Are Dental Veneers For You?

Are you unhappy with your smile and considering something that can improve your appearance? Your smile is what people notice first and that first impression can be very important.

Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that are “bonded” onto the front surfaces of your front teeth. Depending on what is needed and desired, it may include from four to eight of your front teeth. With a veneer we can change the size, color, position or the shape of your teeth. When done correctly your teeth will look very natural resulting in a beautiful smile. Veneers are technically difficult to do perfectly and time and experience make a very big difference in the outcome. We have been doing them for many years and they are one of the disciplines I teach at the UW Dental School.

Veneers are commonly used to correct the following:

• Teeth with gaps between them
• Cracked, chipped or broken teeth
• Poorly shaped teeth
• Teeth that are discolored from age, childhood medication, wear, etc.
• Poor smile lines

Dental Veneers will last 10-15 years and sometimes longer when proper care is practiced Permanent veneers are typically made of thin porcelain, but can also be made of a composite type material that is less expensive and faster to apply as it is not lab made, but instead applied directly onto the teeth. This alternative material does not last as long and is not as cosmetically perfect, but can be a temporary treatment.

Cases where Dental Veneers are not indicated:

• People with habits such as chewing ice, biting their nails, grinding their teeth, etc.
• Large defects or fractured areas where crowns are needed as veneers do not provide the necessary strength
• Evidence of gum disease or chronic, poor homecare as decay can occur at the margins if not brushed or flossed like other natural teeth
• Weak enamel that makes bonding difficult

Only about 1 mm of tooth structure must be removed to apply veneers which is less than crowns so it is a more conservative approach.