Dental veneers are a popular and common cosmetic dentistry procedure for a wide variety of issues. Compared to alternative procedures, they are often more versatile, faster, more economical, and more helpful in achieving your goals. Having said all of that, dental veneers in Somerset are not ideal for everyone. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of getting dental veneers near you.
Advantages
Veneers are a quick and economical solution for a wide variety of cosmetic issues that can affect your teeth: chips, cracks, gaps, oddly shaped teeth; and stains or discolouration. The process usually takes just two appointments: one appointment to take impressions and to prepare your tooth; and a second appointment to confirm your veneers fit and to bond them into place. Between those two appointments, technicians at a dental laboratory will craft your veneers based on the information provided by your dentist.
Veneers can change the size of your teeth. Orthodontists can change the spacing between teeth to make it more consistent and to close unsightly gaps, but they can’t make teeth any bigger. Sometimes the spaces between teeth are larger than you want for the simple reason that your teeth are smaller than you’d like. Veneers can solve that issue by making your tooth look bigger and by closing the gaps between small teeth.
Sometimes teeth become cracked or chipped or are stained or discoloured in ways that really need to be covered, but that aren’t so serious as to require a more expensive crown. In those situations, a veneer may be the ideal alternative solution to crowns. Once in position, dental veneers in Silverado will not only cover those cracks and discolourations, the veneer will prevent bacteria from penetrating into those cracks and chips.
Disadvantages
Before dental veneers in Somerset can be placed on a tooth, that tooth must be prepared so that the veneer will lay flat, bond securely, and cover the cosmetic flaw at issue. Preparing a tooth for a veneer involves removing a portion of your natural tooth. In some cases, up to 30% of your natural tooth may need to be removed to allow the veneer to fit properly, work effectively, and add bulk to your tooth once in place. There is an alternative available on the market that can help to address this disadvantage — prepless veneers that require no or very little preparation. Prepless veneers are even thinner porcelain shells. To find out if they’re suitable for achieving your goals, ask a dentist near you about prepless veneers.
The removal of enamel and material from your teeth to prepare for dental veneers can cause increased tooth sensitivity to hot and cold substances.
Veneers are not a suitable cosmetic dentistry option if you have gum disease or weak teeth due to dental conditions. The integrity of your veneers depends greatly on the health and structural integrity of the underlying tooth. If you have gum disease or poor oral hygiene, your dentist will recommend procedures to improve the condition of your teeth before receiving dental veneers in Somerset. If you do receive a veneer and your tooth later suffers extensive tooth decay, the veneer may need to be replaced with a dental crown.
Veneers are vulnerable to chipping and cracking when placed under unusual stress. Two examples of potentially harmful stressors are biting and gripping hard objects (as if your teeth were tools) and grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw as you sleep (sleep bruxism). If veneers do become chipped or cracked, they often cannot be repaired, only replaced.
Are dental veneers the right option for achieving your cosmetic dentistry goals? To find out, reach out to and make an appointment with a dentist near you.