An Informative Guide to Veneers: Here's What You Need to Know

Your pearly whites play a huge role in your overall aesthetics. Your confidence can plummet if your smile is marred with imperfections such as cracks, chips, or stains. If you are thinking of improving your dental aesthetics, veneers can work wonders on your smile.

Dental veneers are a quick and yet effective solution to minor dental issues. They can easily enhance your smile by addressing a multitude of problems.

If you are considering getting veneers, you need to understand how they work since they are a permanent solution.

What Are Veneers and How Do They Work?

In a nutshell, veneers are wafer-thin, tooth-colored customized shells that are bonded on your tooth surface by our dentist in Quincy, MA, to address dental issues such as stains, gaps, cracks, or chips. They are designed to look, feel, and function like your teeth.

Since they are thin shells, they can sit on your teeth without increasing its bulk. But bear in mind that some enamel must be removed to create room for the veneer.

Veneers can be fashioned from dental porcelain or composite resin since they are biocompatible materials that resemble natural teeth.

Veneers can be used to restore a single tooth or multiple teeth. Some patients also opt to go for partial veneers, which do not cover the whole tooth. Veneers are ideal for patients who desire less intrusive restorative treatments.

Who Are the Ideal Candidates?

If you have any of the following dental issues, then you may be a good candidate for veneers:

• Enamel hypoplasia (a condition that causes you to have thin enamel)
• Chipped or broken teeth
• Unevenly shaped or sized teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Misaligned teeth
• Worn-down teeth

Are Veneers Done in a Day?

Typically, it takes more than one appointment for you to get veneers. Veneers have to be customized so that they fit in with the rest of your teeth. A typical process usually involves the following:

• In most cases, anesthesia is not used before fixing the veneers. However, local anesthesia can be used if you have sensitive teeth. Our dentist will clean your teeth and then determine the right shade for the veneer.
• After this, our dentist will remove some of your enamel to create room for the veneer.
• Our dentist will take an impression of your teeth, then place a temporary veneer on your tooth.
• After fabrication is complete, the temporary veneer will be removed. Then, our dentist will clean your teeth with water and pumice. Then the veneer will be etched to aid in bonding and then rinsed with water.
• Your teeth will be roughened, and a special cement will be placed on the veneer before it is bonded on your tooth.
• The veneer will then be cured under a special light, which hardens the veneer.
• If there is excess cement, it will be removed, and the veneer’s surface will be polished. Then our dentist will evaluate your bite to see if the veneer has bonded properly.

Do You Have to Brush Veneers?

Just like your natural teeth, veneers have to be taken care of. To keep your veneers looking beautiful, you have to brush your teeth at least twice daily. Do not forget to floss at least once each day. You should avoid using abrasive fluoride toothpaste.

At the same time, you should cut back on stain inducing foods and drinks because you cannot bleach veneers. It is recommended to visit our dentist’s office near you at least twice each year for cleanings.

Here are some other tips:

• Avoid chewing hard objects like pens, fingernails, or ice
• Avoid using your teeth to open condiment packages
• Avoid chewing with your front teeth
• Use a mouthguard if you are engaging in contact sports
• Get a retainer to protect your veneers from damage, if you grind or clench your teeth at night

Typically, veneers will last up to 20 years if you take good care of them. They are a worthy investment and can change your smile almost instantly. If you have any questions, you can contact our dentist at Quincy Dental Associates.