What are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are a common solution scientifically proven to be highly effective in correcting cosmetic dental flaws. They’re medical-grade ceramic shells used to sheath the teeth and correct cosmetics defects. Thin sheets of porcelain are used to make a custom fit for each tooth and immediately transform any smile.
Porcelain is ultra-strong, while porcelain veneers resemble natural dental enamel and can last up to 10 years. They are wafer-thin and when bonded to your teeth, they give a brilliant white surface that does not stain like natural tooth enamel.
With proper care, you can maintain your perfect white smile for up to 15 years. This makes them some of the most sought-after products in dental cosmetics. This article explores if porcelain veneers are safe and who should use them.
Are Porcelain Veneers Safe?
Yes, porcelain veneers are safe to use on your teeth. The veneer shell is made of biocompatible porcelain — it’s neutral and cannot cause allergic reactions. Dentists use a special type of adhesive to ensure it remains completely safe.
Porcelain veneers have the same texture and feel as real enamel in the mouth, so biting down with them will feel as natural as possible. Veneers will not spoil your real teeth, they also do not need special attention to care for, nothing more than your regular oral hygiene routines.
Do Porcelain Veneers Affect Your Teeth?
Porcelain veneers don’t affect your teeth at all, as long as you visit a qualified dentist. The dentist will perform all procedures including taking x-rays to make sure that your teeth don’t have decay and find out if you need treatment before the veneers are installed.
The teeth must be properly prepared well and the enamel carefully removed to give way for the veneers. This increases your protection as the teeth will not decay or stain like natural teeth. The bonding material is very safe and it doesn’t harm your teeth.
Candidates For Veneers
You can use porcelain veneers to correct the following dental cosmetic issues:
- Discoloration
- Chipping
- Cracks
- Minor misalignments
- Gaps between the teeth
Who Can't Wear Porcelain Veneers?
The biggest drawback of porcelain veneers is that they’re permanent. The dentist will remove a significant amount of enamel and add a bond to hold the veneers in place. So, once installed, you cannot go back to your natural teeth.
Therefore, patients with dental sensitivity cannot use veneers as removing the enamel from their teeth will only expose them making them more sensitive. However, if you don’t have a problem, the sensitivity will go away in a few days.
That said, you have to satisfy the following condition to be a suitable candidate for veneer installation.
- Teeth and gums in good condition
- Desire to address teeth flaws such as stains, chips, fractures, form, and alignment
- Enough tooth enamels
- Regularly or moderately regularly shaped teeth
- No evidence of teeth grinding
- Commitment to breaking harmful habits like nail-biting and eating hard or crunchy foods
- Commitment to maintaining good oral hygiene
Healthy gums and teeth with great periodontal health are an absolute must for those who want to have veneers installed. Individuals with gum disease, tooth decay, etc. have to seek treatment before they can receive their veneers without chance of future complications.
How Dentists Make Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are generally expensive because most are long-term installations that require a layer of enamel to be removed to get the perfect fit. A dentist will custom make your veneers from a mold of your teeth before installing them.
During the consultations process, communicate to the dentist what objectives you have for your teeth. Bring along pictures of what you admire, as a starting point, and customize it with your dentist to fit your teeth. From this, you can see how your veneers would turn out.
To make the molds for your veneers, a small layer of your natural enamel may have to be shaved off to get the right fit. Once this happens, and before your veneers are ready, your dentist may install a temporary set of veneers — mostly, acrylic or other material. The prepared veneers must fit your teeth as naturally as possible and when ready, the dentist will then cement them in place. A special light will cure the cement in place and just like that, you have a set of unblemished, natural-looking teeth.
Porcelain Veneers Costs
Cosmetic veneers are a much more considerable investment compared to other cosmetic dental procedures. Rightfully so considering they offer reliable and long-term results.
As is typical of most cosmetic procedures, health insurance will mostly not cover veneer installation but can allow it if they prove the veneers improve the quality of the patient’s life and health. For this reason, the costs of installing veneers will vary based on these factors:
- The dentist’s experience
- Type of veneers
- State of teeth, i.e., whether in good or bad condition
- Geographical location.
How Do Other Cosmetic Dental Options Compare To Porcelain Veneers?
To repair your teeth’s cosmetic issues, you can opt for implants, other types of veneers, or crowns made from other materials. At a glance, these options may appear more affordable compared to installing veneers. But once you factor in that they require regular and invasive procedures, the momentum shifts towards porcelain veneers. For one, crowns and implants may not be recommended because they may not be as long-term as veneers.
Veneers made of other materials would work, but they cannot match the longevity of porcelain veneers. This means that all things considered, you may have paid more for other veneers than you would have with a one-time installation of veneers. For instance, other types of veneers, e.g., lumineers may be more expensive than porcelain veneers but they can’t match porcelain in mimicking the appearance of enamel.
Caring For Veneers
Porcelain wears better if not similar to tooth enamel and with recent advancements in adhesives technology, they can last up to 15 years installed on your teeth. Your beautiful, newly installed veneers will last as long as you take care of them because while the porcelain itself is not susceptible to some types of damage, the surrounding enamel is.
Proper care for veneers entails practicing proper dental and periodontal hygiene with regular visits to your dentist. Take care of your veneers just like you would with your natural teeth and you will maintain a worry-free smile for as long as the veneers last.
Get Your Porcelain Veneers Done Right!
Porcelain veneers have the immense power to transform images, more so if done by the Dentists at Excellence In Dentistry. One of our most popular products is porcelain veneers, so, if you are interested in correcting your cosmetic imperfections, call (208) 529-4321 for a consultation or click here to learn more.
