Have you thought about adding porcelain veneers to your smile to brighten, whiten and reshape its appearance but have stopped yourself from making the appointment because you’ve heard that veneers ruin teeth?
Well, we’re happy to dispel the rumor and say that, no, porcelain veneers do not ruin your teeth. Veneers are not only a great way to update the appearance of your smile, but they also have other benefits.
Get the facts about porcelain veneers in this blog!
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin layers of tooth-colored material bonded directly over the front surface of your natural teeth. They can be used to change the shape or size of one or more teeth and improve their color. The procedure is simple: First, an impression is taken of each tooth; then, thin, custom-made shells are created for every tooth on which the veneer will be placed.
How Long Have Porcelain Veneers Been Around?
The earliest versions of porcelain veneers were developed in the late 1920s. The porcelain veneers we know today were invented by Drs. Charles Bowen and Robert Butler at UCLA’s School of Dentistry in 1962. Since then, thousands of patients worldwide have had them applied to their teeth to update their smiles.
The earliest veneers were developed by a Hollywood dentist, Charles Pincus. Pincus treated many movie stars and starlets and needed a fast way to fix flaws in smiles when dentistry was not as advanced as it is today. So he came up with the idea of using dental materials to create artificial crowns that could cover imperfections like chips, cracks, stains and gaps between teeth. These early veneers were called “porcelain laminate” crowns and were very popular until the 1960s, when new technology allowed us to make better-looking and stronger veneers than ever before.
Why Do People Choose Veneers?
Why do people pick porcelain veneers to update their teeth? It all comes down to how much improvement they want to see in their smile. If you need minor changes like straightening crooked teeth or correcting gaps between your teeth, veneers may take less time and cost less money than getting dental implants and orthodontic treatment.
Porcelain veneers can also help:
- Improve the overall look of your smile
- Correct problems with spacing between teeth
- Whiten discolored teeth
- Reshape unevenly shaped teeth
- Change the bite position of your jaw, so you don’t grind your teeth together
- Replace missing teeth
- Cover up unsightly stains caused by coffee, tea, tobacco use, illness, drug use or medications
So Do Veneers Ruin Teeth?
No, porcelain veneers won’t damage your teeth. On the contrary, veneers, by nature, are designed to improve the appearance of your teeth and give you your dream smile.
We also want to mention that you must choose a well-educated and experienced dentist to apply your porcelain veneers. This is a critical point in the success of veneers for updating your smile.
We also note that veneers require that some of your tooth enamel (about 1 mm) be shaved down to accommodate your new veneers. This is to make sure that your veneers fit correctly in your mouth and do not throw your bite off, which could cause serious consequences for your jaw.
What Is the Process for Porcelain Veneers?
First, come in for a consultation. At this appointment, we will determine if you’re a good candidate for veneers. If you are, then we will take impressions and choose the shade of your veneers. Note: Your veneers can be matched to your smile, or you can select a whiter, brighter version.
Once you select the shade of your veneer, we begin creating your veneer in our in-house lab. The benefit of having an in-house laboratory is that we make your veneer right here instead of sending them out, which cuts down on your wait time and trips to the dentist. This means you get to see your new smile faster!
Next, once your veneers are ready, we will apply them to your teeth:
- We clean your teeth thoroughly.
- We gently remove some enamel from your natural teeth and then use a thin layer of bonding material over each tooth surface.
- We put your custom-made veneers into place. Once placed, we polish and shape the edges of your veneers smoothly.
- We cure with a special light to activate the adhesive.
You’ll be flashing your pearly whites in no time!
How Long Do Porcelain Veneers Last?
Veneers last 10 years or more depending on several factors, including your lifestyle habits, such as:
- How often you brush and floss
- Whether you smoke cigarettes
- What foods you eat
- How well you maintain your oral hygiene routine
If you follow these simple guidelines, your veneers should stay strong for many years.
The ideal candidate for dental veneers has good oral and dental health. However, if you have gum disease, tooth decay or other areas of concern, we will treat those conditions before starting your smile makeover.
Still have questions about if veneers ruin teeth? Are you interested in learning more about how quickly dental veneers can update your smile? Call us now to schedule a consultation!