Veneers: A Second Chance at a New, Beautiful Smile

Having a beautiful smile has become increasingly important. Unfortunately, genetics and bad oral habits can make you unhappy with your smile. Luckily, you aren’t stuck with the smile you have. Cosmetic dentistry can craft beautiful smiles, and one popular cosmetic procedure that fixes many problems is veneers. If you are curious about veneers, check out these important facts.

Veneers Can Fix Minor to Moderate Misalignment

If you have minor to moderate overlapping, gapping or other misalignment issues with your teeth, don’t assume braces are your only option. Veneers can also fix these misalignment concerns. Braces straighten your teeth by physically moving them, but veneers can make your teeth look straight. They won’t actually move, but the dentist will shape your teeth, so when the veneers are placed, your teeth will look straight. The benefit of this is that you don’t have to worry about your teeth moving to their old position, which sometimes happens with braces.

They Can Create a Flawless Finish

If your teeth have stains that are resistant to whitening, chips or cracks — or uneven in length — veneers can fix those problems too. This gives your teeth a flawless finish. The veneer sits on the surface of your teeth, so it will hide any surface defects, such as cracks. If you have teeth that are uneven in length, the veneers will also make your teeth look longer or shorter, depending on your needs. Plus, as a final benefit, porcelain veneers have the same translucent look natural teeth have, so they will look real.

They’ll Help Protect Some of Your Teeth

Your teeth are protected by enamel, but when that enamel becomes weak from bacteria and acid, it can lead to decay. Veneers are like super enamel, which make them an excellent solution if your enamel has already weakened. With veneers, the front surface of your teeth are well protected from decay. Of course, the backs of your teeth and your gum line are still susceptible to decay, and severe decay could compromise the veneers, so keep your teeth clean.

They Are Not Reversible

Veneers are a non-reversible procedure. This is because the dentist must remove a portion of the surface of your teeth to fit the veneers. If you were to have the veneers removed at some point, your tooth would be extremely prone to decay. On the bright side, however, less tooth structure must be removed to fit veneers than porcelain crowns, so there is less risk of causing damage to the pulp.

Veneers Are Best on Healthy Teeth

If you want to get veneers, it’s best if you have somewhat healthy teeth. You can have some decay and chips, but your teeth should still be strong. This is because veneers don’t strengthen teeth. If your teeth are weak, you may only be wasting your money. If you do have teeth with lots of big fillings or decay, you may want to ask your dentist about porcelain crowns. They have many of the same benefits as veneers, such as being able to give you a perfect smile, but they also strengthen teeth.

Don’t let your smile affect your confidence a moment longer. Just because you have some minor issues, it doesn’t mean you have to accept them. For more information about veneers or other cosmetic dental procedures, contact Landmark Dental Group today.