Dental veneers are thin, wafer-like shells that are placed directly on top of your natural tooth to treat problems like gapped, misaligned, discolored, or worn down teeth. Indirect veneers are made by a technician in a dental laboratory while direct veneers are formed directly onto your tooth by your dentist. Most often, dental veneers are made from either porcelain or composite resin.
If your problems include discolored, cracked, chipped, stained, gapped, or misaligned teeth, your dentist might suggest porcelain veneers as your best option. Smaller dental issues like minor cracks, chips or spots of discoloration are more suitable for direct veneers with composite resin.
To adhere either type of veneers to your teeth, a small amount of your natural tooth surface must be removed. This process is permanent, meaning you will always need a veneer to restore the form and function of your tooth. For this reason, many dentists will try other types of treatments or restorations to correct your dental problems before turning to veneers.
If you wish to avoid altering too much of your tooth enamel, “no prep” veneers may be another option to consider. This type of veneer requires considerably less of the natural tooth to be modified. Only the surface enamel is affected, rather than the dentin of the tooth underneath the enamel layer.
Dental veneers should last for at least ten years, and may last as long as twenty years with proper care. Either type of dental veneer will improve the function of your mouth and enhance the look of your smile. Consult with Aventura FL, cosmetic dentist Dr. Wohlstein about the types of veneers available to restore your beautiful smile.