Thinking of Getting Veneers? Everything You Need to Know Before You Book

Making decisions about your teeth—especially ones that are more aesthetic than medically necessary—is a big one. It’s one thing, after all, to shell out to replace a broken or lost tooth, and another to decide that veneers are right for you.

A beautiful smile, however, is usually worth it. It’s one of the first features that people notice about you, after all. Worse yet, if you feel self-conscious about your smile, then you simply limit yourself in all aspects of life. If you don’t want to show your teeth because you’re embarrassed by them then you’re hiding your joy, you’re talking less, you’re shying away.

Veneers can help give you the smile that you’ve always dreamed about, but that doesn’t mean you should just jump in blind. Before you invest, read through this guide so you are aware of everything you need to know before you book an appointment.

What are Veneers?

Veneers are custom-made shells that are bonded to your teeth. This changes their shape, look, and overall appearance to suit your preferences. Since they are custom made, you can have them designed to fix issues like chips or cracks, or you can use them to change the overall shape or look of your teeth.

Some get veneers on just one tooth, others on their entire set of front teeth, and others still on all of their teeth, depending on their budget and overall goals.

Why Do People Get Veneers?

Unlike other dental procedures, such as a dental implant, veneers are primarily used for aesthetic reasons. They can be used to hide issues such as:

• Extreme discoloration that can’t be removed using regular means
• To hide chips, breaks, or cracks in your teeth
• To fill out space if one tooth is too small
• To change the overall size of your teeth

Types of Veneers

In general you’ll have two materials to pick from for your veneers. The first is porcelain. If your goal is to have a long-lasting, 100% natural-looking veneer, then this is the material to choose. Porcelain veneers are custom made every time to perfectly fit your smile’s shape and shade, so it blends in beautifully. They are also very hard-wearing, and can last forever if taken care of properly.

The other option is a composite resin, which is also custom made and can match your teeth, but typically isn’t expected to last as long as porcelain. It’s considered the budget option, but if you’re going to invest in veneers in the first place, you typically want the one that has the best chance of lasting a full lifetime.

What’s the Process of Getting Veneers?

Getting veneers is a multi-step process. This is because you need to first go in for a consultation. After that, the steps of getting your veneers include:

1. Removing the enamel: this is so that there’s space for the veneers. Once the enamel is removed, it can’t come back.
2. Making an impression: this is to get a mold so the dentist can create custom veneers for you.
3. Temporary veneers: these are placed onto your teeth temporarily to protect them while your veneers are being made.
4. Veneer bonding: you’ll need to come in again once the veneers are made to get them bonded permanently to your teeth.

Final Takeaways

You need to be 100% sure that veneers are right for you, and that you get them properly done. Do this, and you’ll be completely satisfied with the results, and your investment.