When you meet someone new, your smile is probably one of the first things they notice. Dental veneers in Newcastle could be the answer if your teeth could use a little help. This cosmetic dentistry treatment can mask a multitude of different issues. However, understanding how veneers work is important.
What Is a Dental Veneer?
A dental veneer is made from porcelain and is a thin shell bonded onto the tooth’s front surface. It can be used to hide numerous imperfections, including:
- Gaps between teeth.
- Cracks or chips in teeth.
- Worn down teeth.
- Misshapen or misaligned teeth.
- Severely stained teeth.
It doesn’t take long to have porcelain veneers fitted; treatment often forms part of a smile makeover. You can choose to have one, two, or multiple veneers placed over your front teeth, and the results can be transformational.
Pros of Treatment Can Include
Whitening Your Smile Quickly
A teeth whitening treatment in Clarington is one way to brighten your smile, but sometimes, certain teeth will not respond to this procedure. For example, if you have teeth that are stained internally, they may not change colour.
In this case, fitting a porcelain veneer can hide the stained tooth. Porcelain is stain-resistant so the results will last for years.
Address Minor Cosmetic Issues
Porcelain veneers are versatile, as you can use them to close or reduce the size of gaps between your teeth. They can straighten up teeth that are slightly misaligned. Veneers can create a more cosmetically perfect smile, hiding teeth that might be too short or not quite the right size or shape.
Restoring Tooth Enamel
Tooth enamel can become eroded if you brush your teeth too vigorously or if your teeth are exposed to acidic foods and drinks. Acid reflux disease can also cause tooth enamel erosion, as strong stomach acid can wash over your teeth.
An Alternative to Invisalign
Invisalign is an excellent tooth straightening treatment, but porcelain veneers could be an alternative if your teeth are only slightly out of alignment. Sometimes, we may recommend using both treatments to provide the best and most conservative results.
Porcelain veneers can replace missing tooth enamel, protecting the tooth underneath.
Cons of Treatment Can Include
Treatment Is Irreversible
Usually, once you have porcelain veneers in Courtice, then treatment is irreversible. This is because the process of fitting porcelain veneers generally requires a small amount of tooth enamel to be removed. Once removed, we can only replace this enamel artificially.
Cost
Porcelain veneers can initially be more expensive compared with other cosmetic dental treatments such as teeth whitening or dental bonding. The cost may not be covered by dental insurance because treatment is often cosmetic rather than restorative.
Also, dental restorations do not last forever. With the right care, your porcelain veneers could last 10 years or longer, but eventually, you will need to replace them.
Minor Tooth Sensitivity
After any dental treatment, you may experience some minor tooth sensitivity, including after fitting porcelain veneers. This can increase your sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages, but it is generally temporary. As your teeth settle down, they should start to feel less sensitive.
Treatment Isn’t Right for Everyone
Porcelain veneers are generally best for people with strong and healthy teeth that don’t have large fillings, extensive damage, or decay.
Get the Right Information to Make an Informed Choice
When you visit West Bowmanville Family Dental for any treatment, we always assess your dental and medical health carefully to ensure that any procedure we recommend is safe and will provide the desired results. We always encourage questions, as knowing more about your dental care lets you make an informed treatment choice.