When considering cosmetic dentistry, it’s always best to learn as much as possible about the treatment, including its advantages and disadvantages. This article discusses the pros and cons of veneers to enable you to make an informed decision before undergoing treatment.
Dental veneers are an excellent way to improve the appearance of your smile, especially if your teeth are cracked or chipped, malformed, or severely discoloured and don’t respond to teeth whitening treatments. Like most cosmetic dental procedures, veneers have pros and cons, but they reward you with the smile everyone wants.
What are the pros and cons of veneers?
The main pros of porcelain dental veneers are they can be done in just two dental visits, have the look of natural teeth and are stain resistant, and can be colour-matched to blend seamlessly into the smile. The main con of dental veneers is that often the teeth have to be shaped, which generally means they are a non-reversible cosmetic dentistry procedure.
Let’s look at the pros and cons in more depth, starting with the pros.
Pros of dental veneers
Realistic appearance
One of the features contributing to the popularity of porcelain veneers is their optical properties. As a ceramic, porcelain has similar light-reflecting properties to tooth enamel, giving them a realistic and natural appearance.
Stain resistance
Porcelain dental veneers inherit the glass-like qualities of ceramic, giving them an exceptionally smooth and impervious surface. As a result, they resist permanent stains, so there’s no need to worry about coffee, cigarette or red wine stains.
Durability
Porcelain veneers are known for their longevity. A review of multiple studies in 2018 suggested that these dental veneers can last longer than 10 years in most cases. One study of 84 patients found their porcelain veneers had lasted 20 years. This compares to composite (plastic) dental veneers that, according to the same review, will give you around 5 to 7 years of use.
Colour versatility
Porcelain dental veneers have a broad colour spectrum and can make dark teeth appear whiter.
Less invasive than crowns
Another pro of veneers is they are a less invasive cosmetic dentistry procedure than crowns. Unlike crowns, porcelain veneers do not require extensive shaping before the procedure. Very little enamel may have to be removed if the teeth are relatively straight. That said, some reduction is usually necessary to achieve the best results.
Improved appearance and restored confidence
Dental veneers can help individuals with flaws such as severe discolouration, mild misalignment and small gaps between the teeth. Veneers instantly transform a person’s smile, helping boost their confidence.
Since this article is about the pros and cons of veneers, it’s only fair we look more closely at the disadvantages of dental veneers.
What are the cons of porcelain veneers?
Fakeness
While porcelain veneers do indeed look realistic, they are fake teeth, which could be a problem for anyone looking for a more natural way to improve their smile’s appearance.
Price
There’s no getting away from the fact that porcelain veneers are expensive. The price can vary according to the dentist, location, and the number of teeth being veneered. For example, the 2020 Dental Survey Fee in Australia found that a single porcelain veneer can cost up to $2,036 per tooth. Ouch! A composite dental veneer, on the other hand, can set you back up to $836 per tooth. Multiply these figures by the number of veneers you need, and it becomes a very costly cosmetic dentistry procedure.
Fragility
While porcelain veneers are pretty tough, like natural teeth, they’re not impervious to chipping or cracking when exposed to excessive force, such as biting down on hard food and teeth grinding. While veneers can be replaced, the process will have to be repeated, making it costly.
Teeth sensitivity
Since a thin sliver of tooth enamel is removed in the porcelain veneer procedure, the teeth can become more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. The good news is that any sensitivity may only be temporary, and there are dental products your dentist can recommend to strengthen the tooth enamel.
Permanence
Once a person has porcelain veneers, there is no turning back. However, few patients would want to go back to how their teeth were before they got veneers.
Candidacy
You must have healthy teeth to receive veneers. You may not be a candidate for porcelain veneers if you have:
- decay or active periodontal disease
- inadequate amount of existing tooth enamel
- Weakened teeth as a result of large fillings or decay; or
- suffer from bruxism or teeth grinding
So now you know the pros and cons of veneers, why not consider scheduling a dental veneer appointment with the experienced dentists at Beyond Infinity Dental?
When done correctly, veneers can be beautiful and natural looking. Dentists use them to quickly correct teeth that are worn, rotated, chipped, discoloured or fractured. However, many factors need consideration when deciding if veneers are right for you. One important thing to note is that the dentist must evaluate your bite before going ahead with veneers. A stable bite can make or literally break a successful veneer case.
At Beyond Infinity Dental, we work closely with our patients to customise individual treatment plans that meet their unique needs. Patients have involved from the get-go thanks to digital smile design software that enables us to show them on-screen how their new smile will look and make adjustments in real time.
Call us today on 02 8806 3799 or use our online booking service.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References:
PubMed Central – The Success of Dental Veneers According to Preparation Design and Material Type
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6311473/
Smile.Com.Au – How Much Do Veneers Cost?
https://www.smile.com.au/dental-treatments/veneers#:~:text=The%20national%20dental%20fee%20survey,up%20to%20%24836%20per%20tooth.
