Dental veneers are custom-made teeth laminates that are placed on the surface to cover imperfections. Whether you have a gapped or ill-shaped teeth, veneers are your best choice. They also resolve deep tooth discoloration and transform your smile into a perfect one. These tooth-colored shells have a thickness of 5 millimeters and are made by technicians in a dental laboratory.

Porcelain dental veneers are considered the finest choice in cosmetic dentistry. However, before you jump in and have this treatment, there are certain things that you need to consider.

Vital facts to consider before having dental veneers

Find a specialist in veneers application.

Not all dentists specialize in applying veneers to their patients. Every dentist has his own field of expertise. In this part, you really have to do your homework and source the best cosmetic dentist in your area. When you meet the dentist, ask for his previous cases of dental veneers treatment. Check his photo collection of before and after. Choose a cosmetic dentist who expertly performs this procedure with a good track record.

Every smile is unique.

You’re scanning through online photos of celebrities with veneers, and you tell your dentist to imitate that exact look. His answer is a resounding no because you have a unique set of teeth. He needs to craft your dental laminates to exactly fit the shape and shade of your existing natural teeth. During the consultation stage, he will recommend if a tooth or two needs the treatment. Also, he will take photos and dental X-rays of the teeth that will receive the treatment. Once you both agree on the expected outcome, he will take impressions of those teeth and send it to the laboratory.   

Imperfect teeth are enhanced.

Your cosmetic dentist only enhances the shape and color of your teeth using porcelain dental veneers. When he sees that only a portion of the tooth needs covering, he makes a partial dental laminate. He doesn’t want you to end up having a fake smile and alter the look of your teeth altogether.

Not all teeth need dental veneers.

The cosmetic veneers cost increases when you have more teeth to be fixed. However, you don’t need all your teeth to be covered. One or two will certainly make a difference.

Only a part of the tooth needs to be shaved off.

Cosmetic dentists don’t have to trim down your tooth for more than 5 millimeters. Some are very minimal to no-prep at all. The power lies behind the adhesive material used in applying the dental laminates onto your teeth. They aim to maintain the natural structure of your teeth as much as possible.

The dental procedure requires local anesthesia.

As the cosmetic dentist prepares your tooth, he administers local anesthesia to prevent any discomfort. Then, he etches a portion of the tooth’s surface to make room for the temporary veneers.

Temporary veneers are crucial.

Your veneers specialist lets you wear temporary tooth shells for about 10 days as a trial period. This allows you to experience what it’s like when you will be wearing the final veneers. You have to observe closely if there’s any irregularity on your bite so he can make adjustments. When there are changes made, he takes another impression of the tooth and sends it to the technician.

The final dental laminates are sent to your dentist’s clinic in two to four weeks. Then, you return to his clinic to have the final dental veneers laminated to your teeth. The procedure may take up to three hours, depending on how many teeth will receive veneers.

Some may experience tooth sensitivity.

After the procedure and the anesthesia wears off, you may experience tooth sensitivity for about six hours. Your specialist will tell that your teeth are reacting to the bonding cement. You will be prescribed to take medications as often as needed to help you manage the pain.

The healing process involves sore in the gums.

Aside from having a sensitive teeth, your gums surrounding the treatment area will also reform. Hence, you will experience sore in your gums, however, this is how your gums heal after the procedure. One one hand, your gum tissues will tolerate porcelain material well. Still, make sure to have prescription medicines handy.

Veneers need replacement after 15 to 20 years.

Your porcelain dental veneers last up to two decades with proper oral care and maintenance. However, just like any medical procedure, you will need a new set of veneers thereafter.