Is the popularity of dental veneers finally catching up with you? Over the years, veneers dentists near you have attracted more patients than ever before. The rise and evolution of the beauty and cosmetic industry has played a big role in popularizing dental veneers. However, before you join the crowds in getting veneers for your teeth, first understand whether they are worth your money.
What Are Dental Veneers?
They are thin shell-like tooth-colored applications for repairing and restoring teeth to improve their appearances. Dentists at Dental Arts St. Pete Beach apply dental veneers on the front side of teeth only, masking the various dental flaws. In that sense, dental veneers are specifically for use in cosmetic dentistry to improve the appearance of damaged teeth.
When Can Dental Veneers Be Used?
Most cosmetic dental works that can improve the appearance of your smile rely on veneers. Although dental veneers are not the only cosmetic applications available, Dr. Matthew Williams recommends them for several cosmetic dental works, including:
- Cracked, chipped, and broken teeth
- Small spaces between teeth
- Discolored teeth’ enamels
- Crooked teeth
- Unusually shaped teeth
- Worn down teeth enamel
Are Veneers Really Expensive?
The cost of dental veneers varies widely across the globe. It depends on your location, the number of teeth veneers you need, and the type of veneer teeth. For instance, composite veneers are less expensive than porcelain veneers in St. Pete Beach.
Pros and Cons of Veneers
Pros of Veneers
When you feel hesitant about improving the appearance of your teeth in cosmetic dentistry, learning about the advantages of dental veneers can help you make an informed decision. Some major advantages of veneer teeth are:
- Natural-looking – porcelain veneers look like natural teeth.
- Aesthetic benefits – dental veneers improve the appearance of teeth regarding color, shape, size, and spacing.
- A quick fix to dental problems – dental veneers offer a faster solution to many oral problems that would otherwise require a long time to correct. For example, if you have crooked teeth, it would take at least 6 or 12 months to straighten them with braces. Instead, you can get dental veneers within one or two dental visits.
- Inexpensive alternative – compared to the cost of other dental procedures in dentistry, you may find dental veneers to be a relatively inexpensive option. It is more so the case with procedures like orthodontic treatment that entail getting braces and bands to close gaps between teeth and realign them.
- Cons of Veneers
Much as it is a good idea to get dental veneers, there are a few disadvantages to getting them:
- They are irreversible – should you choose to remove your dental veneers shortly after getting them, you cannot reinstate your natural teeth only. The alternative would be to replace the veneer teeth with new ones or get dental crowns. The reason is that getting traditional dental veneers entails removing a portion of your tooth enamel to make room for the porcelain shell. However, in recent years, dental experts have availed no-prep dental veneers that do not require shaving or trimming your teeth’ enamels.
- They only cover the front surfaces of teeth – veneer teeth are not dental crowns. They do not encapsulate the entire tooth. It means that veneers offer only a cosmetic solution to your teeth. Further, veneer teeth are usually impactful for improving the appearance of the front teeth, not molars and premolars.
- They cannot be whitened – if your veneer teeth get stained, the only solution to brighten them would be to replace them. It is why your dentist in a dental office in St Pete beach will recommend whitening your natural teeth before getting dental veneers so they can match in appearance. Properly caring for your teeth after getting dental veneers will help reduce the chances of catching stains.
How Long Do Veneers Last?
Dental veneers last between 5 and 20 years. It largely depends on the material of the oral veneer and how you care for your teeth after your treatment. Patients who take great care of their teeth can have veneers intact for about 30 years. The goal should be to prevent the veneer teeth from staining, cracking, chipping, or breaking.