6 Things to Know Before Getting Veneers

When chipped or stained teeth affect your smile, porcelain veneers can provide a solution. Veneers are thin coverings or shells that are applied to your teeth in order to improve their appearance. Veneers can hide discolorations or stains on your teeth or make crooked teeth appear straight. Veneers can also be used when you have worn or chipped teeth or uneven spaces between your front teeth.

Porcelain veneers provide a durable way to cover flaws while maintaining a natural look. Before getting veneers, though, you should make sure you understand more about them. Keep the following in mind when deciding whether or not to get these coverings for your teeth.

More Than One Visit Required

Dental veneers typically involve coming in for more than one visit rather than being done in one visit. The procedure for having veneers applied to your teeth is often spread out, since you’ll need to wait for your custom-made porcelain veneers to be made. Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth, which a lab then uses to create your veneers. During your first visit, your dentist will prepare your teeth by removing a small amount of enamel and apply temporary veneers. When your permanent veneers are ready, you’ll come back in to have them applied to your teeth.

Specific Maintenance and Upkeep Needed

Porcelain veneers can last up to 20 years as long as you take care of them. Veneer maintenance includes practicing good dental hygiene with regular brushing and flossing. Seeing your dentist for dental exams and cleanings twice a year is also an important part of keeping your veneers in good condition. Keep in mind that your veneers will need to be replaced when they reach their lifespan, which is usually 15 to 20 years.

Not Suitable for Everyone

Veneers are generally considered suitable for most patients. However, some patients might not be considered good candidates for this procedure. Veneers might not be suitable if you have severe tooth decay or gum disease or if your teeth are damaged or worn from grinding them at night. These coverings might also not be the right option if you’re looking to correct crooked or misaligned teeth. Your dentist can evaluate your teeth and gums to see if veneers are a good option or if another option would be more suitable. Keep in mind that you might be able to get veneers if needed after having teeth grinding, gum disease or tooth decay treated.

May Be Costly Depending on Your Needs

Veneers might not be as costly as other dental procedures. However, your veneer cost can vary depending on certain factors, such as how many you need and the condition your surrounding teeth are in. You can expect to pay less if you only need a single veneer, but your veneer cost will be higher if you need multiple veneers. For example, you might choose to have these coverings applied to all of your visible teeth, which will cost more. If you need to have tooth or gum problems fixed before getting veneers, this can also raise your overall cost.

Do Not Have to Be Applied to All Teeth

Veneers don’t have to be placed on all of your visible teeth. If you’re looking to keep costs down or if you only need to cover one or two visible teeth, you can only have veneers placed on these teeth. You might consider having veneers placed on all visible teeth if they all have some stains or discoloration or if multiple teeth are crooked, worn or chipped. Your dentist can help you determine how many veneers you should get to improve your smile.

Results May Vary

Porcelain veneers are made to look as much like your natural teeth surfaces as possible. However, keep in mind that your results may vary based on different factors, such as the shape of your teeth or their size. Your gum line, tooth coloring and other factors can also affect the way your veneers end up looking.

If you would like to learn more about getting veneers, please contact Cedar Walk Family and Cosmetic Dentistry for an appointment. Our dentists can help you decide if veneers are the right choice for improving your smile.