By Dr. Aastha Chandra

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09 Aug 2022

MYTHS ABOUT DENTAL VENEERS

The beauty of your smile is influenced by the beauty of your teeth and we are all prone to noticing smiles as they are one of the best features of your image. People with crooked, chipped or stained teeth can lack confidence and may have a low self-esteem. This is why many people tend to go for dental veneers, which is an excellent way to solve functional and aesthetic issues.

Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain that you can put over your teeth to improve your teeths’ appearance and functionality instantaneously. Also, porcelain veneers can protect and strengthen your original tooth structure in case of worn out teeth.

However, many people believe several myths and misconceptions about dental veneers, and of course, it is necessary to debunk these myths.  Let’s discuss few main myths about dental veneers and why they are not valid.

Myth #1: Veneers Don’t Look Natural

One extremely common misconception about veneers is whether or not other people can detect them. Because of dental technology advancements, dentists are now able to provide patients with customized veneers that are specific to the shape, size, thickness, and colour of their natural teeth. It is important to spend time with each patient, customizing these parameters based on their personal goals for their smile. Some patients who want a very natural appearance decide to incorporate minor imperfections into their veneers. Porcelain veneers have a translucent, reflective surface similar to actual tooth enamel and are very resistant to stains.

Veneer size is somewhat determined by both the shape and size of your face and your natural teeth, but your veneers can be custom-sized to suit your preference.

Well done veneers — when made by skilled ceramists who handcraft them and applied by a dentist who’s experienced in cosmetic dentistry — look natural and are completely undetectable.

In cases where you may still see overly white and noticeable veneers, this is often at the specific request of the patient .

Myth #2: Veneers Are Only For Cosmetic Purposes

Another common misconception about veneers are that they are only used for cosmetic purposes. Though veneers are commonly used to enhance the appearance of your smile, they can also serve to protect your teeth from enduring damage or decay thanks to the incredible strength of porcelain. Veneers can also be used to build up worn down teeth. A few other dental concerns which can be treated with veneers include malaligned teeth, major gaps between the teeth, and discoloured teeth

Now is the age of conservative dentisty and it is very important to preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible.

Myth #3: Excess Teeth Grinding Is Required For Veneers

Now is the age of conservative dentisty and it is very important to preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible. During a veneer procedure, a very small amount of your enamel (less than 1mm) is filed down in order to make room for the veneer and prevent them from sticking out and looking bulky. As opposed to dental crowns, only the front surface of your tooth is shaped in case of veneers.

Myth #4: Veneers Will Weaken My Teeth

It’s a natural assumption to think that veneers will weaken your teeth, considering how many people believe the above myth, but the opposite is actually true. Since one millimetre or less of enamel is removed from your tooth, most of the tooth remains, and applying the porcelain veneer can, in fact provide added protection to your tooth. Porcelain is a very strong and durable material, the strength of which increases exponentially after it is bonded to the tooth structure.

Myth #5: Veneers Are Not Durable And Will Fall Off Easily

Some people assume that veneers will easily become loose and fall off, which isn’t the case when placed carefully by an experienced dentist. Cementing the veneers on with care and precision can keep them in place almost permanently when they’re well looked after.

Porcelain veneers are actually very durable (more so than composite veneers), and can be just as strong as your actual tooth enamel. They are designed to function just like your teeth, with the positive of being stain-resistant.

Despite their durability, it’s still important to take care of your veneers as you would your real teeth by not biting hard objects like fingernails, or some very solid foods which can chip veneers and your actual teeth.

Myth #6: Veneers Easily Stain

Many people think veneers are like natural teeth in that they easily stain with foods/drinks such as coffee, red wine, and tea. However, patients can rest assured that this is not the case as unlike natural teeth, porcelain veneers are not porous.

In fact, many patients choose veneers to cover severely discoloured natural teeth. If you are a regular coffee drinker or are prone to regular teeth staining due to other reasons, porcelain veneers serves are a more permanent option as compared to teeth whitening which has to be done frequently as is more harmful in the long run.

Myth #7: Veneers Take Multiple Visits To Your Dentist

An entire smile designing procedure from a consult and a treatment plan discussion to the final insertion of the veneers takes about a week to 10 days. This is one of the quickest dental procedures providing lifelong results.

Myth #8: Veneers Are Painful

With the help of local anaesthesia, dental procedures have become extremely pain free. We also provide various distractions like watching your favourite tv show or listening to your favourite music in order to completely relieve you of your anxiety.

Also, as opposed to the common misconception, there is no downtime during this procedure and the patients can go about their normal day to day activities.

The placement of temporary veneers during the time your final veneers are getting made, also prevents any kind of teeth sensitivity after the teeth shaping procedure.

Myth #9: Veneers Require A Lot Of Maintenance

A final concern that people often have before exploring veneer options is that they’d be committing to a high-maintenance upkeep routine for the rest of their lives. Instead, they find that maintaining veneers is no more complicated than maintaining the health and appearance of their natural teeth. A healthy routine of regular brushing and flossing is all that’s needed to keep veneers looking white, glossy, and gorgeous for their entire life span