Your smile is one of the first features that others notice about you. That’s why imperfect teeth are such a problem for so many. Never do you want to feel as if your teeth are less than perfect, or that your mouth is not as healthy as it could be. Unfortunately, life happens and even perfect teeth begin to lose a bit of their perfect luster over time. That’s where veneers come in. Designed to cover up a myriad of imperfections and allow you to look good, feel good and smile beautifully, Vestal Dental Associates knows that veneers are the right choice for many of our patients.
Veneers are something we use often at Vestal Dental Associates. We use them to fix and handle a number of oral issues, and yours might fall right in line with what it is we do here.
Not all stains respond to tooth whitening, which is why this is included on the list of items that veneers are used to fix. It just so happens that many people are left with the issue that they have stains bleaching simply cannot fix. We see a number of patients come in hoping to have their discolored, stained teeth whitened only to find out veneers are the only way to fix them.
If your teeth are discolored because of a root canal or because of excessive fluoride use, you might need veneers to cover them. Additionally, many people have taken antibiotics with something call tetracycline in them. This causes teeth to stain and darken, and it does not respond to whitening.
Aside from the fact that your smile improves greatly with veneers, there are a few other benefits associated with this type of dental procedure. The biggest is that there is no real change in the way that you care for your teeth when you choose to use veneers. Your normal routine of brushing, flossing and using an antiseptic mouthwash is all it takes to care for your teeth.
However, the one drawback is that we do recommend you avoid food and beverages that cause stains as often as possible. This might include anything from coffee and tea to red wine to even certain vegetables. Porcelain veneers are resistant to staining in most cases, but we want your smile to reflect the health of your teeth, and avoiding these things is sometimes the answer to that problem.
In the interest of full disclosure, there are a few disadvantages associated with dental veneers. For some, these are not the answer when the disadvantages are noted; for others, the disadvantages are not so much of an issue. The process of getting veneers is not one that is reversible. Additionally, they are very rarely capable of repair once they begin to crack or even chip.
The process involves the process of enamel removal, too, which means that you might experience more sensitivity to hot and cold on your teeth. Another issue is that the color of a veneer might not match the rest of your teeth perfectly, and it will not respond to whitening. If you do plan on whitening your teeth, we recommend you do so before you go through the veneer process. Finally, if you are someone who suffers from grinding or clenching your teeth, you are probably not a good candidate for veneers, as this can cause them to crack, chip and sometimes even dislodge from their location.
The good news about veneers is that they are so low-maintenance, you don’t even have to worry about them. Our veneers last anywhere from five to ten years based on their treatment, your care of them and a number of other factors. However, they need not be replaced on a regular basis as they do last a long time and provide you with the beautiful smile you love for just as long.
Call us today at (607) 785-3339 to schedule a consultation with one of our dental experts at Vestal Dental Associates. The first step to improving your smile is to make the call. The sooner you call, the faster we can get started making sure your teeth are as beautiful as they should be.