Most people long to have a perfect smile with rows of pearly white teeth, but age, food and drink, injury, and even genetics take their toll over time. What’s left is a collection of smile flaws that can make you embarrassed to open your mouth.
That’s where dental veneers come in. This common dental appliance can correct more flaws than you might think — for both cosmetic and oral health issues.
Here at the dental office of Dr. Raul Molina Jr. in Miami, Florida, we have extensive training in cosmetic rehabilitation procedures such as dental veneers, and we use veneers to both improve your appearance and protect your smile. Keep reading to learn more about what we can do to make your smile radiant again.
The basics of dental veneers
Dental veneers are also called porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates. They’re custom-made, wafer-thin shells bonded to the front tooth surface to change its size, shape, length, or color. They’re also a durable and affordable alternative to getting a dental crown, which is also custom-made but sits over the top of your tooth.
Though veneers don’t improve your tooth health by themselves, because of their resistance to acid and decay, they contribute to improved oral hygiene while giving your mouth a vibrant, bright look.
Dental veneers can be manufactured either from porcelain or from resin-composite materials. We use porcelain for a number of reasons. First, porcelain veneers resist stains better than resin ones do. Second, they’re stronger. And third, they look more like your natural teeth because they’re color-matched to blend in with your surrounding teeth and because they mimic the light-reflecting properties of natural teeth.
Veneers may be helpful for those who want a long-term solution to persistent cosmetic concerns, but who don’t respond well to other treatments, such as teeth whitening or braces. Most veneers last 7-15 years, after which they need to be replaced.
What smile flaws do veneers address?
Dr. Molina may recommend using veneers if your teeth and gums are otherwise healthy, but you have a tooth — or many — that are:
- Worn or chipped from use or injury
- Stained or badly discolored (coffee, tea, wine, tobacco)
- Crooked or misshapen
- Unevenly spaced
- Gapped
- Unevenly sized
- Too small or too large
Getting veneers is primarily considered an aesthetic procedure, but they’re good for more than just a pretty smile. Some oral health reasons for getting veneers include:
- Repairing small cracks: Veneers seal any cracks against decay-causing pathogens and debris by bonding to the front tooth surface.
- Restoring damaged enamel: Veneers cover weak enamel and protect against acid and decay.
- Filling in gaps and evening out spacing: Gaps and spaces attract debris and plaque, lead to bite misalignments and structural stress, tooth fractures, and tooth loss.
The benefits of dental veneers
Besides being a quick and natural-looking option, the benefits of dental veneers include:
- Protection against future damage
- Reduction of tooth sensitivity
- Customization of color and shape
- Made from stain-resistant materials
- Cared for like natural teeth
- Loss of little natural tooth material during application
And by covering up the visible wear-and-tear built up over a lifetime, veneers can give you back your radiant smile and self-confidence.
Is your smile less than you want it to be? Do you have flaws, big or small, that you wish you could hide? Veneers might be just the answer for you. Give our office a call at (305) 614-0211, or schedule your consultation with Dr. Molina online today.