When there are chips, cracks, or tooth discoloration in your smile, it can seem like the goal of that perfect dental aesthetic is almost unreachable. Because many of us desire a more uniform appearance, state-of-the-art dental treatments like porcelain veneers not only offer a minimally invasive solution but help establish more self-confidence as well.
What Are Dental Veneers?
A dental veneer is a thin, yet durable layer of material that is placed over the surface of your teeth. These facings are used in dentistry to improve the dental aesthetic of your smile and protect against potential tooth damage. Veneers consist of either porcelain or resin composite materials, making them difficult to decipher from natural teeth.
Why Choose Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain material is the most sought-after choice for veneer treatment. These ceramic caps have numerous advantages including:
A Brighter Smile- Discoloration in teeth can be the result of many situations such as tooth damage, regular consumption of heavily pigmented foods, root canal treatment, or certain medications. Porcelain veneers are crafted with your specific whitening needs in mind and provide patients with the luminous appearance they desire. Also, the porcelain material used to make these facings is highly resistant to everyday factors that cause stains, making them an ideal choice for enhancing dental aesthetics.
Addressing Misalignment- If teeth are healthy, and the tooth misalignment is minor, porcelain veneers can be used as an alternative to traditional orthodontic treatment in addressing minor alignment issues. In some cases, teeth may not have to be adjusted to achieve a more uniform smile. A ceramic cover that can make teeth look and feel straighter may be all that is needed.
Providing Length to Worn Down Teeth- Grinding your teeth, also known as Bruxism, is the leading cause of worn down teeth. This grinding not only gives off the appearance of shortened tooth length, but it can make the smile seem gummier, and the constant pressure on the jaw muscles can lead to other future concerns. Porcelain veneers provide the length and durability back into your smile. These facings are entirely natural-looking, strong, and are used to cover visible damage.
Masking Cracks or Chips- Whether from a prior dental injury or weak enamel, many individuals experience some damage to their teeth. However, this does not mean that tooth replacement is always necessary, sometimes the affected areas can be restored with cosmetic advancements. Porcelain veneers are often used to correct chips, cracks, and other signs of harm by placing the protective shell over the natural tooth.
How Veneers Correlate with Other Cosmetic and Restorative Treatments
Although porcelain veneers can be used to treat minor alignment issues, sometimes patients who receive veneers on one or a few of their teeth may want to address any orthodontic complications in the rest of their smile. The Invisalign® treatment is a series of clear plastic straightening trays, work well with previous veneer placements. Your porcelain caps will not be compromised, as patients undergoing Invisalign must wear their protective aligners for up to 22 hours a day.
With all the advantages that porcelain veneers offer, sometimes not complying with proper aftercare may require future aesthetic treatment. If so, another benefit of these ceramic facings is that they are adaptable and combined with other cosmetic or restorative therapies.
Ultimately, you and your cosmetic dentist determine together if dental veneers are the right treatment option for you.
Dr. Jose Lomboy of Woodbridge Dental Services dedicates his expertise to the health and overall well-being of his patients by providing top-quality cosmetic and restorative dentistry.
For more information on how our porcelain veneers can brighten your smile, call or visit our Irvine, CA practice today!