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