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Can Veneers Ruin Your Teeth?

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Veneers

Veneers are among the popular options today in cosmetic dentistry. If you're thinking of getting this dental prosthetic done, you may find yourself wondering if veneers can ruin your teeth. Well, if done properly by a qualified professional, like Dr. Scott Young, veneers cannot damage your real teeth. Read on below for more information on veneers before you choose to have them installed.

How Do Veneers Work?

Dental veneers are tooth-shaped, wafer-thin shells that are put in front of natural teeth to cover up any flaws and modify their appearance. Veneers are available in multiple types, including:

  • Porcelain Veneers: They are the most common type, and were initially utilized by Hollywood actors to enhance their on-screen looks. Porcelain veneers require several dentist appointments, and cannot be repaired easily
  • Composite Veneers: They are a more inexpensive alternative to the porcelain version, but with lower durability. Composite veneers are usually finished in a single dentist visit and are easy to repair
  • Lumineers: They are the thinnest and strongest among all veneer options. It just takes two dentist appoints to install Lumineers, and they can last for over 20 years

They are suitable for the following situations:

  • Intrinsic teeth stains that refuse to disappear with whitening treatments
  • Teeth that have been worn down by erosion or grinding
  • Chipped or broken teeth
  • Teeth gaps
  • Misaligned or poorly shaped teeth.

Not everybody is a good candidate for veneers. Therefore, your dentist will perform a full assessment of your oral cavity to determine whether you're a good fit. The assessment may include an x-ray to provide the dentist with a better notion of what's happening under the mouth surface.

How Much Enamel Does a Dentist Extract During the Installation of Dental Veneers?

Before veneers are installed, the dentist removes around half a millimeter of tooth enamel. That is done to make room for the prosthetic so that it doesn't cause the tooth to appear abnormally large. The dentist will apply some anesthetic next to the treatment area to numb it before extracting the enamel.

After that, an impression of your teeth will be taken, so that your veneers can be customized for an excellent fit. It takes about two-three weeks to make custom veneers. So, in the meantime, you'll be given temporary veneers to guard your teeth until the custom ones are ready for use.

Advantages of Veneers

Veneers come with numerous benefits including the following:

  • They look and feel like real teeth
  • The prosthetic is made up of materials that are highly resistant to food and beverage stains
  • Veneers give you the desired smile instantly
  • With proper oral hygiene, they can last for as long as ten years
  • The prosthetic doesn't need shaping like crowns
  • Veneers let you pick the precise look of your smile
  • They instantly close any existing gaps

Disadvantages of Veneers

Unfortunately, veneers do come with a few drawbacks, such as:

  • They are not suitable for gum disease patients
  • The prosthetic can be ruined by bad oral habits like frequent grinding of teeth
  • Your teeth can still decay if you don't take good care of your veneers

Conclusion

Veneers are a popular remedy for smile imperfections like unevenly spaced and stained teeth. They offer an incredible solution to anyone seeking to improve their facial appearance. If done well by an expert, veneers cannot ruin your natural teeth. However, the prosthetic is not suitable for people suffering from gum disease and can be ruined by poor oral care habits.