If you have less than perfect teeth, like your teeth are either discolored, chipped or misshapen or all of the three, veneers are a great way to give you a smile that you won’t be ashamed of flashing to anyone you come across.
What Is A Veneer?
A dental veneer is composed of thin custom-made shells of either porcelain or composite resin that’s fit over teeth. They are a cosmetic dental product that’s used to mask tooth imperfections, all the while giving teeth a natural and attractive tooth.
Aside from discolored, chipped or misshapen teeth, veneers can also be used to fix and improve worn down and uneven teeth, as well as uneven spaces or gaps in between them.
Why Veneers?
Of course, the best thing about veneers is that they give you the best-looking teeth that you could possibly have. However, apart from aesthetics, one good thing about veneers is that there’s very little tooth structure lost during the process. The procedure also requires the use of little to no anesthesia, which decreases the chances of complications from the use of anesthesia.
Dental veneers also use materials that are resistant to all sorts of stains, such as coffee, tea and other highly pigmented foods that real teeth aren’t naturally resistant to.
Why Porcelain Veneers?
There are two types of materials commonly used in dental veneers – composite resin and porcelain.
Of the two, porcelain veneers are considered better, namely because of the following reasons:
- Durability. Although very thin and brittle, porcelain veneers are actually very strong and durable once they’re bonded to the teeth. They can last for years and even decades if they’re taken care of properly by practicing good oral hygiene at home and avoiding chewing or cracking hard objects, such as ice, bottle caps and so on.
- Appearance. The translucent properties of porcelain allow porcelain veneers to look as natural as possible.
- Stain-resistant. Porcelain, as a material, is an impervious ceramic and is also quite smooth. Also, the material will not pick up permanent stains from highly pigmented drinks and food, cigarettes, tobacco, coffee and so on.
Although a very effective means of improving the appearance of one’s teeth, porcelain veneers aren’t perfect. For starters, the process of removing a tiny bit of tooth enamel to make space for porcelain veneers is irreversible. Also, once cemented, the color can no longer be changed, which means you’ll have to constantly take care of your teeth so that your natural teeth don’t stain too much and make the veneers stand out. Lastly, if you manage to break the veneers, your only option is to have them replaced.
Even if your teeth aren’t in that bad of a shape, you may still find that porcelain veneers are a great way to improve your smile and boost your confidence, as well as self-esteem even further.
If you’re interested, discuss porcelain veneers with your dentist and ask if you’re a good candidate. Be sure to let your dentist know what you want to see in your new and improved smile. Who knows, if you’re lucky enough, your dentist may be able to give you an early preview of what your future smile looks like!
If you’re ready to enhance your smile with porcelain veneers, contact Dr. Anthony Yamada, DDS at 310-546-2595 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.anthonyyamadadds.com for additional information regarding veneers.