Are Dental Veneers For Me?

Dental veneers can be beneficial if you have a desire to cover your natural teeth for a more polished looking smile. In a similar way that acrylic fingernails would cover the top layer of your nails for a beautiful set of matching nails, veneers can help your smile look more perfect. If you’re not confident with your natural smile, dental veneers could be for you!

If your teeth have noticeable stains or discoloration and you desire a bright smile, this could be the solution you’re looking for. If you have chips or gaps and would like to reshape your smile, veneers can be the solution to that as well. Your Glen Allen dentist is an expert in making your smile look complete and perfect.

What Are They Made Of?

Veneers are made of porcelain or composite resin. Porcelain is a closer match to your natural teeth, so it’s the superior choice in many cases. It is more costly than composite resin. It’s extremely stain-resistant and very strong; however unable to be fixed if they break. Composite resin can be fixed, as they are made of filling materials. 

How Do We Prepare For Dental Veneers?

Your Glen Allen dentist will assess your smile during your consultation to make sure you’re a good candidate for veneers. Any oral issues, like gingivitis or cavities, will need to be addressed first before you’re eligible for veneers. If there are no issues, Dr. Mohanty will scrape the outside layer of enamel from your teeth, less than half a millimeter, to prepare your smile. A local anesthetic will help with any discomfort you may feel. After your enamel has been scraped, we will take a digital or putty impression of your teeth. We will color-match your veneers to the surrounding teeth, to look as natural as possible. This will be sent to a dental lab where they will fabricate your custom veneers for you.

How Many Appointments Should I Expect?

Expect to make two appointments with your Glen Allen dentist for the dental veneer process. Your first visit will include the assessment and preparation. Your veneers will be fitted and cemented during your second visit. We will be able to make minor adjustments, like polishing, a few days after they are fitted, to give you a chance to get used to them.

How Long Do Veneers Last?

Dental veneers can last for several years, but that depends on how well you take care of them. Talk to Dr. DeBonis about what kinds of things to avoid to prevent your veneers from chipping, cracking, or breaking.

What Are The Benefits?

Dental veneers are of great benefit to people who’ve been long-time coffee-drinkers or cigarette-smokers. They are more resistant to stains than your natural teeth are, so your smile will stay brighter for a longer period of time. Your discoloration and stains will be covered. Any small gaps can be filled in, and chips can be covered to make your smile look and feel more perfect.

After years of eating food and drink that erode your enamel, your teeth may be vulnerable to the sensitivity of pressure or temperature. Dental veneers can make your teeth stronger.

What Are The Risks?

The process of getting veneers is invasive and irreversible. Any enamel that we remove during the preparation process can’t be replaced. By removing the top enamel layer, your teeth will be thinner and therefore more sensitive to pressure or temperature.

Still Not Sure If Dental Veneers Are For You?

Request an appointment or call your Glen Allen dentist for any further questions regarding your dental veneers. Let us help you achieve your perfect smile!