If you’re not happy with the way your teeth look, a picture-perfect smile is possible without requiring extensive dental work. Veneers are a popular cosmetic treatment because they correct many imperfections at once, saving time and money. However, your teeth will need to be altered to ensure the best results. Don’t worry, here’s how much enamel you’ll sacrifice to invest in the smile of your dreams.
How Veneers Work
A veneer is a thin porcelain restoration that’s bonded to the front side of a tooth. By doing so, it improves its color, size, and shape. Although a veneer can be applied to a single tooth, the overall goal is to enhance your entire smile. Therefore, your cosmetic dentist will recommend bonding them to the teeth visible when smiling, allowing you to treat chips, stains, and gaps using one procedure.
Why is Enamel Removed?
Porcelain allows veneers to be thinner than ever before, which makes the procedure less invasive because only a small amount of enamel is removed. This is necessary to ensure a better bonding surface so your veneers last for many years.
About 0.5mm of enamel is shaved off, but every case differs. Your cosmetic dentist will take a conservative approach to maintain more of your tooth structure.
Although the process doesn’t harm your teeth, they will always need to be covered by restorations because your enamel won’t grow back if your veneers are removed. Thankfully, you won’t have to worry about replacements often.
Life Expectancy of Veneers
The average lifespan of a veneer is about 10 years, but it’s not unusual for them to last for much longer. Various factors affect their life expectancy, but you can get the most from your new smile by following a few tips:
- Practice Good Oral Hygiene: Choose non-abrasive dental products to keep your mouth clean. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste to clean your teeth at least twice daily for 2 minutes. Use high-quality floss to clean between your teeth daily.
- Watch What You Eat: Veneers are durable, but they can break. Limit your consumption of hard, chewy, and sticky foods. Moderate your sugar intake to keep your smile cavity-free. Avoid drinking alcohol because it can weaken the bonding material holding your veneers in place.
- Stop Bad Oral Habits: Break any bad habits that can damage your veneers, like biting your fingernails or using your teeth in place of scissors.
- Get Regular Dental Care: Visit your dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and checkup. They’ll keep your mouth healthy to ensure your veneers last for a decade or more.
You’ll benefit from long-lasting results, so you’ll never think twice before showing off your pearly whites.
About Dr. Jamie Oshidar
Dr. Oshidar earned his dental degree at the New Jersey Dental School and has regularly continued his education in various specialties, including dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, and sedation dentistry. He is affiliated with many professional organizations, including the Association of American Implant Dentistry. Request an appointment through his website or call (908) 620-5188.