Few things can have as great an effect on your self-esteem as dental imperfections. Fortunately, many of the most common aesthetic issues with your teeth can be fixed with one type of treatment: dental veneers. Veneers are thin layers of porcelain applied to the outside of your teeth to cover a variety of flaws in the teeth. Here is an overview of the dental problems that porcelain veneers can fix.
1. Stubborn Stains
If you have stained teeth that don’t responded to any form of whitening, veneers could be the answer. Dentists classify teeth stains as extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic stains are on the surface of enamel, while intrinsic stains are the result of discolored dentin beneath the enamel. Trauma, certain medications, and tooth decay can all discolor the dentin.
Traditional whitening methods are only capable of treating extrinsic stains, as they do not penetrate the enamel to whiten the dentin. Porcelain veneers, on the other hand, are opaque, so they will completely hide all stains on your teeth when they are applied. Porcelain is also resistant to staining, so the teeth that have veneers will not be as subject to stains in the future.
2. Chipped Teeth
A chipped tooth is a cosmetic problem that anyone would want to fix, especially if the tooth is a front tooth. For chips and minor cracks in the dental enamel that don't affect the structural integrity of the tooth, veneers may be the answer for you. Veneers are opaque and match the color and luster of enamel, so they are a great option for covering up minor surface cracks.
Veneers are also an effective choice for small chips in your teeth. Porcelain veneers can completely cover small chips, but they are not the right choice for chips that have removed a large piece of the tooth. This is because your dentist needs to apply the veneers to existing enamel, and the veneers are not thick enough to emulate the appearance of a missing chunk of enamel.
You cannot use veneers for breakages that extend into the roots or pulp of your teeth. This is because porcelain veneers are too thin to support your teeth and protect them from the shearing forces of chewing and eating. Your dentist may recommend dental crowns for this application instead.
3. Gaps Between Teeth
Improper spacing of the teeth may be a congenital condition, or it may occur due to acid erosion of the enamel. While dental bonding will typically treat large gaps, the composite used in bonding is not as long-lasting as porcelain. For smaller gaps, veneers are often a better choice.
Veneers can remove small gaps between your teeth because they add a small amount of thickness to the entire outside of the tooth. Even though veneers are only a few millimeters thick, placing them on two adjacent teeth can make the teeth appear wider and hide the appearance of gaps between them. Once this procedure is completed, gaps between your teeth will seem much smaller.
Not only will veneers improve the appearance of widely spaced teeth, but they may also improve your bite as well. If your teeth do not clench together properly, veneers can provide the small changes in shape needed for better alignment of the teeth. Veneers provide both an aesthetic and a functional benefit for your smile.
The wide array of benefits that veneers provide makes them one of the most important treatment options that cosmetic dentists use. If you are unhappy with your teeth and are interested in porcelain veneers, contact us at Treasured Smiles Adult & Cosmetic Dentistry so we can give you the smile you deserve!