5 Reasons Dental Veneers May Be Right for You

A dazzling, beautiful, flawless smile makes a great first impression. Unfortunately, a majority of us mere mortals were born with less-than-perfect smiles. If only we could trade our flawed smiles for a red carpet runway smile as the celebrities have. Oh, and while we’re at it, can we get that smile quickly with as little hassle as possible?

Think you’re dreaming? Think again. Dental veneers can help you capture that dream-worthy smile you’ve always wanted, says Ginger Rome, DDS, and the friendly, skilled dental team at The Dentists at North Cypress in Houston, Texas. In this blog, we give you the lowdown on dental veneers and five reasons they may be right for you.

Veneers: The ultimate cover-up

Dental veneers are essentially the ultimate cover-up. Specifically, dental veneers are an

increasingly popular cosmetic procedure that covers dental flaws and provides you with the smile you always knew you could have. If this all sounds a little too good to be true, like the storyline of a Hollywood movie, there's a good reason.

Dental veneers trace their roots back to Hollywood in the late 1920s when California dentist Charles L. Pincus, DDS, fixed smile imperfections for stars like James Dean, Shirley Temple, and Judy Garland.

1. Versatile treatment option

Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain or composite resin adhered to the front of a tooth surface to cover up imperfections or damaged teeth. They might be the most versatile tool your dentist uses for transforming smiles. This treatment addresses a wide range of dental flaws, including:

• Minor chips and cracks in tooth enamel
• Small gaps between teeth
• Slightly overlapping teeth
• Misshapen teeth or unevenly sized teeth
• Slightly crooked teeth

2. Two to three appointments away from your best smile

You’re probably thinking, what’s the rub? Anything that sounds this good and can provide a smile do-over must have a catch. Maybe the treatment time is lengthy and the process cumbersome.

No, actually your smile can go from blah to wow in two to three appointments. This is how it plays out. During your first visit, your dental team performs a dental exam and teeth cleaning and takes digital X-rays, if needed, to plan your treatment. If your provider deems your gums, teeth, and jaw are strong and healthy, she clears you as a good candidate for the procedure. 

3. Retains more tooth enamel

Next, your provider administers a local anesthetic for the tooth prep phase of the treatment. A particular benefit about dental veneers is that the procedure requires removing only a thin layer of enamel – about 0.5mm or less to make room for the veneer. This thin layer is typically less than the amount of enamel removed for the average dental crown restoration, so you preserve more of your natural tooth.

Next, your dentist takes digital impressions of your teeth to ensure the veneer fits properly. Then she sends this data to a dental lab, which mills your custom-made veneers. In some cases, your provider bonds a temporary veneer in place while waiting for the permanent restorations to return from the lab. At the final appointment, your provider adheres the veneer to your tooth, and off you go with the picture-perfect smile you’ve always dreamed about.

4. Great alternative for teeth resistant to whitening

Another reason dental veneers may be right for you is if your teeth are stained and discolored to the extent that they don’t whiten using at-home or in-chair teeth whitening systems. With dental veneers, your stained teeth are a distant memory, and you finally get the white, dazzling teeth you deserve.

5. Looks great and lasts long 

As if getting your own Hollywood smile wasn’t enough, since veneers consist of materials that mimic the luminosity of your natural teeth and are color-matched to your neighboring teeth, someone meeting you for the first time would be hard-pressed to know which teeth are veneers and which are your natural teeth. Don’t worry; you don’t tell us, we won't either.

But the story doesn’t end there. With consistent at-home oral care like brushing and flossing as well as attending your check-ups and hygiene appointments, your dental veneers can last 15 years or more. Talk about a perfect Hollywood ending!

If you’re ready to capture your best smile and want to learn if dental veneers are right for you, contact The Dentists at North Cypress by giving us a call today or scheduling an appointment online.