Nobody likes to hide their smile due to having chipped or broken teeth, discolored teeth, or large gaps between their teeth.

Thanks to the recent advances in cosmetic dentistry, dental problems can no longer come in the way of you and your favorite smile.

A teeth veneer is a thin tooth-colored shell that a dentist bonds to the front surface of a damaged natural tooth using dental cement to improve its appearance.

Dental veneers are custom-made shells made from porcelain or resin-composite materials and can solve several cosmetic concerns.

Dental veneers are considered a cosmetic treatment and can boost your self-confidence by changing natural teeth’ size, color, shape, or length.

Depending on the severity of your cosmetic dental problem, you may need one single veneer to cover a damaged front tooth or several veneers for multiple teeth.

Your dentist can also use dental veneers to close gaps between your teeth.

A dental veneer is popular because it can mimic the look of a natural tooth and last several years with proper care.

A dental veneer will be permanently bonded to the front surface of your natural teeth and can correct many dental issues.

Your dentist may suggest using dental veneers to address several cosmetic dental problems:

• closing small gaps between the teeth
• covering discolored or stained teeth
• fixing the teeth that are slightly out of position (crooked teeth)
• repairing cracked or broken teeth
• correcting and strengthening worn tooth enamel

Advantages and Disadvantages Of Veneers

Pros

Dental veneers have gained increasing popularity in cosmetic dentistry because:

• Veneers will significantly improve the appearance of your teeth.
• Veneers will help you have a symmetrical, natural-looking smile.
• Teeth veneers require less removal of your tooth enamel.
• Veneers are low-maintenance and need regular proper dental hygiene.
• Veneers are long-lasting solutions to correct misshapen teeth.
• You can choose the color of porcelain veneers to match your teeth.

Cons

Before jumping to conclusions, read a bit about dental veneers’ downsides.

Here are some of the disadvantages of dental veneers:

• Having dental veneers fitted on your teeth is irreversible, meaning they cannot be removed once your dentist attaches them.
• The dentist must remove some of your tooth enamel to bond your veneers.
• Some people may experience some sensitivity after dental veneer procedures.
• Veneers cannot typically be repaired if they are chipped or broken.
• Getting dental veneers is expensive, and insurance plans may not cover the costs. Porcelain and composite veneers can cost more than composite resin bonding.
• People with sick gums, severe tooth decay, or insufficient healthy natural tooth structure are not typically good candidates to receive veneers.
• Porcelain veneers are not suitable for teeth grinders.

Evaluation Of Your Oral Health

Because veneers involve tooth preparation before you receive them and the procedure is irreversible and costly, a meticulous oral health evaluation is necessary before considering them as an option.

During a dental visit, your dentist will examine your mouth thoroughly to see if your teeth and gums are healthy and if you are a suitable candidate for veneers.

If you are not a good candidate to receive veneers, the dentist may suggest you consider other dental treatment options to address your dental cosmetic concerns.

Two main types of veneers include porcelain veneers and composite resin veneers.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are made in a dental lab, are highly durable, and are stain-resistant. Many people may prefer porcelain veneers because of their light-reflecting properties of natural teeth and they’re more stain-resistant than resin veneers.

Your porcelain veneers will be custom-made by a dental technician in a dental lab.

The outcome of your porcelain veneers will match the color, shape, and size of your natural teeth.

The dentist removes a thin layer of your tooth enamel to prepare your teeth and then bonds your veneers to your teeth using dental cement. Porcelain veneers are strong and long-lasting, but proper care and good oral hygiene are necessary to increase their lifespan.

Composite Veneers

Composite veneers or composite resin veneers usually require fewer dental office visits to be prepared.

A composite resin veneer will also need tooth preparation and enamel removal, like a porcelain veneer. However, the dentist removes less enamel to place the composite material on the prepared teeth.

After placing composite veneers on the teeth, the dentist will use a special light to harden the material. Composite resin veneers are more susceptible to staining and are not as strong as porcelain veneers but are more affordable.

The first step will start with your dentist’s confirmation that you qualify to receive veneers. 

• The dentist starts by making an impression on your mouth during your initial appointment.
• Your teeth’ surfaces should be reshaped to allow veneers to be placed.
• The dentist will trim off your enamel (about half of a millimeter of enamel will be trimmed).
• The dentist will make impressions of the teeth and send them to a dental laboratory.
• While the procedure is usually painless, your dentist may use a local anesthetic to minimize the chances of discomfort.
• Temporary dental veneers may be used until your final veneers are prepared.
• After your veneers are ready, your dentist will check their color, fit, and shape to ensure they match your teeth.
• Then the surface of your teeth will be cleaned and polished.
• The veneers will be attached to your teeth using special cement.
• A special light will be used to harden this cement.

If you have received temporary veneers until your new veneers are being fabricated, there are some foods you need to avoid.

Try to stay away from:

• Very hot and cold foods
• Sticky foods like chewing gums, sticky candy, or other foods as such
• Crunchy foods or fruits
• Crunchy bread
• Hard foods
• Ice cubes
• Stain-causing beverages like red wine or coffee

No! It is not painful to get your veneers applied.

Your dentist may administer local anesthesia to ensure the procedure will not cause pain or discomfort.

How To Care For Your Veneer

• Practicing good oral hygiene, brushing twice a day, flossing at least once daily, and having regular dental check-ups will help keep your veneers healthy.
• Try to limit your intake of stain-causing foods and beverages.
• It is safer to wear a mouthguard if you play contact sports to reduce your risk of damaging your veneers.
• Try not to clench or grind your teeth; ask your dentist if you should wear retainers or a splint if you are a teeth grinder.

You can expect your porcelain veneers to last around 10 to 15 years and composite resin veneers between 5 to 7 years if they are maintained well.

Can My Veneer Stain?

Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant because of being non-porous, unlike natural teeth. Patients may notice some staining around the edges of their veneers if they have had them for more than 15 years.

Veneers are there to protect the teeth and not ruin them. If done by an experienced Brisbane Dentist, dental veneers will not cause any damage to your teeth.

Here are other treatment options if dental veneers are not suitable for you.

Teeth Whitening

Patients who desire a brighter smile can opt for a teeth-whitening procedure. Teeth whitening is an affordable alternative to dental veneers, but it can only be effective for extrinsic stains.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is another alternative to veneers and can be used to fix problems like chipped, cracked, stained, or misaligned teeth. During the procedure, the dentist will apply a tooth-colored composite resin material to the damaged teeth to improve their appearance.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a cap your dentist uses to cover the visible portion of a damaged tooth to restore its shape.

Dental crowns can be created from materials like resin, metal, porcelain, etc., and protect a tooth from breaking

Orthodontic Treatment

Dental veneers can close small gaps and correct minor misalignment; however, severely crooked teeth or malocclusion require Invisalign or dental braces to be fixed.

Read more: Invisalign

The number and the type of veneers a patient choose and the dentist’s fees will affect the price of the dental veneer procedure.

Generally, traditional porcelain veneers cost from $1300 to $2500 per tooth, and $836 per tooth for composite resin veneers.

Does Insurance Cover My Veneer?

Cosmetic dental procedures are not typically covered by insurance.