Top 5 Facts About Composite Veneers

Top 5 Facts About Composite Veneers

If you’re like us, the warmth of the summer sun shining down just naturally makes us want to smile. But the sad truth is that many people feel too embarrassed by the condition of their teeth to freely smile. Are you one of them? If so, you may already be considering dental veneers as an option to improve your smile.

A dental veneer, or laminate, is a thin, translucent shell custom-crafted to fit each flawed tooth, and then placed onto the tooth’s surface, concealing imperfections. But how much do you really know about composite veneers? At the office of Nashville veneer specialist Dr. Mark Whitefield,  we’ve compiled a list of 5 frequently asked questions about dental veneers to help you better understand your options:

1) What kinds of problems do dental veneers fix?

• Teeth that are discolored from:
• Root canal treatment
• Stains from tetracycline or other drugs
• Excessive fluoride or other causes
• The presence of large resin fillings that have discolored the tooth
• Teeth that are worn down
• Chipped or broken teeth
• Misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped teeth (for example, have craters or bulges in them)
• Gapped teeth

2) What happens to my teeth after veneers? Will I ever get cavities?    

The integrity of veneered teeth is only marginally compromised, and the veneer is bonded to the existing teeth. There is no higher incidence of decay provided the veneers are properly cared for with regular flossing and brushing with toothpaste. In general, it is good dental advice to keep your sugar consumption low and confined to meal times to prevent decay.

3) How long will composite veneers last?    

They can last from seven to twenty years. While the veneer itself is inert and non-living, the tooth or teeth to which they are attached and the surrounding gum tissues are living and may change. For example, gum line shrinkage may expose or reveal root surfaces. If a veneer comes off it can generally be rebonded. If it chips it can sometimes be rebonded or otherwise replaced.

4) If I have my upper teeth treated with composite veneers, will my lower teeth still be a different color, or more yellow?    

This is certainly a factor that will be discussed during your evaluation and smile design so that everything matches and blends well. Most patients usually whiten the lower teeth with whitening (bleaching) procedures to ensure a good match.

5) Do composite veneers stain with normal things like tea, coffee and wine?    

Composite veneers should never stain; however; if your teeth have a propensity to stain you should try to avoid or minimize the behaviors that lead to staining and look after them as recommended above with normal hygiene and maintenance procedures.

Don’t forget to check with your insurance company - some insurance companies will cover up to 50% of the fee they deem customary. Whether or not your coverage includes dental veneers will depend upon what your employer has opted for with your insurance company (rather than what your dentist is charging).

At the office of Whitefield Dental, we want you to know that the confidence of a healthy, natural looking smile can be yours today! Contact us at (615) 889-5545, and begin your journey to a dazzling summer smile!

For information about special offers from Whitefield Dental, click the link here: www.dentisthermitagetn.com

Dental Implants for Your Health

Many Americans – in fact, it’s estimated about 70% - are missing at least one tooth, most often one of the rear molars. The question often arises: if you can’t see the missing tooth, does it truly matter? The answer may surprise you.

Some effects of tooth loss

According to Nashville Dental Implant Specialist Dr. Mark Whitefield, if enough teeth are lost, the ability to speak and chew can be impaired. The contours of the face and lips change, making an individual look noticeably older and gloomier. Eventually, the bite may effectively collapse. And what it can do to a person’s self-image can be devastating!

Tooth loss leads to bone loss

You may or may not know that the biggest problem with tooth loss is actually the bone loss that comes with it. The alveolar bone, which surrounds the teeth, requires regular stimulation in order to stay healthy. Without such stimulation — which comes from tiny stresses transmitted by the teeth themselves — the bone gradually melts away. Tooth loss can cause a 25% decrease in bone width in the first year alone, and more in subsequent years. Fortunately, the implementation of dental implants is an effective way to keep tooth loss from becoming bone loss. But just what is a dental implant?

The Dental Implant

A tooth has two main parts: the dental crown (the pearly-white part everyone sees), and below the gum line, the root, the part that anchors the tooth in the jaw. A dental implant permanently replaces the root part of the tooth with a metal insert that’s placed in the jawbone with a minor procedure. A “crown restoration” is then placed atop the implant. That is a prosthetic tooth that’s created to look and function just like your natural teeth. Together, they create a complete tooth replacement system. That is the basis of a dental implant. Because the implant becomes fused to the living bone, it helps keep bone healthy and functional — all while saving your bite, your smile, and your self-esteem!

Whitefield Dental can help!

Talk to your Greater Nashville Dental Implant Specialist, Dr. Mark Whitefield to discuss saving your smile – and protecting the health of your teeth and gums – with dental implants. For more information, call Whitefield Dental at (615) 889-5545 today to schedule an appointment.

For information about special offers from Whitefield Dental, click the link here: www.dentisthermitagetn.com