What Are Dental Veneers?
Have you ever wondered how everyone on TV seems to have bright, white smiles with perfectly straight teeth that are all the same color? While genetics plays a big role in our teeth and gums, there is also another big secret to achieve that celebrity look and that secret is dental veneers.
Veneers are covers applied to the front of teeth to make them all the same color and shape. Veneers serve multiple purposes ranging from protecting vulnerable teeth to improving the appearance of some or all your teeth. If you want to brighten your smile and have your teeth look uniform in appearance, veneers might be the answer for you.
Dental Veneers Explained
Veneers are a general term for covers that are created specifically for your teeth and applied to the front of some or all your teeth. They can be made of many materials with porcelain being the most commonly used material. While veneers are used for cosmetic purposes a lot of the time, they are also a viable alternative to crowns in some cases. The porcelain cover acts as armor for a vulnerable part of your tooth or if the whole tooth is compromised.
They are also used if you have a small area that needs attention such as one or two discolored teeth that don’t match the rest of your mouth. Veneers have become cheaper and easier to install and live with over time. Like many dental technologies, the prevalence of veneers and the improvements in lab technology bring the price down to make it more accessible for many people.
How Do Dental Veneers Work?
Veneers come in two general forms: prefabricated and customized. Prefabricated veneers are premade and can fit in a variety of situations. They are cheaper but are not exactly made to your specifications. The other kind of veneer is the custom kind that is built in a lab based on a mold of your mouth and is fabricated exactly to your needs. This process is more complicated and therefore more expensive.
Veneers are installed easily in one to two appointments. If your dentist is going to use prefabricated veneers, they can be installed in one appointment without even the need for anesthesia. However, if you’re going to get customized veneers, two appointments are needed because of the fabrication time. The first appointment will be used to get a mold and scans done and the second to install the veneers.
How to Maintain Dental Veneers
Veneers are great in that they do not require any special or unique care unlike braces. You can continue to brush, floss and use mouthwash appropriately. However, there is a big drawback to veneers that must be known and that is that they do not last forever. Depending on the material and the purpose of veneers in your case, they will last anywhere from 8-20 years. This means that the cost of veneers which can still be significant is not a one-time cost.
Are Dental Veneers Right for You?
If you are looking to brighten your smile and your teeth, veneers might be the right option for you. At Wooten Dentistry, our highly experienced dentistry staff can talk to you about your options and get you started with veneers. Contact us today to get more information about veneers and start down the road to a brighter smile!