One cosmetic dental procedure receives a lot of press and confusion. This procedure is the placement of veneers. Many people understand that they are porcelain teeth placed on top of existing teeth to improve the aesthetics of a smile, but how they are applied and their functionality remain a mystery for some. Being confident in your smile is one sure-fire way to boost self esteem and begin a journey of oral wellness, and the placement of veneers can jump start that process immediately.

What Are Veneers?  

Veneers are thin shells of laminated porcelain that are bonded onto the surface of the teeth. They essentially replace the enamel of your tooth with a shell that has been artfully shaped into the perfect tooth for your mouth. If you choose veneers, you will discuss with your dentist what shade of veneer will work best in your mouth. Veneers do not stain so it will be very important for you to choose a shade that will match with the rest of your teeth – if you were to only to have veneers bonded to your top teeth for example. These shells will remain on the teeth for up to 10 or 20 years if taken care of properly and provide patients with a gleaming, bright smile that is virtually impossible to damage.

How Do Veneers Work?

To place a veneer, your Jacksonville, Florida dentist will remove a small amount of enamel from the front of your natural tooth. Doing so provides an abrasive surface on which she can paint bonding material that will securely adhere the veneer to the tooth. Using light to bond the cement and veneer to the tooth is sealed. The veneers will be unable to decay, or stain like natural teeth, and are a popular choice because of those attributes.

Veneers are a perfect solution for patients who have naturally small teeth with spacing issues. They can be bonded onto the tooth and provide a bigger surface that are straight and uniformly spaced. They can also create a uniform, and consistent look for all the teeth and cause teeth that were chipped and broken to look as though nothing had ever happened to them.

Veneers are not a solution for everyone however. They cannot fix crooked teeth or be placed on teeth that are excessively damaged. They cannot fix a malocclusion, nor can they shift where the root of your tooth is and create symmetry in the gums where it did not appear before. When you choose you want veneers, you will have an important consultation with Dr. Shields to discuss what is realistic in a result and if veneers are truly right for you.

How Do I Maintain My Veneers

Veneers are an amazing dental technology that can immediately improve the aesthetics of a patient’s teeth. However they do require special care if you want them to last for many years. It is true that veneers cannot get cavities, however veneers are only shells on the front of your tooth. And, the rest of your tooth is fully capable of sustaining decay. Especially after receiving veneers it is important to brush your teeth with toothpaste twice each day, flossing is also very important because gum health is just as important, if not more important for your oral and overall health. Having a gleaming smile will not exempt you from taking care of your teeth. It is important to clean all surfaces of your tooth, and especially the surfaces that remain of your natural teeth. The laminated porcelain shells are very durable, however you do need to exercise caution when eating hard things. Your veneers can and will break under duress, just as natural teeth. No opening nuts, no using your teeth as scissors, and certainly no chewing on ice.

If you are considering veneers and want the expert opinion of your Jacksonville, Florida wellness dentist, give our office a call today. Dr. Shields would love to see you and evaluate your condition. She will educate you on how veneers will be placed and how they can improve your life. If veneers are not the best option for you, she can also discuss the benefits crowns, bridges and dental implants can have on your smile and self esteem.