Pros and Cons of Teeth Veneers
Teeth veneers can make a drastic difference in a person’s appearance, confidence and self-esteem. These veneers go by many names including porcelain veneers, porcelain laminates, dental veneers and dental laminates. They’re all very thin coverings that go on the front of teeth. They’re designed to look natural while improving the look of your teeth and mouth.
Teeth veneers are often used to cover discolored teeth. Teeth that have turned gray from root canals or fillings are good candidates for veneers, as are teeth that are stained from medications and other elements. Worn, chipped or broken teeth that don’t require a root canal and crown can be improved with veneers. Oddly shaped teeth or crooked teeth that don’t require complete crowns can be ground down and covered with teeth veneers to give them a much improved appearance. Veneers can also eliminate spaces between the teeth that the patient feels are too large and/or unattractive.
Veneers are made from either some type of resin or porcelain. Porcelain veneers cost more, but have a more natural appearance. It’s much more difficult to tell if someone has teeth veneers if they’re wearing porcelain than it is to recognize resin veneers. The light reflects off porcelain in much the same way it does your teeth, giving the laminates a natural look. Porcelain is also much less likely to stain than resin. Resin veneers are less expensive, and they require much less of your natural teeth be removed because they’re thinner than porcelain. Some cases really call for one type of veneer over another for best results. Your dentist can help you make this decision.
Pros of Teeth Veneers
Veneers instantly change the appearance of your smile. Once cemented in place, formerly stained, crooked or misshapen teeth will look straight, whiter and natural. Much less of the tooth is removed when using teeth veneers than when using a crown. Depending on you and your particular situation, you may not even need anesthetic before the procedure, because the amount of enamel that’s removed is only as thick as the veneer.
Cons of Teeth Veneers
Veneers are expensive, ranging from several hundred dollars to almost $1,500 per tooth. And once you’ve put a veneer on a tooth, if the veneer should crack or break, it must be completely replaced at additional cost. It’s a permanent procedure that can’t be reversed. Anytime you remove enamel, there’s the risk of the tooth becoming more sensitive to temperature, which can be uncomfortable. If it becomes painful, you may have to have a root canal and crown to eliminate the problem.
The tooth that’s been veneered can still get cavities, so there’s always a chance you’ll need a crown eventually. Veneers don’t protect the tooth the way a crown does. Teeth veneers also usually need to be replaced every 5 to 10 years because of cracking, breaking or the veneer popping off the tooth.
A major drawback for those who want to whiten their teeth is that the porcelain will not lighten. You must do any whitening before getting teeth veneers, or the veneers will be darker than your newly whitened teeth.
