What Are Dental Veneers? A Comprehensive Guide to Getting the Hollywood Smile

Are you striving for perfect teeth but don't feel as if whitening, flossing, and constant toothbrushing is doing the trick? Do you feel unconfident in your smile?

Cosmetic dentistry may just be what you're looking for in order to achieve that Hollywood smile.

Read on for our comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about dental veneers and how they can improve your smile!

Dental veneers are shells made from extremely thin materials that are the same color as normal teeth. They're designed to be placed over your teeth in order to improve their appearance–usually only after one or two visits.

Even though veneers will be covering up your natural teeth, you'll still need to brush twice a day and floss at least once a day like usual. Yearly dental checkups are also necessary. It's important that you keep your gums healthy, and composite veneers still have the chance of staining like teeth.

You'll find that veneers are either made of porcelain or composite material.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers typically take at least two visits to be properly applied. This is because you'll need to wait for your veneers to be fabricated after an impression is taken of your teeth. A thin layer will also need to be taken from the front of your teeth in order for the veneers to fit properly.

Although porcelain veneers are more expensive than composite, the material catches light similarly to the way natural teeth do. Porcelain veneers are also durable–they are meant to last for ten years or more. However, if they do chip, the entire set will need to be replaced.

Composite Veneers

Composite veneers are a great choice if you're looking for more affordable dental veneers and don't want to spend as much upfront. They're also a good choice if you want to get it done as quickly as possible.

Unlike porcelain, composite will stain like natural teeth and while they do a great job at emulating natural teeth, they aren't as lifelike compared to porcelain.

Composite veneers tend to be less durable than porcelain and will last four to eight years. However, if you chip them you can get the chip repaired instead of needing to replace the whole set.

Dental veneers are a great fit to improve any aesthetic imperfections in your teeth that aren't easily improved by orthodontia or whitening. This can include:

• Teeth discolored from root canals
  
• Teeth discolored by fluoride
  
• Teeth discolored by resin fillings
  
• Chipped or broken teeth
  
• Misaligned teeth
  
• Irregularly shaped teeth
  
• Gaps in teeth

If you're an actor or have a public persona that you need to maintain, dental veneers are also a quick and easy way to maintain a beautiful smile.

The process to apply dental veneers is simple and straightforward–this is the main reason why veneers are in such huge demand!

Consultation

You'll first start with a consultation with your dentist so that they get the chance to examine your teeth and listen to how you want to change your smile. They'll make sure that the size and shape of your mouth enables them to properly apply the veneers.

At this step, your dentist may take x-rays as well as impressions of your mouth. This helps them gain a better understanding of the shape and state of your teeth and mouth structure.

Preparation

Your dentist will then prepare your teeth to apply the veneers. For porcelain veneers, your dentist will need to remove a thin layer from the front of your teeth that's equal in thickness to the veneers that will be applied. After this is done, your dentist will make an impression of your teeth and send it to a laboratory to construct your veneers.

Bonding

Your veneers are typically ready in two to four weeks. During the last appointment, your dentist will hold them up to your teeth and trim and tweak them to ensure that they're a perfect fit. Once this is finished, your teeth will be cleaned and etched. The etching gives a slight texture to the front of your teeth that helps the cement adhere better to your teeth.

Cement is then applied to your veneers, and the veneers are placed on your teeth. Once your dentist is confident in their placement, they'll hold up a light that activates chemicals within the cement that allows it to dry quickly. You'll be familiar with this process if you've ever gotten braces.

Final Adjustments

Last but not least, your dentist will clean up the excess cement around your teeth so that the veneers look completely seamless. They'll also examine your bite and smile to ensure that they fit properly. You'll also have a follow-up appointment after a few weeks so that your dentist can determine whether your gums are reacting well to the new, foreign material near them.

Dental veneers are a fast and painless way in order to achieve a Hollywood smile. For four to ten years or more, you'll have perfectly straight, white, and natural-looking teeth that are comfortable to eat, smile and talk with

The best part is veneers are durable due to the way they're applied with cement. Porcelain veneers have a higher price point upfront, but they're far less likely to chip compared to veneers made of composite materials. However, you'll need to remember that applying veneers isn't a replacement for regular brushing and flossing.