Transform Your Smile with Dental Veneers

Transform Your Smile with Dental Veneers

Feb 11, 2022

Are you unhappy with the appearance of your teeth? Whether your teeth are chipped, cracked, or stained, dental veneers can help you achieve the smile of your dreams and restore the normal function of your tooth. Typically, veneers are used as a cosmetic treatment, seeking to improve the overall appearance of a damaged tooth. However, they also offer restorative benefits by repairing teeth damages such as chips and cracks.

What is a Dental Veneer?

A veneer is a thin tooth-colored coating bonded to a damaged tooth to repair the damage. Unlike a dental crown covering the entire visible part of the tooth, a veneer only covers the front of a tooth, improving its color, shape, size, and length. Apart from repairing teeth damage, veneers are also ideal for fixing minor orthodontic issues such as teeth gaps and misalignments.

In summary, veneers can fix many dental issues, such as:

  • Teeth stains and discoloration that won’t respond to teeth bleaching. It includes stains from certain medications, tooth decay, and dental trauma.
  • Worn down, chipped, or fractured teeth
  • Misaligned, misshapen, or uneven teeth
  • Gapped teeth
  • Visible bulges and craters in teeth

While veneers are effective, they are not the right treatment for all dental damages. Good candidates for veneers have:

  • Minor to average tooth damage. Veneers cannot treat extensive or significant tooth damage. Such damages can only be fixed with dental crowns, braces, and Invisalign® treatments.
  • Enough tooth structure. You must have enough tooth enamel for a veneer to properly bond with the natural tooth.
  • Good oral hygiene. Good oral hygiene and habits are essential to care for your veneers and mouth. Keep in mind that a tooth with a veneer can still develop cavities.

Types of Dental Veneers

Common types of dental veneers include:

  • Porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers are the most popular type of veneers. The tooth-colored nature of porcelain materials helps blend well with the rest of your teeth, giving you a natural appearance. Besides, porcelain veneers are more versatile, durable, and better than natural teeth. On average, these veneers last for about 10-15 years.

Porcelain veneers are easy to place and are minimally invasive, thereby preserving the structure of your tooth. Porcelain veneers are ideal for front-tooth restorations, as well as back teeth restorations.

  • Composite veneers

Composite veneers are more of a cosmetic option. They are made from tooth-colored materials, making them aesthetically pleasing. They are not as expensive as porcelain veneers. But they are not as strong and durable as porcelain veneers are. On average, they last for about 5-10 years, depending on the location of the repaired tooth.

  • Lumineers®

With porcelain and composite veneers, they trim a small part of the tooth’s enamel to allow the veneer to fit perfectly. It can damage the tooth’s structure and make you susceptible to cavities and tooth decay. If that is a concern for you, Lumineers are an excellent option to consider. A Lumineer is a thinner type of dental veneer. Lumineers don’t require teeth shaping or reduction due to their thin and translucent nature.

The Process of Getting Veneers

The dental veneers procedure is easy and takes about two appointments. Before fitting the veneer, the dentist will check your tooth to determine whether the treatment is right for you.

The dentist will trim down a small portion of the tooth’s enamel during the primary procedure to create enough space for the veneers to attach correctly. Next, a putty mold of the prepared tooth is taken and sent to the lab for the veneer creation. The dentist prepares and fits a temporary veneer to protect the trimmed tooth as you wait for the customized veneer.

Once the customized veneer is ready, the dentist will remove the temporary veneer. Next, the dentist applies an acidic gel on the tooth to roughen it for easy bonding. The dentist then cements the customized veneer and uses a special light to speed up the bonding process. Dentists with 3D mapping technology can create in-house veneers using digital scans of your teeth.

Schedule an Appointment Today

For more information about dental veneer treatments, contact Andover Cosmetic Dental Group.

Our dentists in Andover, MA also welcome patients from the below nearby areas:

  • North Andover
  • Lawrence
  • Methuen
  • Tewksbury
  • North Reading
  • Middleton
  • Wilmington
  • Dracut
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