5 Things You Need to Know About Getting Dental Veneers

Investing in dental veneers is a great way to finally feel confident about your smile. Whether it’s for personal reasons or just to make a great impression at your place of work, enhancing the appearance of your teeth affects all aspects of your life.

Veneers are actually just thin shells of porcelain that are bonded over the front of your natural teeth. Because they do not serve a restorative purpose, they are considered to be cosmetic in nature.

Here are 5 things you need to know if you’re considering veneers for your smile:

1. They’re Also Known as “Instant Braces”

Having straighter looking teeth doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to endure a year or two of wearing braces. Instead, you can conceal your mild to moderately misaligned teeth with these thin cosmetic restorations. Veneers also work to close small gaps between your teeth.

2. Your Teeth Need to be Healthy First

You can’t put a cosmetic restoration over an infected tooth. Your teeth must be healthy and cavity-free. The gums around your teeth should be free of inflammation and periodontal disease. If you need to re-vamp your oral hygiene habits, now is a great time to start. For teeth that are too broken, worn, or decayed, a porcelain crown might be a better solution. Check with your dentist first to find out if your teeth and gums are healthy enough.

3. Specify Everything from Tooth Shape to Color

Veneers can change just about everything. Your “new “teeth” that will be customized to your size, shape, and color preference. Your dentist will apply a single veneer to as many teeth as necessary to help you get the results you’re looking for. For most people, it will be anywhere from six to twenty veneers total.

4. Veneers are a Two-Step Process

The majority of veneers are made of porcelain that is handcrafted to fit your unique teeth. Your dentist will first need to prep your bite and take an impression that is sent to a lab. You may be wearing your temporary veneers for about two weeks before the permanent ones are ready to bond in place.

Even “no-prep veneers” will require a separate visit to take an impression before your custom restorations can be ordered from the manufacturer.

5, It’s a Permanent Commitment

If you use your teeth to open packages or bite your nails, beware. Chipping your veneer means that it will need to be replaced. Unless you have a “no-prep” style restoration, your original tooth structure will be slightly altered. It’s not an option to take your veneers off without replacing them with a new one. A veneer can only be replaced with another veneer or a full coverage crown.

At Summit Dental Center in Houston, we offer comfortable veneer treatments at each of our 7 area locations. Sedation is available to help you relax! Schedule a consultation today.