How Porcelain Dental Veneers Can Help Maintain A Beautifully Perfect Smile

Maintaining a straight, beautiful smile is an invaluable asset to each of us when it comes to professional and social settings. In a perfect world, things such as an imperfect smile would not be a cause of judgment by other people. The reality, though, is a different matter, and you are more likely to be judged positively when your smile is perfectly straight and radiant. Dr. David Koepsel and the team at East Wichita Dentist in Wichita, KS takes great pride in helping patients maintain a beautiful smile by offering dental veneer services and many other popular cosmetic dental options.

Dr. Koepsel offers veneers, which are constructed of porcelain, to patients who have imperfections in their smiles. With each passing year, dental veneers are continuing to increase in popularity and have become one of the most widely chosen cosmetic dental procedures available to patients. Previously more widely available to people of stature (such as celebrities and the wealthy), porcelain veneers are now being chosen more than ever by everyday people as they take the plunge into cosmetic dentistry with the hopes of achieving the smile they’ve always dreamed of. Let’s take a look at what you should and should not expect from dental veneers.

Veneers – What They Are

Veneers, which are pieces of thin, tooth-shaped porcelain, are custom made to fit over your teeth and can be used to correct several issues. Porcelain veneers are great for:

• Teeth which have become discolored – either due to a root canal treatment, stains from food and drink, tetracycline, or excessive fluoride or from large composite resin fillings which have discolored the tooth.
• Teeth which have become worn down
• Teeth which are chipped and/or broken
• Teeth that are uneven, irregularly shaped, or misaligned
• Teeth that have gaps in between them (the veneer can close the gap)

The primary function of a porcelain veneer is to improve the overall appearance of your smile. Some patients may choose to have several teeth covered with veneers to create a uniform look. One great benefit of porcelain veneers is their incredible strength and longevity. With proper care, a porcelain veneer can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years.

Porcelain Veneers – What They Are Not

Porcelain veneers are not a miracle cure-all. Some patients may be under the impression that a porcelain veneer can solve all their dental problems, which is not the case. Porcelain veneers are not created to repair anatomical problems or for restorative purposes. Veneers are intended for (mostly) healthy teeth that simply have minor to moderate cosmetic flaws that the patient wishes to have corrected.

The Advantages of Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers offer many advantages, including:

• They provide a natural appearance that looks like a real tooth
• Gum tissue can tolerate the porcelain
• Porcelain veneers are very stain resistant
• When choosing a porcelain veneer, they are very customizable including the color so that it can match the shade of surrounding teeth
• Porcelain veneers are a conservative option for altering a tooth’s color and shape. Porcelain veneers do not require the extensive shaping which (for instance) crowns need while still offering a strong and aesthetically pleasing option.

The Limitations of Porcelain Veneers

As with any treatment, with the advantages of porcelain veneers also comes some limitations, which include:

• The process of receiving veneers is not reversible
• Veneers can be costly
• In most cases, porcelain veneers will not be repairable if they become chipped or cracked
• Because a small layer of the enamel needs to be removed before receiving a porcelain veneer, your tooth may be more susceptible to hot and cold temperatures
• A veneer’s shade is not alterable once in place. This could be an issue if you want to get your teeth whitened afterwards. A
• Though it is uncommon, veneers can become dislodged and fall off. You are more at risk for this if you have habits such as chewing on your nails, eating ice, or putting other hard objects into your mouth.

If you are interested in learning more about porcelain veneers and what they can offer you, please reach out to Dr. David Koepsel and his team at East Wichita Dentist in Wichita, KS at (316) 215-7152.