Who is a Good Candidate for Veneers?

Dental veneers can change your entire appearance by improving the front teeth of your smile. Whether you have a gap in your teeth, chips, or uneven teeth, veneers can correct the problem. While these cosmetic dental solutions significantly upgrade many, they are not the answer for everyone. Who is a good candidate for veneers? Only your dentist can answer that question specifically for you. They will compare your oral health and well-being to see if you fit the profile of a successful veneer user.

What Are Veneers?

When your dentist fits you with dental veneers, they cover problem teeth with thin layers of porcelain. These porcelain pieces create a durable, beautiful layer over your natural teeth that corrects visible flaws.

Each veneer needs customized creation in a lab. Hence, you’ll need a couple of dental appointments to prepare your teeth and the placement of the veneers.

Since your dentist tells the lab the dimensions of the veneers and the specific color needed to fit seamlessly into your mouth, you may consider whitening your teeth before getting veneers. If you whiten your teeth after, the non-porous ceramic veneers will not brighten the same as the rest of your teeth. Talk to your dentist about the timing for whitening, veneers, and any other cosmetic dental procedures you want to do for a completely upgraded smile.

Attributes of Good Candidates for Dental Veneers

Do you think you might be a good candidate for veneers? Ask your dentist what they think about whether you can wear veneers. Your dentist will determine if you are a good candidate who can get years of a more beautiful smile from your dental veneers.

Solid Enamel

First, your enamel should be strong. The dentist must file a small amount of the enamel to make room for the adhesive and veneers. Therefore, if you have thinning enamel already, you may not have enough to accommodate veneers.

Healthy Teeth and Gums

Veneers don’t fix unhealthy, decayed teeth or diseased gums. If you have these problems, you’ll need to have the dentist fix them before you qualify for veneers. Both dental decay and gum disease raise your chances of losing the tooth, dramatically cutting the attached veneer’s lifespan.

However, if you maintain otherwise healthy teeth and gums, veneers could improve the look of your smile.

Minor Cosmetic Issues on Front Teeth

Veneers fix cosmetic problems on the front teeth, not the unseen molars in the back. Therefore, if you have a discolored front tooth or teeth with uneven spacing between them on the teeth that appear when you smile, you may benefit from wearing veneers.

On the other hand, if your teeth are unevenly spaced, you may get more from a course of Invisalign treatment. This system corrects bite and alignment problems of all the teeth without braces.

Stains on Individual Teeth

Sometimes, stains or discoloration will impact only one or two teeth. Often, these individual teeth experienced intrinsic stains that originated internally from deep decay. You may need a root canal to fix the tooth’s interior and stop decay. After treatment, veneers can fix the appearance of the discoloration by hiding the tooth’s front behind a bright veneer that matches the whiteness of your teeth.

Can Care for Your Veneer-Covered Teeth

How is your current oral hygiene routine? Honestly. You need to be able to care for your veneer-covered teeth exceptionally well to prevent cavities from developing in them.

Another aspect of caring for your teeth with veneers that many forget is that regular brushing and flossing help avoid staining your natural teeth. Veneers resist staining, but they will look fake if the rest of your teeth become stained from tobacco use, coffee drinking, or poor oral care. If you keep the rest of your teeth white with reasonable care, your veneers will blend in better.

If you already have lackluster dental care, ramp up your routine and stick to it. Doing so will improve your dental health and increase the chances of keeping your veneers looking good.

Will Not Change Your Mind in the Future

Once you choose veneers, you cannot change your mind and have them removed. If you think that you may at any point in the future want to have veneers no longer, you should choose another method. Preparing the teeth for the veneers means that you must have veneers covering the surfaces.

You’re Willing to Care for the Veneers and Replace Them If Needed

Veneers require care to avoid breaking them. If you break a veneer, you must have your dentist replace it. Eating ice, grinding your teeth, and ripping open bags with your teeth can damage your veneers. Unless you can stop these practices, you may not be a good candidate for veneers.

You Can See Your Dentist for Multiple Visits

Your dentist does not produce the veneers in-house. You will need to have two appointments. The first appointment is when the dentist takes measurements and images of your teeth for veneers. You will also get temporary veneers placed until the permanent ones arrive.

While wearing the temporary veneers, take extra caution to avoid breaking them by eating hard foods or biting down on them. The dentist will replace these temporary veneers once your permanent ones arrive from the lab.

If you can be patient while getting your permanent veneers, you may be a good candidate for these pieces of cosmetic dentistry.

Are You a Good Candidate for Veneers? Find Out with a Visit to Cedar Walk Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

Do you think dental veneers can help your smile to look better? You need a dentist to tell you whether you are a good candidate for this service. Contact us at Cedar Walk Family and Cosmetic Dentistry to schedule a visit. You can determine whether your teeth will readily accommodate veneers and improve your smile. Let us give you a more beautiful smile with our cosmetic dental options.