Cosmetic dentistry has come a long way over the past few years; from a mouthful of fabricated dentures to applying a thin, enamel to select, damaged teeth. One such treatment that has gained popularity as of late is the application of porcelain veneers to your teeth.
What Are Veneers?
The porcelain veneer is basically a very thin shell of porcelain that covers the tooth in question from the front. The thin, restorative layer is used to improve the durability and look of the tooth. This veneer is excellent to cover and protect damaged or stained teeth, and is a relatively quick and easy fix for yellowing teeth and other effects of heavy smoking or coffee.
The Procedure: Anatomy Of A Toothache
1. The first step in applying porcelain veneer is the creation of a mold for each tooth separately.
2. Once the mold is fabricated, the cosmetic dentist constructs a porcelain veneer using the mold. These first two steps are the most time consuming in the treatment.
3. After the veneers have been molded, the dentist uses a strong adhesive to glue them onto the patient’s teeth. Dentists use a number of different adhesives and techniques to stick the veneers.
The Pros
A beautiful smile is a blessing. It boosts your self-confidence and makes you smile a lot more. Professionally, a good, confident smile is considered an indication of a successful businessperson, making it essential for entrepreneurs and professionals. Porcelain veneers are an easy way to get perfect, white teeth and hence, the perfect smile. They make you look great, and give you a major confidence boost. They also tend to last very long if they are applied properly and look like real teeth, so that is always a plus. Aside from the durability, they also resist stains and damage quite well and look great for a very long time, provided you take proper care of them.
The Cons
Porcelain is very durable, but it is still prone to chips and breakage. If that happens, they cannot be removed, as they are a permanent solution. If something goes wrong, the whole tooth will have to go, and that will result in some very intimidating dental bills. This is a very major drawback of these veneers, as they do tend to chip if they are not fabricated or applied correctly.
Similarly, if the glue or bonding agent used is not of high quality or is not applied properly, it can lead to teeth sensitivity, making you jump whenever you have something hot or cold. In some cases, veneers have even fallen out because the glue used wasn’t good enough or was not applied properly. The most important con, however, is that they are expensive. They can cost from anywhere between a few hundred, to over a thousand dollars.
The Conclusion Veneer Dental Plan
Dental veneers are excellent if you can afford them. You must take into account your age and whether taking the risk of your teeth becoming sensitive to cold or hot beverages, or even losing a tooth or two is worth it at this time. If you are a thirty-something, with damaged or stained teeth, these veneers can be a blessing. In any case, you have to decide whether you should go for porcelain veneers or not, but make sure you take all possible considerations into account before you take the plunge.