A beautiful smile can be a wonderful asset in both the social and professional worlds. People who smile frequently are seen as more friendly, confident, and approachable, which is a huge advantage whether you’re making friends, closing a sale, giving a presentation, or just making other people feel comfortable. If you’re not smiling as much as you’d like to because you’re afraid of showing your teeth, you might be interested in transforming your teeth with porcelain veneers. Here’s a brief guide to what anyone curious about getting porcelain veneers should know.
Porcelain Veneers Are a Permanent Solution
Porcelain veneers are thin shells designed to fit over the faces of teeth to cover up extensive flaws like chips, cracks, stains, and gaps, and in some cases, they can realign a patient’s smile without orthodontic treatment. To make room for the veneers, your dentist will remove a tiny amount of enamel from your teeth. This means that teeth that have received veneers will need to wear them for life. While veneers can last for more than twenty years with excellent care, they will eventually need to be replaced.
How White Is Too White?
Adult human teeth are naturally a shade of yellowish white, but some patients, thinking that they want teeth that are as white as possible, want veneers that are an unnaturally bright white color. While this might suit some people’s idea of their ideal image, flawless white is not a believable tooth color and it can make it clear that a patient is wearing veneers. Depending on your tastes, it’s probably better to stick to a more natural color.
Porcelain Veneers Only Require the Same Care as Natural Teeth
Porcelain veneers can last for up to twenty years with excellent care, but they will need replacement eventually. You can keep your veneers looking great by taking care of them in ways such as:
- Practice proper oral hygiene: Every day, brush and floss your teeth and rinse with antibacterial mouthwash. This will keep your teeth clean, your breath fresh, and harmful oral bacterial populations low.
- Don’t use your teeth as tools: Whether you wear veneers or not, your teeth are strictly to be used for eating and smiling. Using them to hold on to objects or open packages or bottles can cause irreversible dental damage or even lead to tooth loss.
- See a dentist regularly: Seeing a dentist allows your teeth to be inspected and cleaned by a trained professional. This can keep your teeth healthy and correct any problems in their early stages.
Porcelain veneers can be a great way to transform a smile into a more beautiful state. Consulting with your dentist can determine if this treatment is a good fit for you.
About the Author
Dr. Josh Branco earned his dental degree from Boston University before completing a post-doctoral General Practice Residency at UNR School of Medicine. He is a proud member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Nevada Dental Association. His office’s two locations in Reno, NV offer preventive, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry such as porcelain veneers. For more information about getting porcelain veneers, contact the office online.