Have you come in contact with a stranger and immediately been envious of their self-confidence and beautiful smile, while you tend to keep your mouth closed for fear of people noticing your stained or misaligned teeth? Do you have teeth that are discolored, cracked, or chipped; and it’s destroying your confidence? Stop letting it keep you from interacting with people or from smiling. With poor diets and lifestyles playing havoc with our teeth, many have turned to their dentist to solve the problem with crowns, implants, or veneers.
Do you know the difference between these three procedures, and how will you know if veneers are right for you?
When Will A Dentist Recommend Crowns, Implants, Or Veneers
People who are unfamiliar with dentistry terms may confuse crowns, dental implants, and veneers, but these three procedures are very different are not interchangeable.
Crowns
Crowns are used to build up an entire tooth when teeth are broken and there is very little original structure left.
Implants
Implants are screwed into the jawbone are used when the tooth is missing. They are sometimes also used to secure a crown.
Veneers
Veneers are applied to the front of the tooth and are cosmetic in nature. They are used to improve the appearance of generally healthy and intact teeth.
What Are Veneers?
The American Academy Of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) describes veneers as, “A thin piece of porcelain recreating the natural look of teeth and offering a strength and resilience comparable to natural tooth enamel”. The custom made porcelain fits the contour of the teeth. It then bonds to the natural tooth enamel. If taken care of, porcelain veneers can last up to 20 years.
Most veneers are porcelain. However, some patients prefer them made of composite resin. Composite resin veneers differ from porcelain veneers in few ways because they:
- Are less expensive.
- Application requires less enamel removal.
- Easier to replace but
- Only last about five years
- May easily break.
- Tea, coffee, and red wine may stain them.
Why Do People Request Veneers?
Veneers are less intrusive than crowns and implants and fall in the category of cosmetic dentistry. Some reasons that people request them include to:
- Straighten their smile.
- Close gaps between teeth.
- Correct crooked teeth or small misalignment.
- Enhance or correct the color of your teeth; this happens with the use of tetracycline, exposure to excessive fluoride, or as a result of a root canal treatment.
- Repair chipped or cracked teeth.
- Make very small teeth look larger or repair teeth that have been worn down from grinding.
What Are Their Benefits?
Most people who request veneers are very self-conscious of their teeth and suffer from low self-esteem. An increase in self-confidence is the biggest benefit for those people. Some other benefits of veneers are they:
- Strengthen the teeth.
- Look very natural.
- Are stain-resistant.
- Are custom; You can normally select the exact white shade that you want.
- Are stronger than crowns and do not require as much shaping.
Things To Consider Before Requesting Porcelain Veneers
There are numerous benefits to porcelain veneers! The self-confidence boost they provide is paramount. With that being said, if you’re thinking about this procedure? Take note of the following:
- They’re expensive. It’s wise to get a cost estimate
- They may not precisely match your natural tooth color.
- In the unlikely event that they chip or crack, they cannot be repaired.
- They are not a protection against tooth decay, and should this happen, you will require full crown coverage.
- If you have unhealthy teeth, veneers cannot be applied; Additionally, if you have gum disease or decaying teeth.
- They cannot be applied to teeth that have been weakened by fractures or large fillings.
- If you have too little enamel on your teeth, veneers cannot be applied.
- For porcelain veneer application, enamel needs to be removed; this sometimes results in teeth becoming sensitive to hot and cold food and drinks.
- If you grind or clench your teeth, you are a poor candidate for porcelain veneers as they may crack and chip.
Caring For Your Veneers
First and foremost, if you take care of your veneers, they won’t need to be replaced for 15 to 20 years. Apart from regular brushing with non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste and regular flossing, you can prolong their lifespan by not:
- Putting too much pressure on your teeth by using them to open items like lids and bottle tops.
- Chewing hard objects like pencils or ice.
- Biting your nails.
- (Although porcelain veneers do not stain easily) It’s advisable to avoid drinking excessive amounts of tea, coffee, or red wine.
Eriks Dental Group, The Dentist Group Of Choice In Boynton Beach
Your smile shouldn’t embarrass you. And you don’t need to dread your annual visit to the dentist. Eriks Dental Group commits themselves to administering excellent dental care. Our practice is always offers its patients a caring, capable, and comprehensive services.
For any cosmetic or family dental needs contact us on 561-733-4004 Monday to Thursday 8 am to 4:30 pm and Friday 8 am to 12:30 pm. Furthermore, you can email us at [email protected].