What Exactly Are Dental Veneers, and Are You a Good Candidate?

February 12, 2020

Dental veneers are thin layers of material made to look like your natural teeth. Veneers cover your normal teeth and provide an aesthetic improvement for a variety of cosmetic concerns.

Typically made of porcelain ceramic, but sometimes composite resin, dental veneers are strong, stain-resistant, and are permanently bonded to your teeth. You can still eat, drink, smile, and speak just like you would with your normal teeth, except with a gorgeous new layer of veneers to correct different cosmetic concerns you may have about your smile!

Dental Veneers Can Fix a Variety of Cosmetic Concerns

One of the best benefits of dental veneers is their ability to correct numerous cosmetic issues with just one treatment. Dental veneers can fix teeth that are stained, chipped, gapped, and even crooked [1]. Veneers are also a popular treatment for misshapen teeth.

During the process for dental veneers, your dentist will take impressions of the teeth that are going to receive veneers and then send these impressions out to a lab. Dental veneers are custom-made to fit your smile for a seamless and natural look.

Once the veneers are back from the lab, your dentist will ensure they fit properly and then prepare your natural teeth to receive the veneers. Generally this involves removal of a tiny bit of your tooth enamel in order to facilitate proper bonding between your dental veneer and your tooth.

You Could Be a Good Candidate for Dental Veneers

The good news is that many people are good candidates for dental veneers. It’s a common procedure that has major improvements for the appearance of your smile [2].

People who qualify for dental veneers include those who:

Have healthy tooth enamel to support the bonding process. Without enough tooth enamel, you may not qualify for traditional dental veneers, although you may have other cosmetic dentistry options.
Are unhappy with the appearance of their smile. Dental veneers can correct numerous issues with your smile without the need for numerous treatments!
Have good oral health and are committed to maintaining their oral health. You still need to care for your dental veneers just as you would your natural teeth, so you must be committed to maintaining your dental health to be a good candidate for veneers!
Do not have current issues with teeth grinding. Grinding your teeth can damage dental veneers, so ideally you wouldn’t want to have this problem when pursuing this form of cosmetic treatment.

It’s also important to remember that dental veneers are considered an irreversible form of treatment, which means you want to be sure about the procedure before continuing. You and your dentist can discuss all this and more during your consultation for veneers!

Find Out More About Your Cosmetic Dentistry Options

If you’re unhappy with your smile and want to see dramatic results without getting numerous treatments done, you could qualify for dental veneers. Schedule an appointment with your dentist today to learn more about veneers and about your other cosmetic dentistry options to improve your smile!