Are you looking into dental veneers for that perfect smile you've always wanted? Our complete guide will show you what to expect. Read now to find out!

Did you know that more than one-third of people in the United States are not happy with the appearance of their teeth? People may be unhappy with their teeth for all sorts of reasons such as having crooked teeth, stained enamel, chipped teeth, and so on. Fortunately, if you are unhappy with the state of your smile, you can always improve with dental veneers from your dentist in Columbia, MD.



But what are dental veneers, you might ask? Keep reading and learn more about what dental veneers are and how they can give you the perfect smile you've always been looking for. 

What You Need to Know About Dental Veneers

Getting dental veneers is a relatively simple procedure and it can fix all sorts of dental woes. A dental veneer is nothing more than a small piece of porcelain or composite resin in the shape of a tooth. It is meant to cover your existing teeth so that when you smile, the color and shape of the veneers are all that people would see. 

Keep in mind that dental veneers are very realistic in appearance. Most people won't even be able to tell that you have veneers unless you tell them. Instead of looking fake, your veneers will make it look like you simply have very healthy, straight teeth. 

Veneers are a good option for those who have stubborn tooth enamel stains. Even if you've tried all sorts of tooth whitening procedures in the past, your teeth may still not be as white as you want them to be. To fix this problem, you can use veneers to cover your real teeth. 

There are many veneer shades that you can choose from. If you are having trouble choosing, your dentist can help you make a decision. You can choose veneers that are very similar to your current tooth color or you can choose veneers that are several shades lighter. 

Veneers can also help cover chipped teeth, slightly crooked teeth, and even teeth that have gaps between them.

The Details

Your dentist will help you determine what kind of veneers will look best for your mouth shape, face shape, and skin tone. If you don't put an adequate amount of thought into the veneers you choose, the results may not look as realistic as you would hope. Getting the veneers themselves should not take very long. 

After choosing the right veneers, your dentist will need to prep your teeth before applying them. To do this, your dentist will first sand down your teeth. This will function to remove part of your tooth enamel, but not all of it. 

This procedure is necessary because sanding down the tooth makes your tooth enamel much rougher. As such, the veneers will stick to your teeth much more easily and won't slip off. To help the veneers stick to your teeth, the dentist will also use a special type of adhesive. 

Once the adhesive dries and the dentist applies the veneers, your new smile should be ready to go. 

Types of Veneers and How to Care for Them

There are two main types of veneers: porcelain veneers and composite veneers. Porcelain veneers are especially popular for several reasons. First, they are very strong and they are very unlikely to crack or chip even after having them for several years.

In fact, porcelain veneers can last between 10 and 20 years if you take good care of them. Porcelain veneers are also very realistic and look almost exactly like real teeth. The only downside has to do with the price. 

Porcelain veneers tend to be quite expensive, sometimes as much as several thousand dollars per tooth. If you want to get veneers for all of your teeth, you can imagine that this would be a very expensive endeavor. The alternative is to get composite resin veneers instead. 

These veneers are very similar to porcelain veneers, but there are a few important differences. To start, composite resin veneers are not quite as strong as porcelain. For that reason, you will need to be a bit more careful with these veneers to make sure they don't start chipping over the years.

Composite resin veneers tend to last 10 years but if you don't take care of them, they may last even less. The good thing about these veneers is that they still look quite good and they are much more affordable than porcelain veneers. But once you get your veneers, how should you take care of them?

How to Make Your Veneers Last

To start, you will want to clean your veneers as you would clean your real teeth. This means that you should brush your teeth about twice every day or at least after every meal. This will help prevent your veneers from becoming discolored. 

Coffee, red wine, and fruit juices all have strong pigments that can stain your veneers. While you don't need to avoid these drinks, you should always brush your teeth after consuming them. Also, try to avoid hard or crunchy foods like peanuts or ice. 

These foods may chip or crack your veneers. Finally, try not to use your veneers to open packages or tear loose strings as this may also damage the veneers.

All About Dental Veneers

Dental veneers from your dentist in Columbia, MD, are a great idea if you're looking for an easy way to improve your smile. Dental veneers are either made of porcelain or composite resin and they can last several years and even decades if you take good care of them. This is not to mention they can improve the appearance of all sorts of dental problems such as discolored or chipped teeth.

To learn more, contact us here.