Unfortunately, not many people are born with a naturally beautiful and perfect smile. Factors such as genetics, lifestyle, diet, circumstance, and in some cases, bad luck play a significant role in the development of our teeth and smile.
Dental flaws such as stains and small imperfections (chips, cracks, gaps, misshapen teeth) often cause poor self-confidence and low self-esteem. Sadly walking around with a bad set of teeth isn’t going to help your social anxiety! But, thankfully these cosmetic issues are easily corrected with dental veneers, which restore and help create the smile you desire.
Although veneers can be used to fix many dental problems, they aren’t always the best choice for everyone. Use the criteria below to see if you are a good candidate for dental veneers.
Dental Veneers For A Great Smile
Social media platforms, tv, magazines, and more all sprout forth about the wonders of dental veneers and how quickly they can transform your smile. For once, they have got something right! However, understanding what veneers are will help you understand why they are a fast and effective smile solution.
Veneers are shells or sheaths made from porcelain or composite resin placed on your tooth’s surface. Once in place, dental veneers mimic the appearance of perfect teeth, camouflaging stains, minor flaws, and closing up gaps in your smile. They could even be loosely described as color-matched and custom-designed mobile phone screen protector film for your teeth with added dental benefits!
Are Dental Veneers The Right Option For You?
If you are considering the dental veneer route, you probably fall into one or more of the below categories.
- You want to eliminate certain minor tooth imperfections. These cosmetic flaws might include misshapen or small teeth, gaps, cracks, or chips which are easily rectified with veneers.
- You want to camouflage deep stains or discolouration that cannot be removed with professional whitening agent. Stains caused by tooth decay and old fillings can also be disguised using veneers.
- You want to address multiple dental issues simultaneously. For example, veneers can rectify crooked, damaged, and stained teeth in a single application.
Do You Meet The Criteria For Dental Veneers?
While veneers are an excellent solution for many cosmetic issues, meeting certain criteria is imperative for their successful application and ongoing care. The below list of requirements will highlight if you are a good candidate for this type of dental treatment.
- You Have Sufficient Tooth Enamel
Contrary to popular belief, your natural teeth are not ground down to stumps during this part of the procedure. This is an old-fashioned way of prepping teeth for veneers, not used at Bespoke Smile. In fact, no prep or minimal prep methods are our preferred approach.
However, in some cases, minimal tooth preparation is required. This involves a small amount of enamel removed (0.5-1mm) to enable the veneer and natural tooth surface to bond properly and form a stable, strong surface.
Unfortunately, tooth preparation is not possible in candidates suffering from enamel erosion as the enamel will have become too thin to support dental veneers. Enamel erosion can occur due to genetics, poor diet, bad oral hygiene, and health issues. Your dentist can advise if you have enough enamel during your assessment.
- You Have Healthy Teeth And Gums
Perfect oral health is not a dental veneer requirement. However, cavities and gum disease will need to be treated prior to designing your ideal smile. While fabulous at disguising cosmetic issues, veneers cannot be used to treat deep-seated issues such as periodontal disease and cavities. Furthermore, veneers placed over these problems will cause the issue to worsen, causing pain and further decay. Instead, once your dental problems have been resolved, the veneers can be placed safely.
- You Don’t Grind Your Teeth
Bruxism, commonly known as teeth grinding, is the number one cause of damaged or debonded dental veneers. Factors such as stress, age, medication side effects, genetics, and even mental health issues can cause bruxism. Teeth grinding can occur during sleep or waking hours and wears away natural teeth. Worn teeth are the main reason why patients initially consider dental veneers.
Patients with bruxism are not regarded as good candidates for veneers. However, if you are open to wearing a mouth guard at night this may protect your veneers from damage.
- Your Teeth Are Not Severely Misaligned
Slightly misaligned teeth are easily corrected using veneers. However, if you suffer from severely misaligned teeth, veneers may not be the option for you. Placing a veneer on top of a very crooked tooth will not provide enough support. As a result, too much pressure will be placed on the veneer when biting or chewing causing it to crack or become damaged.
- You Don’t Bite Your Nails
Bad habits like nail biting, pen chewing, and eating hard foods can damage your veneers very quickly, causing cracks, chips, and excessive wear and tear. To be a good candidate for dental veneers, you will need to abstain from these habits to ensure they remain in good condition.
- You Practice Good Oral Hygiene
While veneers provide a brand new smile, they still require maintenance and care. Like natural teeth, sparkly new veneers must be cleaned with regular brushing and flossing. In addition, dental veneers don’t automatically give you a free pass from regular checkups with your dentist and hygienist!
Few people realise that poor dental hygiene can actually cause natural teeth to rot under the veneers resulting in cavities and tooth loss. Definitely not the look you were going for! Instead, developing and maintaining a good cleaning regime and attending regular dentist appointments will ensure your teeth and veneers last for a long time.
Final Thoughts
Dental veneers are an excellent smile-correcting solution. Not only do they address cosmetic dental issues, but they also protect natural teeth from further damage and decay while boosting your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Ultimately your dentist will decide whether dental veneers are the best treatement for you as they are best placed to assess your oral health. But, if you are a good candidate and meet the requirements, you could soon be on your way to the glossy smile you’ve been dreaming of!
If you’re planning to get veneers, you can check out this dental expert who offers oral screenings, teeth whitening, and the best veneers in Raleigh.