Have you always dreamed of having a perfect smile? Do you envy movie stars with dazzling teeth? Did you know you can achieve that type of smile too? Dental veneers are the answer for both famous and not-so-famous people!

If you’re searching for a quick and effective solution for your cosmetic dental problems, continue reading to learn everything you need to know about dental veneers.

Dental Veneers: The Basics

Dental veneers are also called porcelain veneers because they are made from high-quality porcelain. These extremely thin porcelain shells cover the front surface of one tooth, multiple teeth, or all teeth and can change the shape, size, and color of the teeth while still looking just like natural dental enamel.

Problems That Veneers Address

Patients choose porcelain veneers as a solution to various cosmetic dental problems, including:

Intrinsic Dental Stains

Professional teeth whitening is limited to correcting extrinsic dental stains on the surface of a person’s teeth. Intrinsic dental stains caused by trauma, medication, and/or fluoride overuse must be covered up because they cannot be undone.

Misalignment

In some cases, veneers can correct crooked and misaligned teeth. Patients can experience immediate results instead of waiting 18-24 months with orthodontic solutions.

Gaps

Additionally, dentists can create veneers to cover gaps between teeth. At the same time, the shape and color of those teeth can be corrected as well.

Worn Down Teeth

Patients who suffer from teeth grinding often have short, worn down, damaged teeth. Dentists can create realistic-looking veneers to cover and restore the appearance of these teeth. To protect them from further damage, he will also create a custom mouthguard.

Small Teeth

Sometimes a person has one or two teeth that develop smaller than the rest. Veneers can be formed to be the appropriate size to match the rest of the smile.

Misshapen Teeth

A single misshapen tooth can negatively impact an entire smile. With dental veneers, the tooth can be quickly corrected so the patient can enjoy life and feel confident! Cosmetic bonding may also be a solution to this problem, but it often doesn’t provide satisfying results.

Candidacy for Dental Veneers

Aside from having imperfections in your teeth, patients who desire to get dental veneers should have good oral health. This means there should be no evidence of tooth decay, gum disease, or even bruxism.

For patients who do have oral health problems, a dentist can address those problems before moving forward with the veneer process.

The Dental Veneer Process

Unlike other cosmetic dental solutions, the process of getting dental veneers is quick and relatively comfortable. The process consists of two dental visits.

During the first appointment, the dentist will examine your teeth and gums to ensure you are a suitable candidate for the procedure. Once you’ve been approved, he will take pictures and impressions of your natural smile. The two of you will discuss your smile expectations such as the shape, size, and color of the veneers. The pictures, impressions, and design will be sent to a dental lab technician who will carefully craft the veneers.

At the end of the first appointment, the dentist will prepare the teeth for your new veneers. This involves removing a small amount of dental enamel. Without this step, the veneers will appear bulky and horse-like. Temporary veneers may be placed until the permanent ones arrive at the office.

During the second visit, the permanent, customized veneers are precisely placed, and your dentist will make any necessary adjustments. Once you are satisfied, you can leave the office with a brand-new smile!

Dental Veneers Compared to Other Cosmetic and Orthodontic Solutions

Most likely, your dentist offers various other cosmetic and orthodontic solutions to your dental issues. So, why should you choose dental veneers above the rest? For starters, dental veneers are one solution that offers several benefits, including (1) whitening, (2) straightening, and (3) mending cracks, chips, and gaps.

Here’s how veneers compare to other cosmetic treatments:

Veneers vs Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a great solution for minor chips, cracks, and gaps. However, even in those circumstances, dental veneers are more durable and much higher quality. While dental bonding typically lasts up to five years before it requires repairs, veneers can last 15 years or more! So, even if you pay more money upfront for veneers, you’ll be saving money in the long run.

Also consider that bonding only treats one issue—the chip, crack, or gap. It doesn’t address dental stains or misalignment.

Veneers vs Teeth Whitening

Again, teeth whitening only addresses the color of the teeth but no other aesthetic problems. In some cases, professional teeth whitening doesn’t even work. Patients who have deep dental stains or intrinsic dental stains won’t be satisfied with the results of in-office whitening, but they will be pleasantly surprised by the brightness of their dental veneers.

Veneers also last much longer than the results of teeth whitening. Natural teeth are much more susceptible to dental stains. Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, so patients don’t have to worry about what they eat or drink.

Veneers vs Braces

Most patients are hesitant to get braces because of the length of treatments. While orthodontics may be the best solution for some, dental veneers could work for others. Traditional braces or clear aligners like Invisalign® typically take between 6 and 18 months to correct dental misalignment. Then, a retainer is needed to keep them in place. With veneers, all it takes is two appointments to achieve a perfectly aligned smile that also meets all your other aesthetic preferences.

Other Benefits

Dental veneers offer several benefits to anyone who wants to improve the appearance of their smile, including:

1.       A natural appearance

2.       Compatibility with gum tissue

3.       Stain-resistant

4.       Can be designed to patients’ preferences

5.       Conservative procedure

6.       Restored dental strength

Furthermore, veneers typically last between 7 and 15 years, but they can last even longer when the patient takes proper care of them.

Another great advantage is that dental veneers don’t require any special care.

Choosing A Cosmetic Dentist

The key to obtaining your dream smile is choosing an experienced and skilled dentist. look for a dentist who has completed several cosmetic or esthetic dental programs and one who has great patient references. It’s also helpful to ask a potential dentist to see before-and-after pictures of past dental veneer patients.

At Grand Lake Dental in Grove, OK, Dr. Karl Jobst is known for providing individualized, high-quality care to every patient. He has completed several advanced training programs including the Esthetic Continuum at the Nash Institute and Anterior Esthetics Program at LVI. Dr. Jobst was also voted “Best of the Best” dentist by readers of the area’s newspapers in 2018 and 2019.

To schedule an initial consultation with our friendly dental team, call (918) 787-5800 today.