What Are Dental Veneers?

Everything to Know About Dental Veneers and What They Could Do for Your Smile

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If you've ever wondered why most models, actors, and other celebrities all seem to have been born with perfect teeth, then you should know that most of them actually weren't born with their smiles; they have dental veneers. 

What Are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are a type of cosmetic dental prosthetic. The most common type of dental veneers consists of wafer-thin, tooth-colored porcelain shells. These thin shells are shaped like the front surfaces of the teeth. They are designed to attach to the teeth and cover up their visible portions to create a more balanced, symmetrical, visually attractive, and aesthetically pleasing smile. 

Dental Veneer Treatment Options: Types of Veneers

• Pop-On Veneers - Also called "flippers," pop-on veneers are custom-made, removable cosmetic devices that are designed to clip on over your visible teeth. Pop-on veneers are a good solution for patients who want to improve the look of their smiles for photographs, pageants, or a special day. However, they are not typically intended to be worn and used all day, every day. 
• Composite Resin Veneers - Composite veneers are made from composite resin (a type of plastic commonly used in dentistry). They are relatively durable and require less preparation before application. Additionally, composite resin veneers are typically considered non-permanent, meaning that patients can enjoy them for a period of time, but do not have to maintain them for the rest of their lives if they wish to restore their natural look.
• Porcelain Veneers - Porcelain veneers are the most popular option in dental veneers. Porcelain is both more durable and more natural-looking than composite resin, as it offers a similar luminosity when compared to natural tooth enamel. Porcelain veneers require a deeper preparation of the tooth surface prior to application, making them a permanent cosmetic treatment that must be maintained for life to protect the health and integrity of a patient's teeth. 

Which Type of Dental Veneer Is Right for You?

The type of dental veneer that is right for you depends on your treatment goals and preferences. For example, porcelain veneers are a long-lasting and permanent treatment option while composite resin veneers can be removed, and pop-on veneers are designed only for temporary, short-term use. 

Additionally, alternative treatment options (like professional whitening, dental implants, crowns, and orthodontics) exist. Some of these treatments can provide similar cosmetic benefits as dental veneers while being simpler than veneers or also offering restorative and functional advantages. 

Our dentist can talk with you about your treatment goals in addition to the advantages and disadvantages of each option to help you determine the best dental veneer treatment to improve the look of your smile and achieve your smile goals.

How Are Dental Veneers Used?

Dental veneers are a cosmetic treatment used to improve the aesthetic appearance of the smile. They can be applied individually to one or two teeth to address one or two minor concerns, or they can be applied in an entire set to create a complete look. 

The most common uses for dental veneers include:

• Masking permanent stains or discoloration
• Creating an evenly bright, white smile
• Covering up silver-amalgam dental fillings
• Hiding irregular gaps between the teeth
• Correcting the appearance of an irregularly sized or shaped tooth
• Creating the appearance of a straight smile without orthodontic treatment
• Improving the balance and symmetry of a smile
• Creating a smile that complements a person's surrounding facial features

Dental veneers are a purely cosmetic treatment, as they do not offer restorative benefits to the teeth. There are alternative treatments that can restore the form and function of a person's teeth while also enhancing the appearance of the smile. 

Why Get Dental Veneers? 

Dental veneers offer a variety of benefits to patients. Most importantly, they help to boost feelings of confidence - especially, for patients who feel insecure about their smile imperfections. Dental veneers can also take years off of a person's appearance and can help you make better first impressions, as the smile is one of the first features that other people notice. 

Additionally, dental veneers can help you create a more attractive and professional appearance. They are a popular treatment option for individuals with public-facing careers where your physical appearance can be important. For example, individuals who work in sales, real estate, television, modeling, or acting stand to benefit professionally from getting dental veneers. 

What to Expect When Getting Dental Veneers: The Veneer Treatment Process

The dental veneer treatment process can vary slightly, depending on the type of veneers a patient is getting. However, each treatment process follows these basic steps. 

Consultation

Dental veneer treatment begins with a consultation that allows our dentist to gain a thorough understanding of your concerns and treatment goals. We can then provide you with treatment recommendations and answer any questions you might have before settling on any particular treatment plan. 

Tooth Preparation, Design, and Temporary Veneers

For patients receiving porcelain dental veneers, we will need to prepare the tooth surfaces before taking three-dimensional digital impressions and creating a treatment design.

To prepare the teeth, we use an abrasive chemical agent to gently score the teeth and remove a thin layer of tooth enamel. This creates space for the dental veneers to lay flat against the teeth, creating a natural appearance. If necessary, we will administer a local anesthetic to ensure you don't experience any pain or discomfort during this step of the treatment process. 

Once prepped, we take digital impressions, upload these images into powerful design software, and work with you to create your treatment design. We then send these specifications to a dental lab where precision milling equipment will be used to create your custom-made dental veneers. 

We then fit you with a set of temporary veneers that will protect your teeth while you await your porcelain veneers. 

Permanent Placement

Once your veneers are ready, we have you come into our office for permanent placement. During this appointment, we remove your temporary veneers and ensure the tooth surfaces are clean and dry. We then affix your permanent veneers using dental cement that creates a secure bond between the teeth and the veneers. When your new veneers are in place, we can make any final adjustments to ensure a perfect look and comfortable fit. 

Ongoing Care

Dental veneers are designed to be durable and long-lasting, but they sometimes do require replacement or maintenance. If you experience any issues with your dental veneers, we encourage you to schedule a maintenance appointment right away. Our dentist can then work with you to restore your veneers. 

How Long Do Dental Veneers Last?

The lifespan of dental veneers can vary significantly depending on the type of dental veneers you get. For example, porcelain veneers are the most durable and usually last upwards of twelve years. Composite veneers don't last quite as long with an average lifespan of four to eight years. 

The location of your dental veneers can also impact their useful life because it can significantly increase or decrease the amount of use and pressure exerted on them daily. 

To get the most out of your dental veneers, we recommend:

• Not chewing on hard objects or biting into particularly hard foods
• Taking steps to mitigate bruxism (teeth grinding and jaw clenching)
• Wearing a nightguard if you have sleep bruxism
• Wearing a mouthguard during sports and athletic activities
• Refraining from tobacco use of all kinds
• Avoiding highly pigmented foods and beverages

Additionally, patients should continue practicing good oral hygiene at home and visiting the dentist every six months for regular checkups, professional cleanings, and maintenance. 

Investing in Your Confidence: The Cost of Dental Veneers

The cost of porcelain veneers can also vary, depending on the specific teeth receiving veneers, the type of veneers, and the number of veneers being placed. As a result, veneer treatment costs can range from about $6,000 to $25,000.

Since dental veneers are an elective cosmetic treatment, their associated treatment costs are not typically covered by dental insurance. However, some dental insurance plans might offer some coverage or situational exceptions to this rule. 

Our office staff will be happy to help you navigate your insurance coverage and provide you with a comprehensive cost estimate for your recommended treatment plan. 

Create the Smile of Your Dreams with Dental Veneers in Holliston

At Barbara Preussner, D.M.D. Aesthetic & Family Dentistry, we believe that every smile is naturally beautiful, and we love helping our patients enhance and embrace their natural beauty while boosting their confidence by helping them turn their smile dreams into reality. We specialize in providing high-quality aesthetic dental services, including porcelain dental veneers, and our dentist can help you design a natural, beautiful smile aesthetic that you're proud to show off. 

To learn more about cosmetic dental treatments or to request a consultation for porcelain dental veneers, we welcome you to contact our dental office in Holliston, Massachusetts today.