As we age, our teeth age. A lifetime of biting, chewing and maybe not-so-good-maintenance can take their toll on the health of our teeth. Decay occurs, resulting in teeth weakened by constant drilling and filling. Tooth loss and unsightly stains become more frequent and more obvious. If you require a more conservative update to your mouth than dental crowns or dentures, you might consider applying porcelain veneers to repair and rejuvenate your smile. Porcelain veneers are good for a variety of cosmetic dentistry applications.

All About Veneers

Porcelain veneers are the most attractive dental veneers available today, and they match the enamel of the original tooth very well. Once the appropriate color is determined and the proper fit created, the veneers are bonded to the existing tooth. The veneers are meant to be a permanent fixture and will remain in good condition when taken care of properly.

Most veneers are between wafer thin: .5 to .7 mm thick. To fill gaps between teeth, the veneers can be offset to one side or another to fill in gaps between teeth. A crooked or misshapen tooth can be corrected in a similar manner. The back of the veneer would match the front of the natural tooth, but the front of the veneer can be corrected and straightened to fit better with surrounding teeth. Chipped or broken teeth that do not affect the root or nerve endings can be corrected with a veneer. Once bonded to the tooth, the veneer acts as a splint to prevent further tooth damage.

Stained teeth and old metal fillings can also be covered with the application of porcelain veneers. Porcelain is smooth and non-porous and will not stain with tobacco use or when drinking dark beverages. Any decay or gum disease must be corrected prior to the application of a veneer.

Porcelain veneers are more fragile than regular teeth and care must be taken to prevent hard use. Patients who grind their teeth are not good candidates for porcelain veneers. While porcelain veneers can correct some individual tooth misalignment, they cannot address severely misaligned teeth.