Veneers are thin shells of porcelain, used to correct and beautify conditions such as uneven spaces, gaps, worn or chipped teeth, and teeth that are discolored or crooked.
Patients with the below issues are good candidates for porcelain veneers:
o Uneven teeth. Over time, the wear and tear on your teeth can create an uneven appearance. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, can also cause uneven teeth.
o Genetics. Fluorosis, a condition caused by too much fluoride during childhood, or Tetracycline stains (gray or brownish color at the neck of the teeth) can be improved by inserting porcelain veneers. Everyone’s genetic makeup is different. However, gaps tend to grow wider with age, so veneers are a good cosmetic option.
o Wear and Tear. We use our teeth every day, so normal wear and tear can lead to cracked or chipped teeth over time. However, this will be more detrimental if patient grinds or clenches.
o Discoloration. Coffee, tea, tobacco, red wine-all these can lead to discolored teeth over a person’s lifetime, especially if there are micro-cracks on the teeth that the patient is not aware of and a thorough exam by an intraoral camera is necessary to seal the cracks via porcelain veneer. Veneers can help restore the teeth’s natural luster.
The Advantages of Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are extremely lifelike in appearance, creating a very natural look. They enable you to change the color, shape and alignment of your teeth, giving your smile an aesthetic look. Also, porcelain veneers closely mimic the translucent quality of your natural tooth enamel. The translucent quality of modern porcelain veneers can create a more-natural look than in years past. They are also more durable and effective. An additional advantage of veneers is that they require minimal tooth surface for removal from teeth. Another benefit of veneers is that they are a more conservative procedure than crowns.
The disadvantage of veneers, however, is two-fold.
1. It is an irreversible procedure, meaning that your original teeth need to be cosmetically contoured a minimum of 0.5 mm so that the veneer does not become bulky.
2. The cost of porcelain veneers, if done correctly, can be more than crowns.
Porcelain dental veneers are very personalized to each individual. A good cosmetic dentist will take each patient’s natural features into consideration to maximize their aesthetic qualities with custom-made veneers. With state of the art technology, porcelain veneers can illuminate your natural smile.
