By Dr. Aastha Chandra

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09 Dec 2022

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT VENEERS

Dental Veneers, often known as Porcelain Veneers, are the best solution for all those seeking a perfect smile. These thin porcelain pieces recreate the natural look of your teeth while also offering strength and flexibility equivalent to the natural tooth enamel. Veneers can fix a variety of imperfections at once.

People seem to have many questions with respect to the smile designing treatment involving Veneers. Some of them are:

1. What are Porcelain Veneers?

A veneer is a very thin piece of porcelain that is crafted by a cosmetic dentist into the shape of a tooth. Each veneer is handcrafted and customized for the individua’s smile goals. The veneer is applied over the natural tooth to cover any cosmetic imperfections like stained, chipped, crooked, or a decayed tooth.

2. Do I have to shave down my teeth?

No! Your dentist will only need to prepare your tooth by trimming half a millimeter or less of tooth enamel. This is done for the special bonding agent to have a better surface to adhere to and your porcelain veneer is more stable.

3. Can I pick the colour?

Yes. During the initial consult for your veneers treatment, your doctor will discuss tooth shade options and recommend a shade that best fits your smile. The doctor will match the shade of the veneers to your natural teeth. In some cases, patients decide to have a whitening treatment to brighten the appearance of their entire smile.

4. How many veneers do I need?

This varies from person to person depending on the condition of your teeth and the smile you desire. The most common choice is what’s called the ‘social six’: the teeth visible when you smile. For some people who have broad smiles, it’s actually eight or ten top teeth, rather than six.

5. Is the procedure painful?

Your dentist will use a local anesthetic during tooth preparation and veneer placement process so you will have a comfortable procedure.

6. Do they stain easily?

The reason why porcelain veneers are favored by dentists is that they are resistant to stain. You can enjoy tea, coffee and other beverages that are likely to cause stain without being apprehensive about your veneers getting stained.

7. Are veneers susceptible to cavities?

No, they are not prone to cavities. Veneers make your teeth immune to decay as the veneer is bonded to your natural tooth. However, you should care for your unbounded teeth so that there stands no chance for the cavity.

8. Do veneers look and feel like natural teeth?

Veneers are designed to give a look and feel like natural teeth; especially porcelain veneers. They closely resemble your natural teeth.

9. Can I preview my veneers before they go in?

A digital smile preview can be made by taking a picture of the patient’s face and digitally editing the teeth. This will give a patient a very good idea of the aesthetic outcome and help them determine if veneers are right for them. 

10. Will I need gum contouring?

In some smile designing cases, contouring the gums will give a better cosmetic outcome. It is done to create symmetry and lengthen the short teeth. Most gum contouring causes no additional discomfort during or after treatment. On rare occasions surgical contouring must be done if the teeth are very short. Patients are referred to a periodontist for this procedure.  

11. What habits should I avoid or stop?

Restrict all bad teeth habits immediately, such as nail biting, straw chewing, fork nibbling, opening bags with teeth, pulling on clothing or gloves with teeth, and anything that will put undue stress on the veneers.

12. What is the aftercare for veneers?

To ensure that your veneers continue to be strong, it is advisable to follow the usual hygiene practices such as daily brushing, flossing and regular visits to your dentist. Based on your dental veneer type, and the treatment approach, your dentist may advise some aftercare tips.