How Cosmetic Dentistry Using Veneers Improves Your Smile

If you hate to smile because of the way your teeth are shaped, a cosmetic dentist can help. You may not even have to undergo painful or lengthy restorative treatments. If your teeth are stained, chipped, slightly rotated, or uneven, the dentist might be able to correct the problem with veneers. Here is some more information about this type of cosmetic dentistry.

What Veneers Are Made Of

Veneers are small shells that fit on the surface of your teeth. They are usually made from resin or porcelain. The porcelain shells are more expensive, but they are the most natural looking. Porcelain has qualities that mimic natural enamel when it comes to reflecting light and shine. When your dentist places the resin veneers, he or she polishes them to a shine too. While they may not perfectly mimic natural enamel, they are very close. Either choice will vastly improve your smile, so let your budget decide which is best for you.

How Veneers Help Your Smile

Being thin solid shells, the veneers completely cover the front surface of your teeth. The veneers are bonded into place so they stay on when you bite and chew. You can choose your desired shade of whiteness for your new veneers. If your teeth are stained now and nothing seems to help, you'll love your bright new smile once the veneers are in place. Besides whitening, veneers correct imperfections. For instance, a shell can lengthen a short tooth and cover a tooth with mild rotation so that its position and shape match your other teeth. Veneers also cover cracks, gaps, and chips. You can get a single veneer if you just want to correct one tooth, or you can have veneers put on all your front teeth for a complete dental makeover.

How A Veneer Is Placed

To attach a veneer to your tooth, the dentist has to remove a very thin layer of enamel so the veneer fits properly. Once that's done, the dentist makes a mold of your mouth to send to a lab to have the veneer made. Since this takes some time, you'll come back for the permanent placement of the veneer in a few weeks. Your dentist may give you a temporary veneer to wear until then. If you go to a cosmetic dentist who has the necessary equipment in the office, your dental veneer could be made while you wait. If you have a same-day veneer, it will be permanently bonded to your tooth before you leave, which makes the process quick and convenient.

How To Care For A Veneer

Whether you have one veneer or several of them on your front teeth, you must be careful of one thing. Don't bite into very hard things, such as big chunks of ice or hard candy. You don't want to risk chipping a veneer because it can't be repaired. Other than that, you care for a tooth with a veneer just like you do any other tooth. Brush and floss daily. If you take good care of your veneer or veneers, your pretty smile should last for many years.