What Is a Dental Veneer?
According to the American Dental Association, a veneer is a permanent change used to correct tooth imperfections, such as stained or chipped teeth. Veneers are thin porcelain or composite resin coverings that are bonded to the front surface of a tooth using dental cement.
Because veneers are permanent, it's essential to get all the information and weigh the pros and cons before deciding to get them.
Your smile is one of the first features that most people will notice. What happens if a tooth needs some minor treatment to make your smile shine? That's where a dental veneer could help to enhance your smile. Dental veneers are a good option for addressing a variety of physical and aesthetic problems with your teeth.
Easily Whiten Your Smile
Years of drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes or eating highly pigmented foods can eventually take their toll on your teeth, turning them an unattractive shade of yellow or brown. Stained enamel can be bleached at home or by your dentist, but can also become stained again. If you're looking for an easier way to whiten your smile for good, dental veneers may be a great fit for you. Veneers are mostly stain-resistant, so you won't have to worry about discoloration or needing to have your veneers whitened.
Fix Minor Cosmetic Problems
Veneers can fix chips, cracks, gaps between teeth, minor misalignment and/or discoloration — they help correct many cosmetic dental issues!
Veneers are attached to the front surfaces of your teeth — so while they don't change the position of your teeth, they do camouflage minor orthodontic problems once they're applied. Your natural teeth may still be gapped or crooked, but nobody will know aside from you and your dentist.
Veneers can't always replace orthodontic treatment, and your dentist may refer you to an orthodontist instead of placing veneers.
Replace Damaged Enamel
Enamel is strong but not indestructible. Your enamel may still be worn down from overzealous tooth brushing or eaten away by highly acidic foods and drinks. The stomach acid associated with acid reflux disease can also damage your enamel. Damaged enamel can become a cause for concern because lost enamel doesn't grow back. Fortunately, you can replace it. Veneers are an excellent treatment for teeth with enamel abrasion or enamel erosion — and they look great, too!