Are Veneers Right for You?

Veneers have increasingly become more and more popular over the years. In fact, they’ve actually had a large impact on society’s standard of beauty when it comes to what the ‘perfect smile’ looks like. You look at your favorite actor, singer, influencer, and you may wonder to yourself how they have such perfectly shaped, straight, and shiny, white teeth. The fact of the matter is that more often than not, they don’t! They just have the magic of cosmetic dentistry and veneers!

Your genetics are what impacts everything about who you are, and that includes your teeth. No matter how well you take care of your dental health, you may never achieve the ‘perfect’ smile you’re hoping for, because the general makeup of your teeth is not going to change. For example, if you have small, short teeth, you’re never going to be able to make them grow. However, there are things you can do to change that, and that’s where veneers may come into play.

How Do Veneers Work?

Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials such as porcelain, designed to cover the front side of teeth. They are an option for correcting stained, chipped, decayed or crooked teeth, and are custom made from a model of your teeth created by your dentist. (American Dental Association, 2023). Your dentist will send the model of your teeth to a dental technician who then creates your veneers.

How veneers work can be compared somewhat to artificial fingernails. When getting artificial nails, your real nails need to be buffed and prepped, the artificial nails are then placed on top of the real nail, changing the entirety of how your nails look in terms of length, shape, color, etc. Well, the same goes for veneers! Your natural teeth are prepped, and then the veneer shells are placed on top of your teeth and bonded, giving you a whole new smile!

Who is a Good Candidate for Veneers?

You may be surprised to find out that veneers are not for everyone. One of the most important things to be considered when determining if someone is a good candidate for veneers is their overall oral health. Veneers don’t resolve problems such as gum disease or cavities, so those issues would need to be treated before veneers could be placed. If they are not taken care of, placing veneers would simply make the problems worse over time. In fact, it’s important to keep good oral hygiene with veneers because your natural teeth still have the potential to rot and decay under veneers which could eventually lead to tooth loss.

You may be a good candidate for veneers if…

• You have enough tooth enamel. Genetics and over consumption of sugar are just a few reasons you may have experienced enamel erosion.
• You have healthy teeth and gums and maintain good dental hygiene habits. - You are not someone who grinds their teeth when awake or asleep.
• Your teeth are stained or yellowed and you would like an alternative to teeth whitening.
• Your teeth are slightly misaligned. If your teeth are severely misaligned or crooked, you may be a better candidate for braces.
• You have one or multiple imperfections with your natural teeth such as gaps, chips, or overall misshapen teeth.

The Advantages of Veneers

There is no shortage of benefits of dental veneers. If you are considering getting veneers, here’s a few things you will be able to look forward to:

• You get your dream smile!
• Instant results. Instant gratification. What more could you ask for?! Other dental procedures can take weeks, months, or even years (we’re looking at you braces) to give you the results you are looking for, but with veneers you will see results as soon as they are placed.
• Porcelain veneers are stain resistant meaning foods and drinks that may typically cause discoloration will essentially roll off the veneers and simply sit on the surface where they can be brushed away.
• They are strong and can provide support to teeth that are slightly damaged.
• Minimal maintenance. Veneers don’t require special care, it’s simply suggested you brush twice a day, floss once a day, and visit your dentist for routine checkups twice a year. All of which you do with natural teeth!
• Increased confidence. Having a smile you are proud of will inevitably increase your confidence and in turn can have a positive effect on your mental health. - Long lasting. Porcelain veneers can last anywhere from seven to fifteen years, often much longer with proper care!

The Disadvantages of Veneers

Educating our patients is one of our top priorities, and we want you to be equally aware of the downsides that may come with veneers before making the decision to have the procedure done. Some drawbacks to veneers include:

• They are irreversible as a part of the procedure is removing enamel to make room for the veneers.
• They are unable to restore teeth that are very badly damaged and failing.
• The lifespan is not as long as other dental restorations, and it is suggested to have them replaced every fifteen years.
• Price. Veneers, especially those of the highest quality, can be quite expensive compared to other dental procedures.

Veneers at Your Bellevue Prosthodontist

At Washington State Prosthodontics and Dental Implant Center, we often tell our patients that opting to get dental veneers is an investment in yourself and your quality of life. Veneers make it so you no longer feel the need to hide your smile due to gaps, chips, stains, or misshapen teeth you may have. Veneers make it easy to correct imperfections in your smile and help you to have more confidence. If you are considering getting dental veneers, we highly encourage you to give us a visit and meet with one of our doctors. They will examine your teeth and gums to ensure your oral health is in good condition and identify how many veneers you may need. Give us a call today or schedule a consultation and take one step closer to getting the smile of your dreams!