Veneers are thin shells that are placed on the fronts of your front teeth, and they are able to correct many types of cosmetic dental problems. There are two different types of veneers: those made from ceramic and those made from a resin-based composite. If you want a more beautiful smile, it’s time to learn a bit more about veneers and how they can help!
General Advantages of All Veneers
Veneers have many advantages because they fix so many common cosmetic dental concerns. If your teeth are slightly crooked or have minor gaps, the dentist can place veneers to make your teeth look straight much faster than braces. Veneers also hide cracks, chips and misshapen teeth (including teeth that appear too small or short, etc.). For persistent stains that cannot be corrected with teeth whitening, veneers can cover them to give your teeth the shade you’ve always desired.
Advantages of Ceramic Veneers
Ceramic veneers or porcelain veneers are one option when you are considering veneers. Although the words ceramic and porcelain may sound fragile, these veneers are actually extremely durable. They’re also resistant to stains, and the dentist can pick the perfect shade to match the rest of your teeth. If the rest of your teeth are stained, however, you may want to talk to a dentist about getting them whitened before getting veneers as the veneers themselves cannot be whitened.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of ceramic veneers is how well they capture the natural look of teeth. Your natural teeth aren’t just white. They have a translucence to them, especially at the tips. Ceramic veneers have this same translucency. They look like real, natural teeth!
Advantages of Resin-Based Composite Veneers
The other option for veneers is a resin-based composite. It’s the same material the dentist uses to create tooth-colored fillings, so it is also durable. This material can also be colored to match the rest of your teeth, and while it can create a beautiful, white smile, it is more difficult to create the same translucence of ceramic.
Resin-based composite veneers can often be placed in a single visit. Ceramic veneers typically take two visits because the lab needs time to craft the ceramic veneers. With resin-based veneers, the dentist shapes the material to look like natural teeth. Another advantage of choosing resin-based composite veneers is that the cost is often slightly less than with ceramic ones.
Considerations to Recognize Before Getting Veneers
There are some facts to consider before you choose to get veneers. For starters, unlike dental crowns, veneers don’t strengthen teeth. If your teeth are weakened from large cavities, cracks or fillings, they may not be the best option. Another consideration is that to place the veneers on your teeth, the dentist must permanently alter your teeth by removing some of the outer surface. This means you’ll need to have veneers forever to protect your teeth from exposure to bacteria and plaque. This is not a reversible process. However, the amount of tooth structure removed is far less than with dental crowns.
As with any procedure, there are considerations to recognize, but the many great advantages of veneers usually outweigh them. With veneers, you can have the perfect “Hollywood” smile without much time or effort. If you’re ready to transform your smile, or if you just want more information, contact us today. We’re happy to have a conversation and walk through your options.
photo credit: Dollar Photo Club
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