A Brief History of Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve your appearance. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth changing their color, shape, size, or length. Veneers can be used to treat a number of different cosmetic concerns, including chipped, broken, discolored, or smaller-than-average teeth.
Types of Dental Veneers
Porcelain Veneers are custom-made for each patient to resemble the surrounding teeth for better and natural-looking result. It requires the enamel to be slightly scraped to make way for its proper placement. Compared to composite, porcelain is stain-resistant which ensures long-lasting effects for the smile.
Lumineers are ultra-thin Veneers that are made from a special type of porcelain that is also custom-made for each patient. Compared to the conventional veneers, it does not require the scraping of teeth enamel making it much ideal for other patients who prefer no teeth shavings.
Dental Veneer Benefits
Veneers offer these advantages:
- They provide a natural tooth appearance.
- Gums tolerates porcelain well.
- Porcelain veneers are stain resistant.
- A color can be selected to make dark teeth appear whiter.
- They generally don’t require as much shaping as crowns do, yet they are stronger and look better.
Veneers generally last between 7 and 15 years. After this time, the veneers would need to be replaced. Dental veneers range in price based on the number of teeth a person needs to cover and the expertise of the person performing the procedure. According to the ADA, a person can expect to pay between $925 and $2,500 per tooth. Since most insurance companies consider veneers a cosmetic procedure, most insurance plans will not cover the cost.
Dental veneers do not require any special care. Continue to follow good oral hygiene practices, including brushing, flossing, and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash as you normally would. Even though porcelain veneers resist stains, your dentist may recommend that you avoid stain-causing foods and beverages (for example, coffee, tea, or red wine).
