Dental Veneers: Types and Benefits

Dental Veneers: Types and Benefits

May 03, 2021

With time, it’s normal for a tooth to wear out or become misaligned or discolored. However, you don’t have to let this keep you from showing off your beautiful smile. There are numerous cosmetic treatments for mildly damaged teeth.

Common procedures include veneers, crowns, inlays, onlays, and fillings. Your dentist can recommend getting veneers for teeth that are worn out, stained, broken, or chipped. Veneers can also be used for closing gaps between teeth.

Unlike other dental restorations, veneers are mainly designed for cosmetic solutions and have less to do with restoring a tooth’s oral function. When used to restore oral function, they are commonly in conjunction with a dental crown.

To schedule a consultation for dental veneers, please contact Sharon Dental Group today to book your appointment.

What are Dental Veneers?

Veneers are thin sheaths or films adhered to the front of a tooth to change its shape or appearance. Depending on your preferences and the level of damage, there are several veneer materials and colors that you can choose from. Generally, there are three major types of veneers—porcelain, composite, and ceramic.

Types of Dental Veneers

  1. Porcelain Veneers

Thanks to their natural tooth-looking color, porcelain veneers are very popular. They are very thin compared to other veneers, making them ideal for small teeth alterations such as shape or color change.

The only major downside with porcelain veneers is that the treatment requires two visits to the dental office. During the first appointment, the dentist prepares the tooth and takes an impression, which is eventually sent to the lab for the creation of the veneer. The permanent veneer is then cemented on the second appointment.

Pros

  • Thin and comfortable.
  • Strong.
  • Great aesthetics.
  • Long-lasting – can last for up to 15 years.
  • Doesn’t require trimming the tooth.

Cons

  • Requires two appointments.
  • More expensive than other veneers.
  • Can’t be repaired once they get damaged.
  1. Composite Veneers

Unlike porcelain veneers, composite veneer treatment only requires a single visit to the dental office. These types of veneers are created in the dentist’s office and attached immediately to the teeth.

While they are not as durable as the porcelain veneers, composite veneers are considered cost-effective and quick, thus very popular. On the negative side, their lifespan is shorter, approximately five years.

Pros

  • Requires one appointment.
  • Less tooth shaping is required.
  • Less expensive than porcelain veneers.
  • Natural color.

Cons

  • Easy to stain.
  • Shorter lifespan.
  • Easy to break or chip.
  1. Ceramic Veneers

Like porcelain veneers, ceramic blends well with natural teeth, making it ideal for front teeth restorations. In addition, they are very strong and durable. The only downside is that they take more time to create compared to other types of veneers.

Pros

  • Great aesthetics.
  • Strong.
  • Long-lasting.

Cons

  • A little temporary tooth sensitivity after the treatment.

Benefits of Dental Veneers

There are many benefits to getting dental veneers. These include:

  • To Protect Chipped, Weakened, or Cracked Teeth

If you have a chipped or weak tooth, you can protect it from further damage by getting a veneer. Besides protecting your damaged tooth, a veneer can increase the strength of your tooth, allowing you to chew better.

Please be careful and avoid cutting or chewing hard food with the repaired tooth as the veneer can easily crack or break.

  • To Fill Teeth Gaps

While teeth gaps look harmless, they may be harmful to your oral health. Teeth gaps can cause the adjacent teeth to shift position to fill the empty gap. Food can also easily get trapped in between the gaps, encouraging plaque and bacteria growth.

Lastly, teeth gaps may affect how you look and speak. By getting veneers, your teeth will look properly positioned and natural.

  • To Improve the Color of the Teeth

Stained or dull-looking teeth can hamper your smile and self-confidence in public. But it doesn’t have to if you can hide the stain or discoloration by using veneers. Covering stained teeth will give you a brighter smile and restore your self-confidence.

Caring for Your Veneers

After the veneer treatment, proper oral hygiene is still essential. Use the following tips to care for cosmetic veneers and other oral structures:

  • Brush and floss regularly, twice a day.
  • Schedule regular dental check-ups and cleaning.
  • Avoid sugary foods and drinks to lessen the chances of developing tooth decay.
  • Avoid hard foods as they can damage the veneer.

Ready for your cosmetic veneers? Contact Sharon Dental Group today to book your appointment.

Our dental office in Sharon, MA also welcome patients from the below given nearby areas:

  • Canton
  • Walpole
  • Mansfield
  • Stoughton
  • Easton
  • Foxborough
  • Norwood
Call Now Request an Appointment
Click to listen highlighted text!