Slip and chip a tooth? Or maybe you’re an avid coffee enthusiast whose teeth have lost their sparkle? Veneers are an effective way to fix common cosmetic issues with your teeth. However, before you go out and spend a lot of your hard-earned cash on this procedure, you should know some important things about having veneers. 

Veneers are permanent

The first thing you should be aware of regarding veneers is that they are permanent. Veneers are a small layer of material (like porcelain, resin, or another composite material) used to create a cap that fits seamlessly over the front of your teeth, covering up any issues. 

Generally, when you have veneers put in, a thin layer of enamel is ground off the front of your tooth to ensure that the veneer is level with your other teeth, as well as to provide the veneer with a coarse surface to bond with when it’s glued on. Because of this, your veneers would be permanent.

They aren’t indestructible

While veneers are permanent, one thing to know is that they are not indestructible. While durable, veneers are also susceptible to cracking or chipping and can get damaged like normal teeth. Because of this, you would need to be careful, as fixing them can be a hassle. The average lifespan of your veneers will depend on the type you choose to get and how you look after them, but generally, they’re good to last you between five and ten years.

You can make them too white

Veneers are often used as a solution to intrinsically stained teeth that can’t be whitened. People use veneers for this because when they’re made, they are designed to match the color of your teeth perfectly. However, if you are only getting a few veneers and opt for them to be whiter than the actual color of your teeth, this could look unnatural and give away the fact that you have veneers. 

Likewise, there is also something known as “too white.” People can have extremely white teeth from good oral hygiene or treatment. But when they’re unbelievably white, it becomes noticeable. The ideal color of your veneers should match your other teeth or be a more natural white. 

You don’t need them for every tooth

For cosmetic reasons, some people have veneers placed over all their teeth to improve their symmetry or appearance. However, if you have a damaged tooth and you want to fix it, you don’t need to veneer all your teeth. Placing veneers over the damaged teeth or the teeth that surround it would do just fine. 

Veneers are a versatile solution to multiple cosmetic dental problems

One of the features we love about veneers is how versatile they are! If you happen to have worn down teeth, discolored teeth, chips, gaps, or even misaligned teeth, veneers can be an effective solution to correcting the issue. However, your dentist may suggest something else for misalignments, like braces or invisible aligners. 

They are very stain-resistant

Another thing to know about getting veneers is that they are very stain-resistant. This still means that you need to keep up with your daily oral hygiene routine, but it allows you to drink and eat items of food that would otherwise cause discoloration after a while, like coffee for instance. 

Veneers don’t replace your teeth

People have some common misconceptions about veneers, believing that they essentially replace your tooth when applied. These individuals are probably confused with caps or crowns that fit over your tooth after filling it down. 

Remember, veneers are a thin layer of porcelain or resin glued to the front of your tooth only to cover up cracks, chips, discoloration, or gaps in your teeth. Only a thin layer of tooth enamel will be filled down on your tooth, nothing more. 

They are more than only cosmetic purposes

While having veneers down is a cosmetic procedure, they have more purposes than simply improving the look of your teeth. For example, if your tooth is cracked, veneers help hold that crack together, binding it with the epoxy used to glue the veneer onto your tooth and restrengthening that damaged area. 

How much does it cost to get veneers?

One pressing concern about getting veneers is the price, as it can be relatively expensive. The price of your veneers does depend on the type you choose, with ceramic veneers being the most expensive but most durable option. Composite veneers are another popular option and are slightly more reasonable in price. However, they don’t typically last as long as your ceramic veneers. 

The best way forward for you is to contact a cosmetic dentist who does veneers for advice. Gorgeous Smiles is one of the best cosmetic dentists in Australia, so we highly recommend going to them for a consultation. 

Final Thoughts

We hope these things to know about getting veneers were helpful. In our opinion, veneers are a great solution to various dental cosmetic problems. But we still want you to be well-informed about getting veneers involved so you don’t regret getting them afterward.

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