If you’re not one hundred percent happy with your smile, you know how hard that can be over time. While no one’s smile is perfect, and sometimes the imperfections are what make for a friendly grin, it can still be difficult to feel confident when you’re insecure about your smile. Luckily there are several cosmetic procedures that can help get your smile looking just how you’d like it. Here at G Dental 32, we offer cosmetic dentistry that can do just that!

One of the most popular cosmetic procedures available today is veneers. Veneers are different than another common cosmetic procedure—teeth whitening—because they can change the shape and appearance of your teeth. Veneers are an excellent option if you are on the hunt for a durable, safe, and long-term way to improve your smile.

What exactly are veneers?

If you’ve never heard of them, you may have no clue what to even think of when you hear the word “veneers.” If that’s the case, don’t worry—we’ve got the perfect explanation to help you understand what veneers are. Veneers are essentially shells made to cover your teeth and take on the look of your teeth. Veneers are extraordinarily thin and are custom-made to fit your teeth and look just as natural as your real teeth. Veneers are meant to be affixed to the front of your teeth and are just as strong as your natural tooth enamel. Most veneers are made from porcelain or resin and are made to last and withstand wear and tear in a very similar way to natural tooth enamel.

Why are veneers used?

Veneers fall under the umbrella category of cosmetic dentistry, meaning they are most often used as a means of improving the visual appearance of your teeth. When someone has veneers put on by a dentist, the reasoning is usually due to a desire on behalf of the patient to improve their smile. We know that your smile can serve as a big point of either confidence or insecurity depending on what you notice about your teeth, and for many people who are less than confident in their smile, veneers can give new life to their teeth.

Some of the many things that veneers can help improve are teeth staining—especially staining that cannot be removed through traditional teeth whitening—worn down or chipped teeth, crooked or inconsistently shaped teeth, uneven teeth, or teeth with large gaps—particularly in the upper front teeth.

What is the difference between the types of veneers?

As previously mentioned, veneers can be made from two different types of material: resin or porcelain. There are benefits, drawbacks, and differences between each different type of veneer that are important to consider when going over your veneer options with your dentist.

Porcelain veneers are incredibly strong and durable, which means that they can improve your smile long-term. Porcelain veneers are also very natural-looking as the porcelain material appears very similar to natural tooth enamel. Porcelain veneers also do not stain easily, which adds to their longevity.

Composite resin veneers are also very strong and durable, though they are generally not quite as long-lasting as porcelain veneers. The process of applying resin veneers usually requires the removal of less tooth enamel than with porcelain veneers, however. Additionally, resin veneers can often be applied to the teeth in a shorter amount of time, can cost less than porcelain veneers, and are sometimes simpler to fix than porcelain veneers.

How are veneers applied?

While the application of veneers is generally comfortable quite simple, the entire process can take several visits to your dentist to complete. The multiple visits are due in part to the necessity of a consultation to initially discuss options and figure out a plan for your teeth with your dentist.

The first step is the planning of your veneers, which usually takes place in the initial consultation appointment. Your dentist will likely ask questions about what you are looking for in your veneers in this visit, and will also carefully examine your teeth. This is the time to ask any questions you might have about the process and get feedback from your dentist on the type of veneers and your goals for getting veneers. During this initial consultation, your dentist may also take x-rays of your teeth and take an impression of your teeth to get the entire process started.

Next, and often at a separate appointment, your dentist will prepare your teeth to be affixed with veneers. This process requires the removal of a small amount of enamel from the front of your teeth. The amount of enamel removed is usually equivalent to the thickness of the veneer that will be attached to your tooth. During this process, your dentist may apply numbing gels or local anesthetic, depending on your pain tolerance and plan for the process. Once the enamel is removed, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth to send to the lab to create your new veneers!

Once your new veneers are created, your dentist will—again, often in a separate appointment—adjust the veneers to ensure that they fit your teeth and that the color matches as closely as possible. Once the veneer is appropriately sized and colored, your teeth will be cleaned, polished, and etched before finally attaching the veneers with special cement. Once the cement is activated and hardened, your dentist will examine your teeth with the new veneers to make sure your bite is correct and make any necessary adjustments. 

Then you’re done! You may be asked to come back in for a follow-up visit to ensure your new veneers are working and fitting properly, but that is often determined on a case-by-case basis.

If you’ve been wondering about what options are available so you can achieve the smile of your dreams, wonder no more! With excellent cosmetic dentistry options like professional teeth whitening and veneers, you can achieve the look and feel that you’ve always wanted. If you’re interested in learning more about veneers and getting your own new and improved teeth, schedule an appointment with one of our expert dentists.