Porcelain Veneers – Their Benefits and How They Work

Having crooked and stained teeth can make you feel like you must hide your smile. Being embarrassed by your teeth can have a detrimental impact on your social life, your career and even hinder you from wanting to meet new people or starting relationships. Everyone deserves a smile that lights up a room and that they are excited to show off.

Cosmetic dentistry is an effective and proven way to enhance your smile and confidence. Under this umbrella, there are several treatments designed to help you achieve a radiant smile while promoting better oral health. One such treatment is porcelain veneers. This is where a layer of porcelain in the shape of your teeth is placed over a patient’s front teeth, making them whiter and straighter.

If you ever feel hesitant while smiling or that your self-confidence is lacking, then we suggest you learn more about the porcelain veneers. Let’s get you on the road to a winning smile by reviewing what exactly porcelain veneers are. We’ll explore their benefits and functionality. Lastly, we’ll give you a sense of the commitment required to care for veneers and how long they should last.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers have been a popular choice since the late 1990s but have actually been in practice since the 1920s. Because of the silent film era ending, Hollywood needed actors to speak clearly and smile but unfortunately, many had rotting teeth. During this time, noted Hollywood dentist, Dr. Charles Pincus, created veneers to give actors and actresses an enviable smile that could grace a film or magazine cover.

Veneers were a true innovation in the field of cosmetic dentistry. They are a thin layer of porcelain that bond to a patient’s teeth with the use of dental cement. They are designed to improve teeth’s aesthetic with respect to colour and shape. While it belongs to the category of cosmetic dentistry, it’s a serious procedure that requires an experienced dentist.

They are less effective than braces because they don’t correct teeth over time. But for adults who do not want to wear cumbersome braces, veneers are a wonderful option. Here are some important things to know about veneers:

• You don’t have to veneer all your teeth. You can treat a sole tooth or a small group, which is useful for people who chipped or cracked a tooth in an accident.
• Veneers are incredibly lifelike, reflecting light like natural enamel.
• Due to dental imaging, patients can receive veneers that match the shape and colour of their teeth in only a day or two.
• Your dentist will work with you to find a colour that works. Veneers that are too white can look unnatural so it’s about finding something that looks real and closely matches other teeth.
• Before veneers are placed on your teeth, temporary versions are made from a liquid composite. This gives you a chance to see how they will look and feel and the dentist can further craft your new smile.
• Once you’ve decided that you want veneers, you must undergo digital x-rays and have an impression made. In some cases, a tooth or teeth will need to be shaved down.
• Caring for porcelain veneers is easy. You clean them the same way you would your natural teeth. Brush twice a day and floss often to reduce plaque and tartar buildup.
• This treatment is less invasive than other dental restoration methods like crowns.

It’s important to note that veneers truly look natural, more so than a lot of popular restoration treatments. To the untrained eye, they look like natural teeth but will not weaken over time or be susceptible to chips or cracks.

To crank that megawatt smile up to a perfect 10, you can combine porcelain veneers with professional cosmetic whitening.

What are the Benefits?

In addition to looking amazing and feeling natural in a patient’s mouth, porcelain veneers offer several benefits:

• They conceal a variety of dental issues, including gaps, malocclusions, discolouration and minor damage sustained from injury or poor oral health habits.
• Veneers are customizable so they can be sculpted to fit a patient’s teeth.
• Treatments are relatively minor and don’t require a lot of visits.
• They are durable and should last a long time.
• Patients can enjoy results shortly after treatment without a drawn-out recovery period.
• Porcelain is stain-resistant. Teeth whitening still requires touch-ups but veneers can remain white for years. You can also enjoy food and drinks that are known stain-producers like red wine or beets.

One of the most notable benefits of porcelain veneers is that if done right, they should last at least 10 years, if not closer to 15. If a patient’s veneers last less than 10 years, then there’s a chance that the veneers were inadequately bonded to enamel.

Procedure to Put Veneers in Place

Every case is different, but typically a dentist will prep teeth and make an impression. The dentist will either create the veneers from these impressions or send them to a lab for a technician to sculpt the final product. While custom veneers are being prepped, temporary ones are placed.

The temporary veneers are replaced by the real ones, which are bonded to your tooth or teeth. This will keep them securely in place while you go about your life. Porcelain veneers are sized to cover the number of teeth required. Be sure to follow the maintenance and oral health instructions provided by your dentist to guarantee your veneers last as long as possible.

Materials and Functionality

Porcelain veneers are made from a combination of porcelain and composite resin. Porcelain is used because it is a durable material that looks lifelike. It’s undetectable from both up close and far away and caring for it is relatively easy.

Most patients only require two appointments to have their teeth prepped and their veneers put into place. The procedure is relatively pain-free with most patients enjoying their new smile as soon as the last appointment is complete.

A veneer is a thin layer that fits like an artificial fingernail. The structure of the tooth remains intact and the veneer protects it from damage and staining while reshaping. It doesn’t necessary replace treatments like dental bridges or crowns, which fix broken teeth but they can serve a similar dental function for patients. Of course, veneers can also be a purely cosmetic procedure that one opts for to get their desired smile.

As a material, porcelain can be more expensive than composite resin or some of the other materials that are used to make veneers. The complexity or specific requirements of a case will ultimately dictate cost. Composite veneers usually only take one visit so they’re less costly since they take up less of the dentist’s time.

Veneers for multiple teeth could cost less than a single tooth because it is quite labour-intensive for a dental or technician to create one tooth that closely matches the colour and shape of your other teeth.

Are Veneers a Fit for you?

With porcelain veneers, the results speak for themselves. They help patients look and feel better while letting them feel confident in every social and professional settings. They really are a life-changing cosmetic procedure in many ways.

Book a free no-obligation consultation today and let’s get your smile in style!