As a Veneers Dentist, We Love Porcelain Veneers!

As a veneers dentist, we look for solutions that are simple and efficient - dental veneers meet both of these criteria. Made of the finest, thinnest strip of porcelain the veneers fit onto the teeth, or over the teeth, as a replacement to enamel that has been worn away, chipped, or broken. Often a small fraction of the enamel will need to be stripped away in order to make room for the dental veneer to fit flush with the rest of the teeth. Since the dental veneer has to take the place of enamel, the thin strip of porcelain has to have many of the same qualities as the enamel itself. As such, the veneer is extremely hard. This allows it to withstand the rigors of a eating a regular diet. At the same time, like enamel, the porcelain is brittle and is not designed to do things like opening bottles which can crack the veneer in much the same way as it can damage a natural tooth.

Not only do dental veneers have some of the qualities of enamel, but the veneer is also designed to serve a very important duality of functions. First they look and feel like the real thing, meaning you will never have a tooth that is different from the surrounding teeth. This is very important for the esthetic appeal of the teeth. Secondly dental veneers can give the tooth protection. This is especially important when there is some level of decay, and the tooth needs to be bolstered against further infection. The veneer takes the place of the enamel in blocking the damage from spreading further and in many cases can actually help to save the tooth itself.

Dental veneers can have a very long lifecycle. With the proper care and maintenance, the dental veneers can last anywhere from seven to thirty years. Naturally there is no real way to predict how long one of these devices will last with any sense of certainty. Each mouth is different, and additionally each person will take care of their mouth, and by extension their veneers, differently. As the mouth changes, and faced with additional complications like diseases, there is always a possibility that your veneers may need replacing. However, like teeth, veneers can last longer if you have regular checkups with a veneers dentist.

It is important to note that dental veneers won't really impact your overall quality of life. This is because they are designed specifically to ensure that they blend in and behave like a natural tooth. The veneers fit snugly into the tooth itself, so they do not stand out. Maintenance of the veneers is no different from keeping you regular teeth clean and as long as you follow a routine of brushing, flossing, and seeing the dentist for regular professional cleanings, the veneers require no additional care. The only area where we advise a difference in your lifestyle is in the things that you eat and drink. Veneers do not stain, but the teeth around them do. Eating and drinking foods that could stain your teeth could result in your veneers being whiter than the teeth around them. If, however, you need to whiten your natural teeth, we can perform a whitening procedure in our veneers dentist office.

Teeth Whitening  >  Cosmetic Dentist