What to Know Before You Get Dental Veneers

What Are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are thin pieces of metal or plastic that fit over the front teeth and hold them in place. They come in various sizes, shapes, materials, colors and styles. Some are permanent while others last only until the patient’s natural teeth grow out enough to replace them.

Why Choose Dental Veneers?

Veneers are a good choice if you have:

An unevenly shaped mouth. (For example, you may not like the shape of your upper front teeth.)

A large gap between your lower front teeth and your upper front teeth. (You may want to keep some space between them so that they don’t look too small when you smile. Or you may prefer to keep your upper front teeth longer than your lower ones.)

Your gums are sensitive. (If they aren’t, then you probably won’t mind having a little extra room between them and the rest of your face.)

You have a hard time keeping all of your teeth straight. (In which case, you’ll appreciate the added support that veneers provide. In addition, if a few of your teeth are crowded in the front, then you can get veneers there. This will allow the rest of your teeth to come in from the sides and back, keeping your mouth fairly balanced.)

You have gaps between your teeth. (Gaps are more noticeable with veneers because they don’t have as many places for food to get trapped, so it’s easier to see the spaces in between them. At the same time, you can also fill these spaces with veneers. Of course, there are other options for correcting gaps as well.)

You are unhappy with the shape or color of your teeth. (Even when they’re kept in good condition, your natural teeth will still eventually darken and yellow with age. That’s why it’s a great idea to get your veneers before this happens, so that you don’t have to worry about any of this. Of course, there are many reasons why you may want to go with a different color. For instance, if your natural teeth are light in color but the rest of your skin has a tan, then you may find that wearing a darker shade of veneers helps to bring balance to your appearance.

You can also get veneers that have a particular shape or surface texture that you prefer.)

You grind your teeth at night (also known as Bruxism). (Or, you have a family history of it. In either case, this can cause problems with your natural teeth. However, if you already have a full set of veneers, then you’ll be able to avoid these issues altogether. Of course, this only applies if you grind your teeth during the day as well.

If that’s the case, then you’ll need to get a full mouth restoration instead of just veneers. This will help keep your smile looking nice and white for many years to come.)

Veneers can be used to correct a number of common dental problems. Some examples include:

Once you have done your research, come up with a list of pros and cons. This should help you to make a final decision about whether or not veneers are right for you. However, if you still need more information, then it would be a good idea to visit a cosmetic dentist in person. That way, you’ll be able to see if you feel comfortable around them and whether or not they would be able to provide you with the service that you are looking for.

Sources & references used in this article:

The science and art of porcelain laminate veneers by G Gürel – 2003 – repository.fue.edu.eg

Awareness of the population about ceramic laminate veneers in Saudi Arabia by RS Asaad, AA Alshwaer, SA Alahmadi, MH Alyamani… – Curr Sci Int, 2019 – curresweb.com

Cosmetic dentistry: a risky business? by J Merivale – Faculty Dental Journal, 2011 – publishing.rcseng.ac.uk

Direct versus indirect veneer restorations for intrinsic dental stains by JM Wakiaga, P Brunton, N Silikas… – Cochrane database of …, 2004 – cochranelibrary.com

Awareness among a convenient sample of Riyadh city population toward dental veneers by F Alshammery, NA Alkanhal, AS Alabdulkarim… – … Of Applied Dental and …, 2020 – joadms.org

Porcelain laminate veneers: minimal tooth preparation by design by G Gürel – Dental Clinics of North America, 2007 – Elsevier

Survival rates for porcelain laminate veneers with special reference to the effect of preparation in dentin: a literature review by FJT BURKE – Journal of esthetic and restorative dentistry, 2012 – Wiley Online Library

Ceramic veneers in general dental practice by P Newsome, S Owen – … with failure. Aesthetic Dentistry …, 2008 – pdfs.semanticscholar.org