Do you hesitate to smile and feel conscious about the way your teeth look? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us yearn for a perfect smile, but dental problems come in the way.
Veneers are a cosmetic dental procedure that adds charm to your personality by giving you a flashy Hollywood smile while addressing several of your oral health issues.
Are Veneers a suitable option for you?
To be a suitable candidate for veneers, you must have a good oral care routine to keep away tooth decay and gum diseases. People who opt for dental veneers usually do not want drastic dental changes. You may choose veneers to fix crowding teeth, unnatural spacing between teeth or fractures etc. Below are some common conditions that may be treated through veneers to correct your smile.
- Worn enamel: If you are fond of consuming carbonated drinks, tea and coffee, your tooth enamel wears out and becomes dull. Smoking also damages the outer layer of your tooth, giving it a yellowish tinge.
- Wear and Tear: Your teeth naturally get damaged as you age. Ageing of teeth results in chips, cracks, fractures and broken teeth.
- Gaps and spacing between teeth: Unnatural gaps between the teeth can give an unsightly appearance and make you look older than your age.
- Discoloured or stained teeth: Stained or discoloured teeth that do not respond to over-the-counter whitening products can be managed through veneers.
- Uneven teeth: Tooth grinding and gnashing lead to uneven teeth, creating bite issues.
Types of Veneers
Your dentist will explain to you the various types of veneers available and will recommend the one most suitable to meet your requirements. Below are some common types of veneers:
1. Porcelain Veneers
These veneers are thinner and appear as natural teeth. Porcelain veneers are long-lasting and require no shaving down of your existing tooth to be placed. Compared to other veneers, a porcelain veneer is expensive and cannot be repaired once it breaks.
The porcelain veneers procedure costs less than some other cosmetic dental restoration treatments.
2. Composite resin veneers
Known as cost-effective, these veneers can look natural if they are made up of high-quality composite, however, they are more likely to stain, discolour, break or chip. Composite veneers can last up to 6 years. They require less pre-tooth preparation as compared to porcelain and ceramic veneers.
3. Ceramic Veneers
These are one of the most used types of veneers and mimic natural teeth. The process of creating ceramic veneers takes some time, and you may experience temporary tooth sensitivity after receiving them.
What to expect during the veneers for teeth process?
Diagnosis and planning
Your dentist will begin by examining your oral health and discussing possible options for you. To give you a flawless look, your dentist will pay attention to your smile and face from different angles. You may be asked for an impression of your bite and pictures of your face from the front and side to ensure the dental veneer does not interfere with your speech pattern.
You may be requested for testing such as X-rays and CT-scan of your mouth to identify and rule out any existing and hidden dental disease. A mould of your teeth will be used to create the veneers. The process of getting your temporary veneers ready can take between a week and a month.
Temporary dental veneers placement
You will be provided with temporary veneers to wear for two to three weeks to be mentally and physically prepared for a change in your look. This is practised so you can openly share your feedback with your dentist before the placement of the permanent veneers.
The temporary veneers will be coloured and fitted exactly to your liking and comfort. You can request your dentist to make any changes during the few weeks, you will be trying out the temporary veneers.
These temporary veneers assist your dentist by giving an idea of what changes to be made before the permanent veneers are placed. It keeps the grinding and drilling to a minimum and reduces the risk of damaging your natural teeth under the veneers.
Permanent dental veneers placement
During this appointment, your dentist will make some final adjustments to your new veneers by first placing them on your teeth. Any changes in shape, fit and colour are made at this time. Once you and your dentist are satisfied with the results, the permanent fitting begins.
The process takes several hours since it is done very carefully. Your surgeon may use numbing agents and a local anaesthetic to minimise any pain or discomfort during the process. Deep cleaning of your teeth is done before the bonding of veneers on the teeth.
The veneers are secured in place using an ultraviolet light which hardens the adhesive that binds your veneers to the teeth.
You can talk, eat and behave just as you do generally after the procedure. It is rare, but some people feel mouth and jaw soreness for a few days after the procedure. You will have a follow-up visit with your dentist several weeks after the placement to check on your healing progress.
Can veneers fall off?
It is very rare for veneers to fall off once they are permanently cemented to your teeth. However, if they are not bonded properly, the veneers may chip and fracture in case you try to exert too much force while biting into something hard.
How to take care of veneers?
Now that you are flashing your new smile confidently, it is important to understand your veneers need some aftercare to last you long. Try these aftercare tips to enjoy your new look without any hassle:
- Practice good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth twice a day, using a soft bristle brush. Do not forget to floss and rinse your mouth before going to bed. Your veneers do not need any special cleansing if you incorporate these basics into your routine.
- Do not grind or clench your teeth. It will damage your veneers. If you have bruxism, please inform your dentist about it.
- Chew wisely, and do not attempt to break hard nut shells or open any products using your teeth.
- Veneers can also stain like your natural teeth. Minimum consumption of caffeinated beverages and items containing bright food colours will keep your veneers stain-free.
Ready to get dental veneers?
Book your appointment at Beyond Infinity Dental to reclaim your beautiful smile. Call us on (02) 8806 3799 today.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
What to know before you get dental veneers
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-veneers#types
Dental veneers
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/veneers#2
