Improve the Look of Your Smile with Dental Veneers
If you’re looking to change the appearance of your teeth for the better, then dental veneers could be the perfect option for you. The simple process can revitalize the look of your teeth, giving you the fresh and beautiful smile that you dream of.
The process of having dental veneers fitted is the perfect middle ground between dental bonding, which is ideal to resolve smaller cosmetic dental issues, and crowns, which are the right route for larger cosmetic fixes. With dental veneers you can overcome many common dental issues, achieving a straighter and cleaner appearance, so you’ll never have to hide your smile again.
What are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are a natural-looking tooth covering, which are bonded to the surface of your tooth to hide cosmetic problems that may be causing you to feel less confident about the beauty of your smile. This is a purely cosmetic treatment, with the covering placed on the front of your tooth to hide any imperfections.
There are two types of dental veneer that you can choose from: a resin composite veneer or a porcelain veneer. Both materials can achieve a beautifully natural look that will significantly improve the appearance of your smile. Dental veneers are one of the most popular choices for patients looking to improve the cosmetic appearance of their teeth. While dental bonding may be a good choice for minor cosmetic dental fixes, and crowns are necessary for more serious cosmetic repairs, veneers offer a middle route to a more beautiful smile.
A dental veneer is a cover that is placed over the front (outward-facing) side of an existing tooth or teeth. The cover can be made of porcelain or a resin composite. A dental veneer can match the color of the existing tooth, or, in the case of a tooth that is discolored, can be matched to surrounding teeth. Tooth shape and size can also be altered by a dental veneer.
To make sure that the dental veneers look perfectly at home against your other teeth, the color of the veneer will be matched to your existing tooth color. If your other teeth are discolored, then your dentist in Chicago, IL, will make sure that the veneer is colored to match perfectly. The veneer can also help to alter the shape of your teeth as well as the size, improving the look of your smile.
What problems can Dental Veneers fix?
If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, you may be a good candidate for a dental veneer:
- Do you have gaps between existing teeth that you would like filled?
- Do you have teeth or a tooth that is worn down and makes your smile look uneven or old?
- Do you have any chipped teeth?
- Do you have teeth that are discolored or have uneven color due to fillings?
- Do you have oddly shaped or uneven or teeth that are out of alignment?
Dental veneers are a popular option for many people due to the vast range of cosmetic problems that they can help to address. These problems range from common issues, like discoloration, to problems with damaged or chipped teeth.
Here are just a few of the cosmetic dental problems that expertly fitted veneers can help with:
- Teeth that are uneven or not in the correct alignment
- Irregularly shaped teeth where some teeth are too short or smaller than others
- Small and large gaps between teeth
- Teeth that are discolored or that have an uneven coloring due to additional dental work, such as fillings
- Small chips in teeth
- An uneven smile due to teeth that have worn down in an inconsistent way
If you aren’t happy with your smile, for any of the above reasons, then dental veneers can help you to increase your confidence significantly. After the veneers are fitted, you’ll notice the difference immediately, with a straighter and more consistent smile that you can be proud of. Veneers can address these cosmetic dentistry issues and more.
How do dental veneers compare to bonding?
One of the biggest “pros” of veneers compared to bonding is that porcelain veneers are much more stain resistant than the material that is used for bonding. They therefore maintain their appearance longer. Furthermore, veneers last longer and are in general more durable than the results of bonding are. However, because of these “pros,” veneers are more expensive than bonding. Also, while bonding is usually done in one appointment, it can take up to three appointments to get veneers because the veneers are generally prepared outside of your dentist’s office.
How do Dental Veneers compare to Dental Crowns?
When you get a crown, there is no going back to your regular tooth. The same is true of veneers. Your existing tooth has to be etched in order for the veneer to be properly affixed to your tooth. However, the etching that is done to your tooth is much less invasive than the filing that is necessary when you are getting a crown placed on a tooth. In many cases, patients do not even need a local anesthetic when a tooth is etched for a veneer. Dr. Sheehan will be happy to discuss the process with you and help you to decide if you need anesthetic or not.
Also just like crowns, veneers are available in porcelain and in other materials. Porcelain offers the greatest chance for matching the color of your other existing teeth. Unlike a crown, a veneer only covers the face of your tooth. Therefore veneers are less likely to wear down surrounding teeth than crowns are. Furthermore, while you can only get one or two crowns placed in one sitting, you can have many teeth get veneers at one time.
Aside from being a less invasive process, getting veneers is also generally a cheaper option than getting full crowns.
Dental Veneers vs Crowns
One of the main similarities between a dental crown and a dental veneer, is that the process is permanent; once the veneers or crowns have been fitted, you can’t revert back to your natural tooth. Both veneers and crowns are also available in multiple material types, such as the highly popular porcelain veneer. Porcelain is a leading choice for achieving a highly natural finish with a coloring that matches the existing tooth color. While there are some similarities, there are also many differences between the two procedures, including:
Fitting – During the process of fitting a veneer, your tooth will be etched, which allows the veneer to be attached correctly to the existing tooth. This procedure is very different for crown fitting, which is generally considered to be more invasive. During the fitting of a crown, the tooth will need to be filed so that the crown can be fitted properly.
Anesthetic – When crowns are fitted, anesthetic is required to numb the area that is being worked on. With the etching required before the fitting of veneers, this is not always a required. Before the process begins, you’ll be able to consult with your dentist in Illinois and discuss how you want to proceed with the treatment, and whether or not you wish anesthetic to be used.
Covering – The extent of covering will differ greatly between the two procedures, with a veneer only used to cover the front of the tooth.
Wear – Crowns can be prone to the wearing down of surrounding teeth, something that is not as likely to happen with veneers, due to the different extent of tooth covering.
Treatment – When you have crowns fitted, there is a limit to how many that you have in one sitting, this is normally either one and two. No matter how many veneers you would like to be fitted, they can all be completed in the same sitting.
Cost – There is an evident cost difference between the fitting of crowns and the fitting of veneers, with veneers considered to be the most affordable of the two treatments.
Dental Veneers vs Bonding
Bonding is considered to be a popular choice for minor cosmetic problems and involves the attachment of a composite resin tooth to an existing tooth. The process and results differ greatly to that of veneers, with the main differences surrounding resistance, longevity, appointment amount, and cost. Resistance to Stains – A porcelain veneer has a significantly higher resistance to staining when compared to bonding, ensuring that your smile continues to look fantastic.
Longevity – Veneers not only retain their beautiful appearance for longer than bonding, but the results are also much more durable than the bonding results.
Appointments – Bonding only normally requires a single appointment with your dentist in Chicago, IL. With veneers, you can expect to have to attend a maximum of three appointments, as the preparation of the veneers is not performed in the dentist’s office.
Cost – The resistance and longevity of veneers means that they normally cost more than the bonding process.
How Are Dental Veneers Fitted at Sheehan Dental?
At Sheehan Dental in Chicago, Illinois veneers are normally fitted in a two-step process that involves a preparation stage and a fitting stage. These take place after you have made an appointment with Dr. Sheehan to discuss your suitability for veneers.
Step One: Preparation
During the first stage Dr. Sheehan will prepare your teeth for the veneer impressions and fitting. Your teeth will be etched to make sure that the veneers can be affixed, and impressions will be taken to ensure that the veneers are made perfectly to suit the shape of your teeth. During this process, you can discuss with the dentist whether to have anesthetic applied or not, so the experience can be made as comfortable as possible for you.
Once the impressions have been taken, your dentist will send them to the laboratory, where your veneers will be crafted to the individual requirements of your teeth. The process of fabrication can take up to four weeks, with your next appointment scheduled after your veneers are ready.
Upon request, it’s possible for you to have temporary veneers fitted, to improve your smile temporarily whilst you’re waiting to receive your tailor-made veneers.
Step Two: Fitting
Dr. Sheehan will make sure that a perfect color and shape match are achieved. This may involve having to trim the veneers and apply a cement that can help to enhance the natural look of the veneers. You’ll find that the veneers will have a natural tooth shine, which will better enable them to achieve the best possible color match.
When the veneers are ready, they will be fitted to your teeth by Dr. Sheehan using dental cement. To ensure that the attachment is permanent, this is then cured with a special light, with all excess cement being removed so that your bite is unaffected. As soon as the process is finished, you’ll be free to enjoy your beautiful new smile with pride!