Updated: March 21, 2024
If you have problems with teeth that are chipped, broken, worn down, or discolored, your dentist may recommend veneers. Veneers can be an effective treatment, and they’re popular with many patients. Of course, everyone is unique, so it’s important to make sure this option is the right fit for your lifestyle.
What are Dental Veneers?
Veneers are lightweight yet durable shells designed to cover the front portion of a tooth. Each veneer is custom-made for your mouth to provide a beautiful smile that looks completely natural. Applying veneers involves cleaning teeth carefully, preparing tooth enamel for a firm bond, affixing permanent veneers with special dental cement, and using a UV light for hardening.
What are the Benefits of Veneers?
There are several important advantages to choosing dental veneers. They can be an excellent option for ensuring good dental health and a cosmetic appearance that makes you happy. Here are a few specific benefits:
- Stain-resistant surface: Porcelain veneers are highly resistant to stains. This includes beverages such as coffee and tea. People who smoked heavily in the past sometimes opt for veneers to completely eliminate the yellowed appearance of teeth.
- Natural smile: High-quality veneers mimic the tone and shape of your other teeth. They offer a translucent appearance with many options for whiteness. This can provide a smile that feels perfectly natural yet features healthy teeth.
- Stronger teeth: This treatment can restore the strength of damaged teeth. It can help you chew normally and comfortably, especially if excessive wear has exposed sensitive areas of a tooth.
Another benefit to dental veneers compared to crowns is that the treatment is minimally invasive. The complete process usually takes less time than other treatments. Also, veneers generally provide more subtle changes to tooth surfaces than crowns.
What Types of Veneers are Available?
Porcelain veneers are one of the most popular options for cosmetic dentistry. They offer significant strength, stain-resistance, durability, and shine. Composite resin veneers are also available, but they’re generally only used as temporary models to show you the proposed smile. Resin doesn’t offer the same stain resistance as porcelain.
Porcelain veneers are permanent. To apply them, your dentist needs to remove a certain amount of enamel from the tooth to accommodate the new covering. Afterward, they can last for 15–20 years before requiring replacement.
At Tribeca Dental, we also offer semi-permanent Lumineers® treatment. Application of porcelain Lumineers® doesn’t require removing any layers of tooth enamel, and the process is reversible. These ultra-thin veneers provide excellent cosmetic properties and easier application.
How Can You Decide If Veneers are Right for You?
If you have a dental issue such as cracked teeth or severely worn enamel, you may prefer the application of porcelain veneers over alternative options such as dental crowns. Veneers also provide cosmetic benefits. You may want to enjoy a wonderfully balanced smile or whiter teeth. This treatment can help with crooked teeth, large gaps, and other misalignment issues, providing an alternative to Invisalign® or braces.
However, dental veneers aren’t a perfect fit for everyone. If you have problems with gum disease, tooth infections, or missing teeth, our dental professionals generally recommend alternatives, such as a root canal or dental implant. Also, since porcelain veneers are permanent, it’s important to make sure you’re happy with the proposed changes to your teeth ahead of time.
How Our Dental Experts at Tribeca Dental Care Help
At Tribeca Dental Care, we want you to enjoy the smile of your dreams. If dental veneers are the right fit for giving you a healthy and brilliant smile you want, our professionals can provide excellent results. We also offer numerous alternatives if you feel more comfortable using Invisalign® or other dental treatments.
We work with all major insurance carriers, but some consider veneers an uncovered cosmetic treatment. In this case, our patient financing options and periodic discounts can help you stick within your dental budget. To learn more about veneers, contact our team for assistance.
Image Credit: By StudioLaMagica
