Undergoing a smile makeover is an easy way to improve your look and change the way you feel about your teeth. With dental veneers, your dentist applies thin shells to your smile that mimics the look of your teeth.
Dental veneers are a great way to fix gaps and cracks in teeth, cover up spots or staining, or rehabilitate a misaligned bite. To help you learn a bit more about veneers before you jump in, here are a few things to consider:
1. There are different types
Composite:
Composite veneers are fabricated right inside your mouth. While they can be one on just one dental visit, it can be a long one depending on how many teeth are being treated
Composite resin veneers, also know as teeth bonding, are less expensive, faster, and requires less healthy tooth removal. They are a great way to correct more minor cosmetic problems and rebuild teeth that have been worn by teeth grinding.
Porcelain:
Porcelain veneers are made in a dental lab. A mold of your tooth is made at your first appointment You return for a second, and sometimes third appointment that have the veneers installed. Porcelain veneers have a superior appearance and are the most effective for treating severe cases of discolouration, chipped, cracked, broken crooked, or uneven teeth.
Porcelain veneers resist staining much better than composite veneers. They also last longer. Porcelain reflects light in a very similar way to your natural teeth, giving you a natural appearance.
The drawback to porcelain veneers is the cost. They are also more difficult to repair and require the removal of healthy tooth to install them.
2. They can balance a misaligned bite
As noted above, veneers can treat a misaligned bite. Grinding your teeth, chewing on the inside of your cheek, experiencing some type of trauma to the face or going through a car accident can all cause the teeth inside your mouth to shift.
This puts extra stress on the TMJ joint in your jaw, which can lead to headaches, jaw pain, a popping noise that occurs when you move your jaw, back pain or pain in the shoulders. Veneers can help you recover from a TMJ disorder.
3. Things can go wrong
Before getting veneers on your teeth, make sure that you know all the steps associated with the process. If the dentist uses the wrong type of bonding agent or you have large stains on your teeth, you might notice dark stains seeping through and appearing on the front of your teeth.
Choosing the wrong dentist can also result in teeth that appear dark gray or even yellow in color after dental bonding. Make sure that you work with a dentist you can trust.
4. Your dentist knows best
Your dentist is the person who knows best what you need. By discussing your TMJ symptoms or cosmetic goals you can ensure that you get the best treatment for your particular needs.
If you would like to learn more about how dental veneers could help you, please come in for a complimentary consultation.
