What Are Dental Veneers?
What are dental veneers?
Dental Veneers are, quite basically, a thin porcelain covering for a tooth. That is the most basic definition that can be given for them.
Veneers are used in a vast variety of ways. From fixing chips in a person’s tooth to brightening someone’s smile. The cosmetic usage of dental veneers is very widespread. When people are worried about the aesthetics of their teeth, dental veneers are a very good option for them. Chipped teeth can be repaired, gaps in teeth can be closed, even faded, old, and yellowing teeth have life breathed back into them (in a manner of speaking) with veneers. Depending on what you are looking for in terms of cosmetics, whether it is any of the above or another cosmetic concern, you should consult your dentist to find out what options are out there, and ask about veneers. These thin porcelain coverings are not the panacea of cosmetic dentistry, but they do go a long way in making someone have an vibrant and bright smile, and getting that bright smile doesn’t have to take a long time, either.
First off, let’s take a little more in-depth look at what they can be used for, in regards to improving an individual’s smile:
- Chipped teeth- Veneers can be used for broken or chipped front teeth, and they often are. Being a solid piece of porcelain covering for the front of the tooth, it masks the chip and helps support the tooth structurally.
- Yellow teeth that won’t whiten- Sometimes, no matter how often you try, your teeth may not be as white as you want them to be. One of the plus points of veneers is that, you are able to pick the shade of your veneer, and therefore what the front of the tooth itself, will look like. They give the person partial control of just how white their teeth will inevitably look. Some people would prefer their veneers to be shaded a natural, off-white color. Other individuals want to get their teeth as white as possible. Both options (with dental veneers) are possible.
- Closing gaps in your teeth- Another very common usage of dental veneers is to fill gaps in your teeth. Veneers can make your teeth appear larger or can actually make them a different shape (if you are not fond of the shape they have now). With veneers you can actually close small gaps in your teeth. This is especially useful for those that are not candidates for orthodontic work (as some people have small teeth that orthodontics cannot remedy).
- Reshaping the appearance of your teeth- This one I give last, and for good reason. Dental veneers can be used to alter the shape and appearance of your teeth. This is, quite clearly, an obvious cosmetic use. If you don’t like the shape of your smile or how your teeth are shaped when you smile or when you open your mouth to talk, veneers can be used to change their appearance. You can literally, reshape your smile. If you want your front teeth to appear longer, you can do this with veneers. You want more sizable canines, dental veneers can help make them seem that way. You can the add the appearance of a stronger curve to your teeth or even make them flatter looking. With dental veneers you can do a lot.
What questions to ask the doctor?
Well, in terms of a cosmetic consultation, you can ask whatever you want (cosmetically speaking, that is.) Some of the things you should be asking the dentist about are: the veneer procedure itself, what shade you had your eye on (more natural colored, or more white), how you want your teeth shaped (within the realms of what veneers can do), how many veneers you would need to make what you want done work, and, also, even what would work best with the shape of your face. These are all things that the dentist can help answer. When you are recieving a consult with regards to dental veneers, ask any questions you want. Those that he can answer, he/she will.
In closing, I have to say, it won’t hurt to get a consult to see what veneers can do for you. In fact, you will be able to make a more educated decision on just what choices you should make in terms of cosmetic dentistry, and what options you have available to you. Veneers are an option, but they aren’t the only option.
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