I haven’t loved the coloring of my teeth or the fact that they are a little crooked on the top for a long time. I have considered braces and teeth whitening. After telling my brother my thoughts, he suggested I look into porcelain veneers instead of both braces and whitening. I’m really nervous to do that though. I have heard they really grind your teeth down to put on the veneers. Is that true? I don’t want little nubs! What if my veneers fall off?
Concerned in Kentucky
Dear Concerned,
Your brother had a great suggestion if you are wanting to fix the alignment of your teeth as well as the coloration. Porcelain veneers are a way to do both at once.
The preparation for porcelain veneers isn’t as severe as you may have imagined. Most require a light shaving on the face of the tooth to aid in the bonding process for the veneers and to make room for the veneers. It is typically very minimal, about the thickness of a fingernail. Without some shaving, your new veneers may not look fit well with your existing teeth, may not look natural or may be too bulky. There are some veneers that don’t require any shaving though.
To address your worry that your porcelain veneer may fall off, it is very unlikely. If you have a cosmetic dentist, someone who has received addition training in cosmetic dentistry after dental school, they know how to properly bond the veneers onto the teeth. It’s more likely that a veneer would crack or chip before it would come off.
Just make sure you use a cosmetic dentist for your veneers. They will not only make sure they are bonded correctly, but will be able to create a smile for you that fits the look and coloration you desire. Some will even offer a beautiful smile guarantee.
This post is sponsored by Dr. Cummiskey at Generations Dental Care in Connecticut.
