There may come a time in your life when you need a skilled dentist to perform some cosmetic dental work. If you want veneers for teeth whitening, then you may be like hundreds of thousands of people who are wary of having their natural teeth shaved. Shaving involves filling part of the tooth enamel to accommodate the bonding of your veneers.
The issue with traditional veneers is that the shaving process causes your natural teeth to lose part of their structure and integrity, which could be counterproductive over time. In order to fit porcelain veneers, your dentist needs to reduce your tooth surface to enable bonding and an evenly placed set of veneers.
Fortunately, you don’t have to worry too much about the shaving of your natural teeth anymore, as advancements in cosmetic dentistry in recent times have provided patients with less damaging effects on the enamel of their dentition.
In this post, you will get to know the dental veneer placement options with little or no preparation that is available to you at Discover Dental. Additionally, you will learn about the reasons why you might be a good candidate for dental veneers in cosmetic dentistry as well as the frequently asked questions (FAQs) posed by patients, potential patients, and interested parties. But first, we start with an overview of dental veneers.
What Is A Dental Veneer?
A veneer is a long-lasting improvement used to cover up dental flaws including discolored or chipped teeth, according to the American Dental Association. Dental veneers are made from either composite materials or porcelain and are used in cosmetic dentistry and dental restoration to give patients a smile makeover to be proud of. Typically, a dental veneer is a thinly created tooth-like structure that is attached to your tooth surface by a qualified dentist.
Porcelain veneers are often more durable and natural looking in comparison to composite veneers. In addition, composite veneers are also less durable and not as natural looking as porcelain veneers. However, note that severely damaged teeth would require more comprehensive restorative dentistry by your dentist before any cosmetic work can be done.
Why you may be a perfect candidate for Veneers for Teeth
It may surprise you to learn that you may be the right candidate for dental veneers without knowing it. Many people tend to ignore their dental health for several reasons, only attending to it when there’s a serious problem. But you don’t have to wait till you need more extensive dental care before visiting a dentist to get dental veneers.
You can make that decision today if you notice any one or more of these dental flaws:
- Crooked teeth: If you have crooked dentition, then you are a perfect candidate for dental veneers cosmetic procedure. The appearance of your crooked teeth will be completely concealed with your choice of dental veneers.
- Gaps between teeth: Prominent gapped teeth can be narrowed with dental veneers. When fitted, these veneers will be large enough to close the gaps between your other teeth. You no longer have to be embarrassed by your appearance whenever you smile. You can smile with full confidence when you have dental veneers fitted.
- Worn down teeth: Some people are fond of unhealthy habits like the grinding of their teeth while others wear down their teeth when they use them as bottle openers amongst other inappropriate behaviors. However, you can conceal worn down teeth with veneers.
- Stained or discolored teeth: Stained or discolored dentition is quite common. For some patients, the discoloration or staining of their teeth is as a result of cigarette smoking while other times enamel removal through the grinding of their teeth may be responsible. The yellowing of the tooth is actually due to the thinning of the natural tooth enamel which makes the pulp more visible. You can cover up stained teeth with a simple dental veneer procedure. To avoid staining of your teeth, limit your consumption of dark colored foods like berries.
- Misshapen teeth: Some of our patients come in with misshapen teeth and we advice them to settle for veneers cover in order to hide the imperfections of their awkwardly shaped teeth. Patients with misshapen front teeth are considered cosmetic dentistry priority at our dental office.
- Broken teeth: Patients with a badly damaged tooth where the tooth’s enamel is exposed to further damage by bacteria would need to have a thorough restorative job done before any cosmetic concerns. Its only when cavities have been filled and proper care of the teeth has been achieved that you may consider having dental lab created dental veneers. However, for minor chips, you can easily schedule an outpatient cosmetic procedure to cover up the chips.
Types of Dental Veneers that will Not Damage your Teeth
At Discover Dental, we offer three main dental veneer procedures. The first is porcelain veneers, the second is no-prep composite veneers, and the third is dental Lumineers or no-prep veneers. Of these three types of dental veneer procedures, only porcelain veneer placement is a dental procedure that requires enamel removal.
The shaving of your enamel will be done before our dentist place temporary veneers. The temporary veneers are removable veneers that are taken off once your permanent veneers made in a dental laboratory are ready for placement.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers permanent placement on your dentition will be preceded by teeth reduction, teeth cleanings, and other dental treatments to prepare your teeth for your new veneers bonded by special cement.
Veneers are better suited for the front surfaces of teeth and not for your back teeth. A local anesthetic may be administered if you experience tooth sensitivity during shaving or any other cosmetic preparation process.
Typically, porcelain veneers offer stain resistant properties and last for up to 20 years with proper care including teeth brushing, and flossing.
No-Prep Composite Veneers
Unlike porcelain veneers, no-prep composite veneers are free from tooth reduction through the shaving of the front surface. With less enamel removal, your natural tooth structure is preserved.
No-prep composite veneers are thin layers of custom made shells made from composite resin or composite material that will be attached to your entire tooth surface.
Resin composite materials are not as expensive as traditional porcelain veneers, but they also require dental cement to be bonded to the tooth by your dentist.
Most veneers can be fitted with one scheduled dentist appointment except their are other cosmetic reasons up for consideration by your dentist.
Dental Lumineers or No-Prep Veneers
Also known as prepless veneers, dental Lumineers are custom designed to be attached with ease to the front surface of your teeth with no need for excess cement by your dentist.
Similar to no-prep composite veneers, there will be no need to remove part of your enamel before placement.
Prepless veneers are therefore a less invasive type of procedure to restore a beautiful smile to the face of most patients. This veneer can also be done in one schedule visit to your dentist.
However, unlike a composite veneer that is made from composite resin, your no-prep veneers are made from a thin layer of porcelain material in a dental lab and placed on the surface of your tooth by your dentist.
Both dental Lumineers and no-prep composite veneers offer patients an opportunity to achieve a confidence building smile makeover that would be the envy of family and friends. They require proper oral care involving regular brushing, flossing, and visits to the dental office.
Do not wait until your Lumineers or no-prep veneers are worn out before paying your dentist a visit. Always be prepared to make out time to attend to your dental needs. You can schedule an appointment to your dentist twice a year or you can make this more often if the need arises.
FAQs About Veneers for Teeth
When should you go for prepless veneers?
Prepless veneers are ideally suited for patients with very little tooth damage, such as; a chip, discoloration or stain.
When is the ideal time to visit your dentist for a veneer procedure?
The best time to see your dentist for a veneer procedure is whenever you have reason to schedule a visit. This is usually when you have a misshapen, crooked, broken, chipped, stained or discolored tooth.
Does prepless veneer last and how long on average?
Yes, prepless veneer placement lasts. Typically, you can use prepless veneer for between 7 to 10 years. However, you may enjoy a much longer use if you avoid biting on hard objects and you take proper care of your veneer by brushing regularly.
What are Lumineers go for?
Lumineers are great for covering up gaps, stains, discoloration, chips, and misalignment. They do not require any preparation by way of tooth shaving which makes them high desirable by a majority of patients in the U.S.
What are the benefits of prepless veneers and Lumineers?
Lumineers are thin layers of porcelain that offer similar traits as traditional porcelain veneers. Lumineers are stain resistant, natural looking veneers. They can also last up to 20 years provided you maintain proper oral hygiene and care. Prepless veneers require no preparation to your tooth or dental crown. Further more, the veneers cost is low compared to porcelain veneers.
Discover Dental Your One-Stop Dental Veneer Clinic in Houston
If you are interested in enhancing your smile with custom-made veneers, schedule your appointment with our dentist today. Our dentist will prepare your tooth surface for new dental veneers before placing removable veneers for a few weeks while your permanent porcelain veneers are being made in a dental laboratory. On your second scheduled visit, the removable veneers are taken off and your dentition is cleaned before the dentist places the porcelain veneers.
If you are wary of shaving and you prefer prepless veneers or Lumineers, then our in-house dentist can also meet our cosmetic needs. You don’t need any preparation by way of shaving whatsoever. The only thing that would be done is a thorough cleaning to ensure that food particles and bacteria are not trapped between your tooth and the Lumineers or prepless veneers. You can get in contact with us today for more information about prepless veneers by scheduling an appointment or giving us a call: tel: (713) 997-9390 today.
