The 101 on Dental Veneers: Everything You Need to Know

Do you want a perfect smile?

Braces are expensive, time-consuming, and don't correct issues like discoloration. Professional whitening gives you that movie-star shine, but it doesn't fix chipped or unaligned teeth. What about veneers? Are they a reasonable option?

If you're curious about dental veneers, here's a run-down of everything you need to know before making your choice.

Dental implants aren't created equal. While they all serve the same purpose, they're made of different materials and work in different ways because of it. The two main types of veneers on the market are made from porcelain and resin.

Porcelain

By far the most popular options in cosmetic dentistry are porcelain veneers. They are preferred in the cosmetic dental community because of their infinite and immediate benefits.

They reject common tooth-staining liquids like coffee, soda, and wine. They match the color and texture of your own teeth. They don't require special shaping or extensive care, either. Just follow a traditional tooth-care regimen. As soon as the dentist applies them, you're good to go.

Porcelain veneers have the longest lifespan of any dental implants, too. On average, they stay clean and strong for up to a decade. With the right care, though, you can make them last up to 20 years.

Resin

Resin veneers are often misidentified as porcelain. Despite being cheaper and easier to prepare , resin or composite looks nearly identical to porcelain, especially because they share the ability to mimic clean tooth coloring. This is also the reason that resin and composite are used in most modern-day crowns and fillings.

The only downside of resin implants is their lifespan. The cost of a cheaper product is a shorter shelf-life, and resin veneers are no exception. Unlike their porcelain counterparts, resin dental work tends to last only 5 to 7 years before it needs replacement.

The preparation and application process differs depending on the type of veneers you're getting.

The process for applying resin to your teeth is fairly simple and only takes one visit to the dentist, usually for only 1-2 hours. First, the dentist removes a millimeter or less of enamel from each tooth that the dentist will be working on. Next, the dentist takes a mold of the prepared teeth to use as a template for creating the resin caps. Once the resin is partially set, the dentist applies the veneers to your teeth and uses a specialized light to cure, or set, them in place.

The porcelain veneer process consists of the same steps but usually takes 2-3 visits to the dentist. In the first session, the dentist will take the mold of your teeth. If the dentist's office has the right materials on hand, they can go ahead and prepare the porcelain for application. They will also prepare your teeth by removing the enamel. If they have to send the mold to a lab for fitting, though, you'll need a second session for enamel removal. Either way, the last session will consist of you getting the final porcelain product applied to your teeth.

Like the veneers themselves, the cost of getting them varies depending on the type you get. Porcelain dentistry is thought of as " for wealthy people only " for good reason. Depending on your dentist and the extent of the procedure, porcelain cosmetic dental work can cost up to $1000 per tooth. For caps and partial replacements, though, you'll usually be looking at a price of closer to $650 per tooth.

Resin veneers cost less than half the price at only $250 per tooth on average. Bear in mind, though, that the price difference reflects the quality difference. Although resin and porcelain veneers act and look the same, porcelain may have up to 4 times the lifespan of resin.

Before you commit to getting any serious cosmetic dental work, you should investigate some alternatives. Specifically, you need to look into the difference between dental bonding and dental veneers.

If you want to replace or cover significant portions of your teeth, veneers are the way to go. If you only have a few trouble spots, though, bonding is probably the answer. Dental bonds act like caulk in bathroom installations: you shouldn't use them to hold things together on their own, but you can use them to protect your teeth from damage and make your overall smile seem nicer. Because veneers can be expensive, you should consider how many of your teeth (and how much surface area on each tooth) that you want to be fixed.

It's also worth noting that veneers are purely cosmetic, not medical. If you have untreated cavities, enamel erosion, or serious chips in your teeth's surface, veneers won't help you. You'll have to get your teeth cleaned and treated before you can seriously consider dental veneers.

Likewise, although dental veneers can cover a significant area, they can't replace teeth that are completely missing. In this case, you'll need to invest in dental implants.

Health issues like dry mouth and grinding your teeth in your sleep will also make you a poor candidate for dental veneers. Although they are made to be more durable than natural teeth, they won't withstand the pressure of constant grinding. Dry mouth may also cause issues regarding how well the dental implants attach to your teeth.

If you live in the Manhattan area, you don't have to drive halfway across the city to find an affordable, high-quality cosmetic dentist. Riverside Dental has been serving your community for nearly 20 years. We provide everything from dental veneers to fillings. Contact us today to set up your first appointment!