with your dental insurance company.

Dental Veneer Alternatives

Alternatives to veneers include bondings and crowns. Veneers are a nice in- between option. Veneers may be your best choice if you want to change the shape of your teeth more than just a little bit, as is done with bonding, but not enough to require a crown.

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