If you’ve ever looked into cosmetic dental options in the past, then you’ve probably heard of the most popular treatment there is: porcelain veneers. But what exactly are veneers and what are the major benefits (and risks) of having a treatment like this completed?
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
A veneer is a thin, custom-made shell of porcelain designed to cover your tooth for the purpose of enhancing its appearance. For the ultimate smile makeover, many of our patients choose to veneer their front 6-10 teeth.
During the initial veneer procedure, our Long Island cosmetic dentist removes a layer of enamel on each tooth that will have a veneer placed on it. This step helps the porcelain adhere to your tooth better and allows enough room so that the restoration doesn’t look bulky. After your first visit, you’ll leave with a set of temporary veneers which you’ll wear while the dental laboratory makes your permanent restorations.
What Dental Issues Can Veneers Fix?
If you have any of the following conditions or concerns, then dental veneers may be an excellent solution for you:
- Discoloration: Deep stains that can’t be removed with bleaching are no match for veneers.
- Worn and/or Short Teeth: Teeth that are worn down and appear shorter than they once were–or teeth that have always been too short (like peg laterals)–can be adjusted to the appropriate length with veneers.
- Chipped Teeth: Teeth that are chipped or slightly broken can be reinforced with the durable porcelain.
- Misaligned Teeth: Crooked teeth look straighter without getting braces.
- Gapped Teeth: Slight to moderate spaces between teeth can be filled in.
Who is an Ideal Candidate for Porcelain Veneers?
To qualify for veneers, you’ll need to have good oral hygiene and with no signs of gum disease or decay.
Benefits of Cosmetic Veneers
When getting porcelain veneers, you can benefit from the following:
Fast results 一 Achieving a complete smile makeover with veneers is super-fast. After your initial prep appointment, you’ll have the temporary ones which you’ll wear for about two weeks or so, until your permanent ones are ready to be bonded to your teeth.
No future staining 一 Porcelain veneers aren’t porous, so they will stay the same color they are from day one.
Longevity 一 Veneers have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
Natural results 一 The porcelain material feels smooth, just like your natural teeth, and our expert ceramists who create your veneers are very skilled in creating perfect, yet natural-looking restorations.
Confidence Booster 一 Knowing that you have a beautiful smile will give you a huge boost to your self-esteem and you’ll feel more confident around other people.
Risks of Porcelain Veneers
While getting porcelain veneers is a very safe treatment, any dental procedure involves a certain number of risks and potential complications that can occur during or after the procedure itself including:
- A restoration that is not as strong as your natural teeth: While these restorations work extremely well, they cannot replace the function and strength of a natural tooth.
- Debonded veneers: Every now and then veneers can pop off and will need to be rebonded or replaced.
- Breaking and cracking: While the porcelain material is very strong, accidents can happen, causing your veneers to crack or break. If you clench and grind your teeth, veneers can also become cracked, worn, or come off. Certain habits such as nail-biting, chewing pens, and habitually opening things with your teeth are not recommended. Don’t use your teeth as tools.
- Tooth sensitivity: Since we need to remove a thin layer of the enamel from each tooth, slight sensitivity may occur, but usually this is a temporary situation. Prolonged sensitivity is an indication that the veneers may not be fitting properly or that some nerve damage has occurred to your tooth. If you continue to experience temperature discomfort for more than three months following your final placement procedure, be sure to let us know.
- Poor fit: Lack of training on the dentist’s part or low-quality materials used during fabrication can contribute to poorly fitting veneers.
- Cavities can form around them: It’s important to remember that your natural teeth are still underneath/behind your veneers. You still need to brush and floss regularly, because you can still form cavities on your teeth. Having excellent oral hygiene and visiting our Long Island dentist for routine professional cleanings, periodic x-rays, and thorough intraoral exams will help ensure that we prevent or detect any problems as soon as they start.
- Changes in your bite: It’s important to find the perfect balance when it comes to how your teeth fit together. The pressure that you feel when biting should feel even throughout your entire arch. An uneven bite can increase your chances of breaking veneers or teeth, cause tooth pain and inflammation, and soreness in your jaw.
- Irreversible procedure: since we need to remove part of your natural tooth to make room for the veneers, this procedure is irreversible, making veneers a lifetime commitment.
- Future investments will be required: Veneers last a long time but they will eventually need to be updated at some point. Since the treatment isn’t reversible, you’ll be required to invest in getting a new set of veneers when the time comes.
- Risks during replacement: When replacing your veneers, our Suffolk County cosmetic dentist will need to remove a thin layer of additional tooth structure, which will again put you at risk of potentially having sensitivity.
Porcelain Veneers in Suffolk County
At Sachem Dental Group in Long Island, we like to be transparent with our patients about the treatment they are considering. As you can see, veneers are a great solution for achieving the great-looking smile that you’ve always wanted but it doesn’t come without potential risks. If you’re considering cosmetic dental treatment then give us a call 一 we are more than happy to discuss your options in detail. Contact us now to schedule an appointment.