Veneers are very versatile. In fact, they can deal with a host of cosmetic issues. Read on to learn what they are and the many ways they can improve smiles.
Veneers, which are thin shells that go on the visible portions of the front teeth, can treat many cosmetic issues. But, like any other dental procedure, they have their limitations. This is why it’s important to consult a dentist with experience in cosmetic dentistry.
An overview of veneers
If you’ve ever admired a celebrity’s sparkling smile, there’s a good chance they’ve had work done to get that smile. They might have had their teeth straightened, whitened, or covered with veneers.
Dental veneers are wafer-thin shells that are bonded to the fronts of the teeth that are visible when smiling. They’re usually made of porcelain or composite resin, and they’re shaded to match the rest of your teeth.
What veneers can do
As mentioned, veneers go on top of your natural teeth. By doing this, you can hide a multitude of issues, such as the following:
- Gaps between teeth
- Severe discoloration
- Small or unusually shaped teeth
- Multiple broken or chipped teeth
This is just a sample of the concerns veneers can address. At Image Dental, we can evaluate your teeth and let you know if veneers can help you.
What veneers can’t do
Veneers only go on the surfaces of teeth to improve the appearance of a person’s smile. Veneers don’t straighten teeth or correct alignment issues. You would need braces or clear aligners to straighten your smile. Furthermore, if you have missing teeth, you would need implants or bridges to fill in those gaps.
To put it simply, veneers are mostly cosmetic. While they’ll benefit your dental health in that they’ll reinforce the teeth they’re attached to, they won’t improve your dental health in the way that implants, braces, or other dental treatments can.
Other considerations
You should also know that applying veneers involves shaving away a thin layer of enamel, which causes a slight but permanent alteration to the tooth.
This means that once you get veneers, you’ll need to wear veneers for the rest of your life. However, by taking good care of them, they can last a long time before needing to be replaced.
At Image Dental, our team will work with you to determine exactly what needs fixing, and we’ll let you know if veneers could help you. From there, you can begin building the smile you’ve always wanted.
To learn more about veneers, call (209) 955-1500 or book an appointment online with Image Dental today.
