Dental Veneers: Benefits and Procedures
Everyone wants to have a perfect smile. However, various factors can affect your oral health, such as diet, tobacco or alcohol use, proper hygiene, and other socio-economic reasons.
Fortunately, dental procedures and treatments are much more advanced nowadays. For instance, dentists can fix chips, cracks, and gaps between teeth with dental veneers.
If you’re getting dental veneers for the first time, here’s a list of things you need to know.
What are the benefits of dental veneers?
Dental veneers are thin, tooth-colored shells attached to the front surface of your teeth. It is used to improve your appearance by covering chips, cracks, and discoloration.
Dental veneers also provide additional strength and protection, especially for those with teeth cracks due to injuries.
Aside from that, they can also help straighten your smile without orthodontics.They work to align and reshape your teeth without going through the pain and hassle of getting dental braces.
For conscious people about their “gummy smile,” veneers can also help fix the problem. A dentist can create custom-made ones that fit your mouth and the smile shape you want.
There are different types of veneers, such as porcelain, composite resin, and no-prep. Of course, your dentist will run you through the entire process before deciding which type of veneers you should get.
What is the procedure for getting dental veneers?
Before getting your dental veneers, you will have a preliminary appointment to discuss your options. However, there might be cases when you need braces before getting qualified for veneers.
Afterward, your dentist will take an X-ray to assess the overall health of your teeth. Unfortunately, you might not be able to get dental veneers if you have tooth decay, gum disease, or require a root canal procedure.
If you’re qualified to get veneers, your dentist will trim your teeth before taking a mold or impression. After one to two weeks, they take your mold from the laboratory.
During your appointment, your dentist will evaluate your veneers’ fit, shape, and coloration. Before putting the veneers on, they will clean your teeth thoroughly for preparation.
After cleaning, your dentist will create a rougher texture on your tooth using a grinding tool. Afterward, a dental cement will be used to stick the veneer to the tooth.
Your dentist will then use ultraviolet light to harden the cement and complete the process. Your next appointment for veneer placement will last no longer than two hours.
Takeaway
Before getting dental veneers, it’s essential to know that this procedure is not usually covered by insurance, depending on your purpose for getting one.
Of course, whether you can get veneers or not, taking care of your oral health, such as getting regular checkups, brushing, and flossing, is still crucial.
Hence, it’s necessary to set routine checkups with your family at least once a year to avoid dental problems. You should also commit to your appointments and see your dentist if any problem arises.