The Pros And Cons Of Dental Veneers

Porcelain veneers offer the opportunity to have a great looking smile, however stained your teeth might be!

Dental veneers have been around, in one form or another, for a very long time. They were first used during the Hollywood era to mask the stained teeth of many of the stars who were heavy smokers such as Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. A close up shot of a romantic kiss would have been significantly marred by the stained appearance of their teeth, so a dentist, Charles Pincus, came up with the idea of a thin tooth coloured shell which was placed over the actors teeth for these moments.

These were temporary of course, but the idea took off over the years until we have the excellent porcelain veneers that we provide at our Burton dental practice today.

There are a number of reasons that people might choose to have veneers fitted. The most common is where teeth are heavily stained or discoloured; for example, through smoking. Other flaws and minor issues can also be corrected with them though as we will shortly see.

Although this is a very popular and successful treatment that SG Dental and Implant Centre  provide, it is important to be aware of not only the benefits, but any possible issues that might arise if you have them.

Whiter Teeth

The main reason that people opt for veneers is to have a great looking smile. Although a teeth whitening procedure is a first step for most people, veneers are especially useful for those with more heavily stained teeth. They are also preferred by some for the constant whiteness that they provide. With teeth whitening, the procedure needs to be carried out at regular intervals to maintain the whiteness. Once veneers are fitted, they will maintain the same level of whiteness for many years.

Chips and cracks

While a tooth whitening treatment will whiten the teeth, it can do nothing for any chips and cracks that are present, indeed, it may only serve to highlight them. Veneers are especially useful for this purpose and can resolve this issue to allow you to have a fantastic smile once more.

Small gap closure

Although orthodontics are often used to straighten teeth and remove gaps, veneers can also be used to do this in minor cases. A good example is the ‘diastema’, where a gap appears between the top two front teeth. You will need to have this checked by your dentist to determine which is the most appropriate dental treatment for you.

Durability

Porcelain veneers are very strong. Providing that you look after them, they should last you for around ten years. After this, they may need to be replaced by new ones. Provided that you take care of them and follow the advice provided by the dentist at our Burton clinic, there is no reason why you should need to have them replaced much earlier.

Ease of care

Veneers are usually made from porcelain which is not only very strong but also stain resistant. Having said that, sticky substances can attach themselves to it so it is important to brush your teeth well, whether you wear veneers or not. It is also important that you brush and floss the whole tooth and not only the veneer. Decay or gum disease could lead to the veneers becoming less secure, so remember to brush and floss well and maintain your regular check up visits.

Cost

Veneers are more expensive than a teeth whitening procedure but do offer other benefits too. It may work out cheaper, in the long run, to have this treatment, for example, than to have your teeth regularly whitened. Our team will be pleased to discuss the options with you. SG Dental and Implant Centre also offers a range of payment plans to help you to spread the cost of treatments and we will discuss this during your consultation with us.

No going back

Once you have had veneers fitted, with the removal of a fine layer of enamel from the front surface of your teeth, you will need to have veneers for the rest of your life as the enamel will not grow back. Failing to replace any veneers could cause discomfort and would greatly increase the risk of tooth decay.

Initial sensitivity

Although only a fine layer of enamel is removed during the placing of veneers, some patients do experience a little initial sensitivity. This is usually temporary and goes quite quickly.

Porcelain veneers offer you a great and long lasting smile, with straightforward maintenance. It is no coincidence then that they are a popular choice for many actors and singers whose smile may come under the spotlight quite often. The procedure is now more affordable than it used to be and many ‘ordinary’ people are also taking advantage in order to have a great looking smile. If you would like to join them, or would like more information about our cosmetic services, please call our Burton dental practice on 01283 845345 to arrange your consultation with us.