Transform Your Smile with Porcelain Veneers

It is said that smiling can change your mood and decrease your stress level, but what happens when your smile is the reason for stressing? When faced with stained, discolored, misaligned, misshaped, gapped, and/or thin teeth; there are many ways in which you can transform your smile. One common way to reface your smile is with dental veneers. While there are two types of veneers, composite and porcelain, porcelain veneers prove to be more durable.

What are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are a type of dental veneer made from a wafer-thin porcelain compound formulated to conceal the teeth’s surface. This application consists of bonding a tailor made veneer to the top of the tooth with a resin, and curing it with a special light. Though the procedure to obtain composite veneers is similar to porcelain and accomplishable in one visit, it requires more of the tooth structure to be removed for placement. With porcelain veneers, the process is completed over a few visits because they are custom prepared in a dental laboratory from an impression of your teeth.

Advantages of Porcelain Veneers

There are many advantages to porcelain veneers. Not only will they boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem, but they offer some benefits over the qualities of your own natural teeth. In addition to the longevity of 10 -15 years with proper care, porcelain veneers are able to resist staining making them the perfect option for those that have stained and discolored teeth. Due to the smooth, watertight ceramic that is used with porcelain veneers, teeth are not permanently stained from things like cigarettes, wine, coffee or any other dark colored foods and beverages. Perhaps the most attractive benefit of porcelain veneers is the fact that it doesn’t require as much of your natural tooth to be altered as composite veneers. Related: Important Factors to Consider When Deciding to Have Dental Implants Placed

Disadvantages of Porcelain Veneers

Just like most things in life, there are some less attractive things about porcelain veneers. Because of the material with veneers, if they are damaged, they do have to be completely replaced. Also, veneers are not reversible when teeth have to be altered. As a result of the more intensive process with applying porcelain, they cost more than composites, but are well worth it for the right candidates. Veneering teeth is a great solution to variety of dental issues but may not be a viable option for everyone. To determine whether porcelain veneers are the right fit for improving your smile a few things must be considered. For more information on porcelain veneers or to schedule a consultation with our experienced Charlotte dentist, click here.