Problems Veneers Can Correct

If you want to get a dazzling “Hollywood” smile, you might think it’s strictly a matter of luck: either you’re born with it or you’re not. But the truth is that a lot of the people whose smiles you most admire may have a little bit of help in the form of dental veneers.

Even if your teeth aren’t bad enough to need braces or Invisalign®, you may still benefit from veneers. You can cover all kinds of minor (and even major) imperfections with dental veneers. In this blog, Dr. Thomas D. Sokoly of Sokoly Dental explains which problems veneers can fix.

What are veneers?

Dental veneers are thin shells, usually made out of porcelain or composite resin. They go over the front surface of your natural teeth. 

However, your natural teeth have to be filed down in order for the shells to be placed over the top of them. Because of this, veneers are generally considered a lifelong commitment. 

Veneers usually last for 5-10 years, though the length of time is affected a lot by how well you take care of your teeth.

What problems veneers can correct

Dental veneers can fix all sorts of minor — and major — problems. Here are some:

Crooked or misshapen teeth

If your teeth are crooked or misshapen, you might think you need Invisalign or traditional braces. However, in many cases, veneers can cover up the crooked or misshapen part. With the help of veneers, your teeth look absolutely perfect, even if they’re not.

Dramatically whiten your teeth

You can try professional tooth whitening, but this only lightens your teeth a certain number of shades. And if your teeth are stained internally — meaning that the dentin inside your teeth is naturally darker — tooth whitening likely won’t work at all.

But there’s no limit to how white you can go with veneers. If you want to get your teeth dramatically white, like those of movie stars or TV anchors, veneers are the answer.

Replace damaged enamel

It’s true that your teeth are made of one of the strongest materials in your body. They’re protected by enamel, a very hard and shiny substance. But enamel can be damaged or even lost if you don’t take good care of your teeth or if you consume acidic foods and beverages that eat away at it.

Stomach acid can also cause enamel damage, which can be the case if you have acid reflux disease. Grinding your teeth or even habitually brushing your teeth too hard can cause enamel damage, too. And unlike some other parts of your body, enamel doesn’t grow back once it’s lost.

Damaged enamel can cause some of the following symptoms:

• Tooth sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures
• Dents on the tooth’s surface
• Yellowing teeth
• Rough or rounded edges
• Cracks and chips

While all of these problems can become very serious, veneers are a reasonably easy way to fix them.

If you’d like to find out more about dental veneers and whether or not you’re a good candidate for them, call Sokoly Dental at 202-280-2428 today, or schedule an appointment online.