Porcelain Veneers
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PORCELAIN VENEERS
If you’ve struggled to acquire the perfect smile through ordinary hygiene or even professional teeth whitening treatments, you may be a candidate for porcelain veneers.
While there’s no arguing with the results, it’s still a big decision. The following will help you better understand what veneers are, how they’re applied, and why so many people opt for them in the first place.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin shells that are applied to the front of your teeth to improve the aesthetics of your smile. Veneers are always custom-made to ensure they match the color, shape, and size of the rest of your teeth.
Some people get porcelain veneers for multiple teeth. Others may only require one for a single tooth.
How Do Porcelain Veneers Work?
The procedure begins with a consultation. First, the dentist will need to make sure you understand what porcelain veneers entail and verify that you’re a good candidate for them.
If you are, then during the next step, the dentist will remove a thin layer from the surface of your teeth. This is done to make enough room for your veneers to slide over teeth, so you’re able to talk, chew, and carry out normal movements without any extra bulk.
After space has been cleared, your dentist will make a mold of your teeth, which will be used to create perfect veneers. This is done by professionals at a laboratory. You’ll be given temporary veneers to wear until your custom-made versions are ready.
When your veneers are finished, you’ll return to the dentist’s office to have them applied. A dental adhesive will be used to ensure they attached to your teeth no matter what.
About a week after your veneers are put in place, you’ll go back to the dentist for one more appointment, so they can confirm that there have been no adverse reactions or other problems.
Who Benefits from Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers have become popular with people from all walks of life. After all, they give you a perfect smile in terms of whiteness, shape, and symmetry.
Most people who get veneers have a smile that is essentially beyond repair. For example, many adults have crooked teeth and don’t want to deal with braces for years before their smile is corrected.
A much simpler solution is to have veneers applied. In a fraction of the time, their smile will look absolutely perfect.
Many people also opt for porcelain veneers because their smile is discolored. While teeth whitening is the common solution, it’s not always an option. If your teeth are too damaged to brighten, or you have an adverse reaction to the whitening agents, then you’ll need porcelain veneers to give you that ideal smile.
Other reasons people choose porcelain veneers often involve minor defects in their teeth like:
- Chips
- Gaps
- Unusual size
Of course, plenty of people simply want a whiter, uniform, and symmetrical smile without requiring a lot of maintenance. Veneers definitely deliver this desirable outcome.
How Long Does It Take to Get Porcelain Veneers?
The entire process will usually take a few weeks. As we covered above, it will begin with an initial consultation. After that, the first step can be completed within a week, depending on your schedule. Then, it usually takes another week or two before your veneers will be finished and applied. After that, you’ll need a follow-up appointment to confirm there are no problems for the dentist to address.
That’s a relatively quick timeline considering how long porcelain veneers will give you a perfect smile.
How Long Do Porcelain Veneers Last?
Generally, you can expect your porcelain veneers to maintain their looks for at least 10 years. Many people keep their perfect smile for 15 years – even 20 years isn’t unheard of. It all depends on your lifestyle.
Do your best to avoid the following:
- Red Wine
- Coffee
- Soda
- Tea
- Smoking
While porcelain is nearly impossible to stain, the problem is that these substances could discolor the teeth surrounding them, which would require maintenance to fix.
Do Porcelain Veneers Require Any Maintenance?
Technically, porcelain really doesn’t require any maintenance. However, you still want to practice your normal oral hygiene habits because, as we just touched on, the rest of your teeth still matter.
Don’t forget about your gums, either. If they start wearing from decay, the tops of your veneers will become obvious.
How Much Do Porcelain Veneers Cost?
Porcelain veneers are charged by the tooth. Usually, the price is around $1,500 each. As veneers are considered a cosmetic procedure, insurance will most likely not help cover the cost.
That’s why it’s wise to begin planning early. If you think it will take porcelain veneers to give you the kind of smile you can be proud of, seek a consultation and begin budgeting for the cost.
Would You Like to Learn More About Porcelain Veneers?
At South Austin Dental Studio, we love introducing people to the benefits of porcelain veneers. If you’d like to learn more about how they can give you a perfect smile for more than a decade, give us a call at (512)444-4400 today.
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