Emergency Dentistry on a Budget

« Back to Home

5 Facts About Dental Veneers

Posted on

If you have chipped or otherwise damaged one of your teeth, a cosmetic dentist can use dental veneers to restore your smile. Although this procedure is one of the most common forms of cosmetic dentistry, many people do not understand exactly what it means to get dental veneers. Here are five facts about dental veneers that might surprise you.

1. Dental Veneers Treat a Wide Variety of Conditions

Many people get dental veneers to correct the appearance of teeth that are chipped or cracked. However, they can also be useful in many other situations. If your teeth are very badly stained, a cosmetic dentist might recommend veneers as an alternative to teeth whitening. Dental veneers can also disguise gaps between your front incisors, making your smile appear more regular.

2. Dental Veneers Are Durable

Many people worry about the durability of dental veneers. While it is possible to damage a veneer by chomping down on a hard food, such as a nut or hard candy, in most cases veneers can handle years of chewing without sustaining significant damage. As long as you clean the teeth supporting your veneers regularly to protect them from decay, there is no reason why they shouldn't last a lifetime.

3. Dental Veneers Don't Hurt

If the possibility of pain is putting you off getting dental veneers, don't worry. Cosmetic dentists only need to scrape away a very tiny amount of material from the top layer of the tooth to fix the veneers in place. As there are no nerve endings in this surface part of the tooth, the fitting procedure is usually completely painless. If your teeth feel sensitive during the fitting, let the dentist know right away so they can administer a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable.

4. Dental Veneers Can Be Affordable

Some people assume dental veneers are too expensive and avoid them for that reason. However, the costs of veneers vary widely. Composite veneers are usually cheaper than porcelain veneers and still offer great durability. Their appearance is not quite as pearly as porcelain veneers, but they still provide a good match for the colour of your natural teeth. In addition, many cosmetic dentists offer payment plans to help you spread the costs of your veneers over many months or years.

5. Dental Veneers Are Suitable for Most People

There are only a few situations in which dental veneers are not the right treatment option for chipped or badly stained teeth. For example, if you have gum disease, you will need to get it treated before a cosmetic dentist can fit your veneers. You might also not be a suitable candidate for veneers if your tooth enamel is very thin. To find out whether veneers are a possibility for you, see a cosmetic dentist for a consultation.


Share