Should I Get Veneers? Factors to Consider
Practicing proper dental hygiene at home combined with a semiannual dental exam and cleaning goes far to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. But what about those dental imperfections and blemishes that regular oral hygiene cannot remedy?
One of the best ways to improve your smile is with porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are more effective at improving the appearance of your teeth than any professional whitening treatment on the market today.
While veneers can transform the smile of some people, they are not a one-size-fits-all remedy. You may be asking yourself, “should I get veneers?” but the real question is, are veneers right for you?
Read on to learn more about dental veneers and other cosmetic dentist services in Tucson.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Veneers are thin custom-built pieces of resin composite or porcelain that a cosmetic dentist places over your natural teeth to give them a white, straighter appearance.
Veneers are widely used in cosmetic dentistry because they effectively address many common dental issues, such as:
- Chipped, broken, or uneven teeth
- Teeth with crowding or spacing issues
- Stained or discolored teeth that teeth whitening cannot improve
Who Can Get Veneers?
Your dentist will make the final recommendation on the best cosmetic treatment for your situation. However, there are prerequisites to move forward with any dental procedure.
Oral Hygiene
Your teeth must be spotless before starting the veneer process. Dental plaque transports bacteria, which can lead to infection. Your dentist and dental hygienist will make sure that your teeth are clean and healthy before signing off on the next steps.
Tooth Decay or Gum Disease
Dental veneers provide cosmetic benefits to the teeth only—they cannot repair underlying tooth or gum health issues. Covering a decayed tooth with a dental veneer will only make it worse. If your hygienist or dentist finds decay or disease during your cleaning, they will recommend options to improve tooth and gum health. In such cases, tooth restoration treatments will be necessary, including fillings, root canals, crowns, or dental implants.
The Dental Veneer Process
Veneer placement requires multiple appointments to create natural-looking teeth that fit perfectly over your existing teeth.
Initial Consultation
During this appointment, you discuss your treatment goals and budget to determine what types of veneer material are best for you. Your dentist will take x-rays, photographs, and dental molds to determine how many veneers you need.
Tooth Preparation
During this appointment, your dentist scrapes off a small amount of tooth enamel to make room for the veneers, followed by the placement of temporary veneers to wear during the fabrication of your permanent ones.
Veneer Placement
Before bonding the new veneers, our dentist checks that the color and shape are the best possible match to your natural teeth. Next, the dentist applies a bonding solution to your existing teeth and carefully places the veneers on top of the solution. A dental UV lamp accelerates the curing time of the bonding cement. Once completed, you are free to walk out of the dental practice and show the world your new smile!
Tucson Family Dentistry Can Help
If you are still wondering, “should I get veneers?” call to set up a consultation with one of our dentists at (520) 327-5993. You can also read on to discover why your teeth are bad even if you brush.
