Pros and Cons of Dental Veneers

Veneers, porcelain or resin, are fitted over the front visible teeth to change color and or shape of one's teeth. Veneers are ideal for teeth that are crooked, stained, too small, too big, or have uneven surfaces. It is very common for people to have less than perfect teeth, either oddly shaped teeth, chipped teeth, missing teeth, teeth with small pits, or just odd teeth in general. Veneers solve such irregularities and create a durable and pleasing smile. For those with poor gums, there's even gum veneers and gum and tooth veneer combination appliances.

Tooth Veneers at a Glance...

An alternative to sometimes painful crowns, veneers are very thin pieces of specially-shaped porcelain material or resin plastic that are bonded to the front of teeth. This is done while awake with little or no anesthesia needed. They are the cure for teeth that are severely discoloured, chipped teeth, have holes or pits, misshaped or crooked teeth, or for the covering of unwanted spaces.

How Veneers are created. An impression is taken of one's existing teeth and a set of veneer covers are made to cover each tooth. Your custom veneer is bonded directly to your prepared tooth. The tooth is etched and roughened up using an acid and is polished to create a bonding surface. Veneers won't stain from foods and other causes, such as coffee and tea and smoking.

How long do they last? Strong and very durable, veneers can last from ten to fifteen years, and will remain bright white for the duration of wear.

In your first appointment, your custom veneers will be glued in with temporary cement that is the same color cement as will be used for the permanent attachment. During this "try-in" phase, it is recommended to look at your veneers in natural light in addition to the office light. Teeth are prepared for veneers by lightly buffing to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer.

Your dentist places the veneers with water or glycerin on the teeth to verify their perfect fit and the shade or color. The color cannot be changed after the veneers are adhered to your teeth. The tooth is then cleansed with chemicals to achieve a durable bond. Once the glue is between the veneer and your tooth, a light beam is used to harden the glue/cement.

Three Types of Veneer Products

Composite Veneer Procedure:

Direct composite veneers are usually performed in a single visit to your cosmetic dentist. The procedure is an application of a bond and enamel directly to the tooth's surface.

Porcelain Veneer Procedure:

Indirect porcelain veneers are a thin porcelain material. Usually porcelain veneers require two visits and also require a dental laboratory to create the final tooth restoration piece.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Tooth Veneers

Non-permanent Composite Resin Veneers:

Also created over an impression of one's existing teeth, these veneer systems are non-permanent and can be removed at any time. Made from flexible composite resin, these veneers are difficult to stain and offer wearers an alternative to spending thousands of dollars per tooth. Entire uppers and lowers can be purchased for the price of one single porcelain veneer. Gum veneers are also available on their own for people with receding gums. Gum and teeth combination veneers are also available.

Pros

Porcelain veneers are very effective in giving back a bright new smile and can increase ones outlook on life and allow one's personality to shine.

Quick results. Porcelain veneers can have you smiling again in a very short period of time. Veneers are typically done in only two one and a half hour long appointments.

Strong and durable, veneers can last ten to fifteen years, and come in colors that will brighten one's teeth without staining.

Very little maintenance other than regular brushing and a follow up schedule with your cosmetic dentist is needed.

Cons:

A downside of permanent veneer systems is that they are applied after your original teeth are permanently shaved down and that means there is no going back. You are indeed going to have to keep them for the rest of your life. If one falls off or is damaged, you will have to get it fixed or replaced. Lumineers are less permanent in that they require little to no removal of your original tooth surface.
Be sure to discuss with your cosmetic dentist the amount of tooth surface that is to be removed. Obviously, less is better if possible as this stresses the tooth itself if too much is removed.

Your Speech. Learning to talk with your new veneers can take some time to get used to. You can find yourself lisping and having trouble with certain sounds. If this occurs, speak with your cosmetic dentist, as clearly as possible that is.

Teeth clenching and grinding can damage veneers. If you suffer from bruxism, you may cause damage such as chipping or cracking. Teeth guards are available to protect your teeth while asleep. Ask your dentist if this is an issue. Inexpensive tooth guards are available for much less than the several hundred dollar versions.

With non-permanent dental veneers, there is less chance of encountering these problems as you will not be wearing them while you sleep. Also, permanent tooth enamel removal is not done and therefore you will have the choice to simply remove or stop wearing them when you choose. If you are simply wanting to quickly improve your smile without breaking the bank, you might want to try the non permanent veneers and wear them until you are ready to plop down the big bucks. Remember people, you are beautiful and smile no matter what your teeth look like.

For more information on temporary and affordable dental veneers visit here.