PORCELAIN VENEERS
Transform Your Smile
Porcelain Veneers: Benefits, Process, & Aftercare
Porcelain dental veneers are a cosmetic dentistry procedure we offer for those looking to improve their smile (smile makeover). These thin, custom-made shells that cover the front surface of your teeth, can transform your smile and enhance your overall appearance. Whether you want to fix damaged, stained, chipped, or worn down teeth, porcelain veneers are the best way to do that. Here, we provide information on what they are, the benefits, the process involved, and the maintenance required.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made shells that are designed to cover the front surface of your teeth. They are a cosmetic dentistry option for improving the appearance of your smile. They can be used to fix a variety of issues such as stains, gaps, chips, and misalignment.
Porcelain veneers provide a natural tooth appearance and are resistant to staining, which means your smile will remain bright for a long time. Veneers can also alter the shape and size of your teeth, creating a more symmetrical and balanced smile.
The Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
Aesthetics & Durability
Aesthetics:
- They improve the appearance of your teeth by correcting issues such as discoloration, gaps, and chips.
- They provide a natural tooth appearance and are resistant to staining.
- They also alter the shape and size of your teeth, providing a more symmetrical and balanced smile.
Durability:
- With proper care, porcelain veneers can last for many years
- They are also resistant to chipping and breaking, making them a long-lasting solution for improving your smile.
Composite Veneers vs. Porcelain Veneers
It Depends…
Porcelain and composite veneers are both popular options for improving the appearance of teeth but, they have different advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, the type of veneers you get depends on your budget, aesthetic preferences, and the specific issues you want to address. Select a tab to explore each.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages:
- Superior Aesthetics: They provide a more natural and lifelike appearance, closely resembling natural teeth.
- Highly Stain-resistant: Porcelain is much less porous than composite, making it more resistant to stains and discoloration overtime.
- Durability: Porcelain veneers are exceptionally strong and can last anywhere from 10 – 20 years. And, with proper care and maintenance, they can last even longer.
- Minimal Maintenance: Once placed, they require little maintenance beyond regular oral hygiene practices.
Disadvantages:
- Higher Cost: They are more expensive than composite veneers due to their superior aesthetic qualities and durability.
- Indirect Application: Porcelain veneers involve a more complex process and usually require two visits, as they need to be fabricated in a dental lab before being bonded to the teeth.
- Irreversible Procedure: Before placing them, a thin layer of enamel must be removed from the surface of the tooth, which is irreversible.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages:
- Cost-effective: Composite veneers are more affordable than porcelain ones, making them a budget-friendly option for improving your smile.
- Direct Application: They can be directly applied to the teeth in a single visit, which means the process is faster compared to porcelain ones that require multiple visits.
- Minimal Enamel Removal: Less enamel needs to be removed from the surface of the tooth before placing them, preserving more of the natural tooth structure.
- Repairable: If one is damaged or stained, it can repaired or replaced.
- Versatility: They can address a variety of cosmetic issues, such as chipped, discolored, or misshapen teeth.
Disadvantages:
- Less Durable: They are not as strong as porcelain and may have a shorter lifespan, typically lasting around 5-9 years with proper care.
- Prone to Staining: While composite materials have improved in stain resistance, they are still more susceptible to staining and discoloration compared to porcelain.
- Less Natural Appearance: Although they can look quite natural, they may not match the translucency and light-reflecting properties of porcelain, potentially resulting in a slightly less lifelike appearance.
How Long Do Porcelain Veneers Last?
Porcelain veneers are an excellent option for improving your smile. With their numerous benefits and a straightforward process, they can provide you with the confidence to smile freely. Porcelain veneers can last for 10-20 years. However, it’s essential to take good care of them to maintain their appearance and longevity.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Veneers are not painful and they do not hurt your teeth, in fact most patients report no pain or discomfort at all during treatment. Read our reviews or watch our video testimonials to see what our patients think.
Porcelain veneers can last from 10 – 20 years, while composite veneers can last from 5 – 9 year. Both types of dental veneers can last even longer if you address issues like teeth grinding or clenching first. Aside from this, the material and how well you care for them impacts their longevity. By addressing any issues with your bite, the lifespan of your dental veneers increases substantially.
Yes! But first, we need to evaluate what’s causing you to grind your teeth and address that first. That’s because teeth grinding is one of the main reasons why people damage their veneers. By resolving the issue first, your veneers will last ensuring you don’t spend money fixing them when they break.
Crowns cover your teeth like a cap. A veneer is a thin shell that is applied to the front of your tooth with less damage to the tooth meaning you retain more of your natural tooth structure.
Yes, veneers can break for various reasons including: forceful impact, chewing hard objects, bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), inadequate bonding of the veneers, veneers are too thin or improperly fabricated are just a few reasons dental veneers break.
