Chipped, discolored, or misshapen teeth can force you to hide your smile. Thankfully, cosmetic dentistry in Kensington, CA offers the solution you need to improve your smile and increase your confidence. Porcelain veneers are a popular option to achieve a bright smile. They are known for their durability, natural-looking results, and versatility. But before getting veneers, you must know some things first, so you can an informed decision.
What are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers can instantly correct dental flaws including the color and shape of your teeth. They are customized according to your desired results. Veneers are thin shells composed of resins or ceramics. They are shaped like your teeth’s front surface. Once they are ready, your dentist will glue them to your teeth, giving an instant perfect smile.
Things to Know Before Getting Veneers
Before you decide to get veneers, here are things you may want to know first:
- The need for teeth reduction during the procedure. To get dental veneers, your dentist may need to reduce a portion of your teeth or their outermost layer to give room for veneers to sit properly on them. Your desired smile and the natural state of your teeth will influence the amount of reduction necessary. Tooth reduction is necessary if you have uneven teeth size, crooked teeth, heavily stained teeth, fluorosis, and cavities.
- Kind of veneers that are suitable for you. To determine the veneer material to get, identify your aesthetic goal, your commitment to attending several dental appointments, and the amount you can invest. When it comes to dental veneers, your options include composite veneers and ceramic veneers. Composite veneers are directly performed on your teeth. They are made of composite resin, which is cheaper than ceramics. But they are less durable than ceramics. Ceramic veneers are made in a dental lab using materials such as porcelain, zirconia, and lithium disilicate. With these veneers, tooth reduction may not be necessary. But they require more commitment, time, and patience before you can get them.
- Choosing the best dentist. As you research the dentist to get veneers from, you can look into their past works. These works are often available on their social media accounts. Also, you want a dentist with whom you can comfortably communicate your goal. Pay attention to the work habits of the dentist at every appointment. Ensure they consider your opinions before developing your treatment plan. In addition, the dentist should provide you with several options and their pros and cons. This way, you can weigh in on your preference. They must work around your budget and educate you about their charges upfront.
- Discussing veneers with the dentist. After you have selected a dentist, discuss the reasons you want veneers. Do you want to correct or improve your appearance to boost your confidence? Or do you want a smile you can show off and be a social media star? While veneers will provide you with a smile makeover, not everyone can benefit from them. Thus, you need to set realistic expectations. Another important topic to discuss with your dentist is the veneer color you want. Do you want natural or ultra-white? What about the veneer shape you must get? Lastly, discuss the correct veneer size with your dentist.
- The cost of veneers. Factors such as the number of teeth you want to have veneers and the materials you choose will influence the cost of veneers. A lot of people start with the six upper teeth to try it out. These teeth usually show when you smile. Those who have ground teeth because of other factors such as TMJ disorder have veneers done on their upper and lower teeth. This will restore the teeth’s natural size or height.
