Adults laugh around 15 to 20 times a day, and children laugh up to 300 times per day. Perhaps it’s due to the impartiality of children or maybe it’s because older people don’t like showing their teeth. Discoloration, uneven edges and large gaps could be among many reasons why adults don’t laugh as often as kids do. Here we will discuss how veneers can help your smile.
The most important things at a glance
- With tooth veneers, blemishes on the anterior teeth can be easily blended.
- The ceramic shells can be used, among other things, for broken edges or strongly discolored teeth.
- Ceramic veneers are the sophisticated solution, while they are made of composite – a mixture of a silica salt and plastic – and have some disadvantages in durability.
- With proper care, veneers can last up to 20 years.
What possibilities do tooth veneers offer?
Veneers are especially in demand when people are dissatisfied with the appearance of their teeth. Among other methods of aesthetic dentistry, veneers are a particularly gentle and durable alternative in treatment. Although they are very thin, the ceramic bowls can last a long time.
Another advantage is that your own teeth only need to be ground minimally (if at all). The treatment is very gentle and almost painless.
Veneers for crooked teeth and too-large tooth gaps
The ceramic bowls are used for a variety of tooth problems:
- if teeth are severely discolored
- for tooth gaps that cannot be closed by other methods
- for teeth that are crooked and have grown irregularly
- for malformed teeth and broken teeth
- when teeth can no longer be filled or built up
There are many ways to use veneers, but ultimately it is always the decision of the dentist that must be carefully discussed with the patients.
For this reason, the question “What can tooth veneers cost?” cannot be answered across the board. Only after individual consultation and diagnosis can reliable quotations about possible treatment costs be made.
What is the best material for veneers?
There are veneers made of ceramic and plastic, a so-called composite. If you want it to be particularly beautiful, opt for the variant made of high-performance ceramics. This will allow any damage on the anterior teeth to be perfectly hidden.
The ceramic tooth veneer based on nature
The dental technician manufactures each individual veneer by hand. This results in veneer shells that look deceivingly similar to the natural tooth in the best way possible. Even the smallest grooves on the surface are deceptively imitated by the dental technician. No other material in the dental world has the ability to do this.
These are the advantages of ceramic tooth veneers:
- looks like the natural teeth
- extremely break-resistant
- suitable for allergy sufferers
- good colorfastness
- long shelf life
Disadvantages of composite veneers in durability
Veneers made of composite can also make imperfections on the teeth disappear, however, it doesn’t look quite as good as with ceramic veneer shells. Especially in terms of durability, composite loses out compared to ceramics. The surface of composite veneers discolors faster and darkens.
How long do veneers last?
When the veneers have been used, the new “tooth outfit” should be optimally maintained. Here, too, the principles of regular dental care apply:
- daily oral hygiene to remove bacterial plaque
- a healthy diet
- the regular control and prophylaxis in the dental practice.
Experience shows a shelf life of up to 20 years
Those who take good care of their veneers will be able to make use of them for a long time. At least, that’s what scientists claim who have dealt with the question in a study: How long do veneers actually last?
They came to the conclusion that the majority of patients did not have to go to the dentist for repairs to their veneers even 20 years after treatment. The new smile with the miracle bowls, therefore, has no best before date – with proper conditions and optimal care.
Did you know? Veneers also helped a certain Norma Jean Baker to have a bright white smile. Dr. Charles L. Pincus, a dentist from California, supplied her with veneers. Norma Jean shone into the cameras with the thin ceramic bowls and later sang “I wanna be kissed by you!” Known as Marilyn Monroe, the world lay at her feet.
Photo: Adobe Stock
