Dental Veneers Procedure – What You Need to Know?

Dental veneers have become popular. They are thin and look natural. These dental shells are attached to the surface of the teeth for improving appearance. They are normally made from resin-composite or porcelain materials. Veneers are bonded permanently and are used for treating a variety of cosmetic concerns such as smaller-than-average, discolored, broken, or chipped teeth. If you have a chipped or broken tooth, you can get a veneer. However, you would need around 6 to 8 veneers for creating a symmetrical smile. 

Different Types of Veneers

Generally, dental veneers are made using porcelain. Intensive prep work is needed for applying traditional dental veneers. The teeth need to be grinded down before applying traditional dental veneers. Sometimes, the tooth would need to be removed past the enamel. On the other hand, there are also no-prep veneers that are less invasive and take less time to apply. However, it is important to keep in mind that it is an irreversible procedure. As it can be painful, a local anesthetic would be required.

As for no-prep veneers, you might require some form of tooth alteration or preparation. But, the alterations tend to be minimal. The no-prep veneers only alter the enamel and do not remove the layers of the teeth. In fact, local anesthetics would also need to be used. You should also know that veneers are not the same as crowns or tooth implants. The front surface of the tooth would be covered by the veneers.   

How Much Do Dental Veneers Cost?

Since dental veneers are considered a cosmetic procedure, they are not covered by insurance. This is why it is important to know how much they cost. The Consumer Guide to Dentistry states that the cost of veneers is $925 to $2,500 for each tooth. You can rest assured that the dental veneers would last about 10 to 15 years. 

As for no-prep veneers, they cost about $800 to $2,000 for each tooth and last around 5 to 7 years. Traditional veneers are a more cost-effective option as they last much longer. It is important to bear in mind that the cost of veneers depends on various factors such as the expertise of the dentist, the cost of living in your area, the brand name of the veneers, and the type of veneers you select. 

Benefits of Dental Veneers

Veneers offer a ton of benefits including improvement in the appearance of teeth. According to these San Francisco dentists, when your veneers are placed, you’ll be pleased to see that they look like your natural teeth. They allow you to achieve that perfect smile that you have always wanted. You can expect them to treat the following.

• Unusually shaped or pointed teeth.
• Smaller-than-average teeth.
• Gaps between teeth.
• Uneven coloring or severe discoloration cannot be fixed through whitening.
• Chipped or broken teeth.

Since veneers can last up to a decade, they make for a semi-permanent investment. You can hope to get a confident smile through the procedure.

Prepare for the Appointment

Before you actually get the veneers, a preliminary appointment would be scheduled with the dentist for discussing suitable options. In certain cases, you might also require braces before veneers can be placed such as in case of uneven or crooked teeth. X-rays would be taken by the dentist to determine the health of your teeth. They would check for signs of gum disease, tooth decay, and check to see if you require a root canal. In case of any of the mentioned conditions, veneers would not be the right option for you. For accurate sizing of the veneers, the dentist would trim down your tooth by about half a millimeter during the next appointment before taking an impression of the teeth. 

How Would Veneers Be Placed Onto the Teeth?

Getting veneers from the lab takes about a week or two. Once the veneers arrive, the dentist will schedule an appointment to get them placed. The coloration, shape, and fit of the veneers would be evaluated by the dentist at the next appointment to make sure that they fit perfectly. Before placing the veneers, the dentist would clean the teeth thoroughly. It would help prevent bacteria from getting trapped under the veneers. Then, the teeth would be grinded for creating the right texture for placing the veneers onto each tooth. It would help ensure that the veneers stick onto your teeth with ease. Finally, dental cement would be used by the dentist to bind the veneers onto the tooth. Ultraviolet light would be used for quickly hardening the cement. That is about it. You will finally have a beautiful smile.