Over the years, dental veneers have built quite a reputation. From stigmas to myths, the topic of veneers seems to be riddled with falsities that people believe to be true. If you want to improve your smile and plan on veneers as an option, but feel held back by stigmas and myths, then you have come to the right place. In this blog, our experts at Garden State Dental Design will debunk the top 5 most common myths about veneers.
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells designed to cover the front surface of teeth and naturally recreate your perfect smile. Normally, veneers are hand crafted from porcelain materials by a master ceramist, making them long-lasting and able to endure the hardest of crunches. They are custom-made to any desired shape, size, color, or length.
The most common reason for getting veneers is to improve your self-esteem and confidence. Some people feel unhappy with their smile, which severely affects their confidence, causing them to shy away from social gatherings, smiling in pictures, and even asking that special someone out on a date.
Many reasons prompt someone to consider getting veneers done. For starters, people who grind their teeth might explore this option because grinding often wears down the enamel, causing sensitivity and in extreme cases, teeth grinding may even result in wearing their teeth down to the point that you can’t see them when you smile. Veneers will restore any damage done by this habit and give you a rejuvenated appearance.
Another common reason relates to improving discolored teeth. Heavy smokers, coffee drinkers, wine lovers, and anyone else who suffers from discolored teeth such as Tetracycline staining, may opt for veneers as a means of color correction. Not everyone wants to deal with the maintenance of whitening procedures, so veneers appeal as a permanent solution.
Other reasons include chipped or broken teeth, misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped teeth, gaps between teeth, enamel erosion or damage, malocclusion-related issues, developmental disorders, and tooth sensitivity. Braces are an option for these issues but require a multi-year-long process for a permanent fix, and not everyone feels ready for that commitment. Veneers deliver a more immediate fix to improving smile confidence.
Since their invention, veneers have been riddled with myths and stigmas. What matters most to remember: a myth is a widely held but false belief or idea. So, let’s debunk the top 5 most common veneer myths!
One of the most common stigmas claim veneers look obvious and bulky. While cases where the veneers were poorly done, or the patient wanted a look that was quite extreme and very different from their original smile do exist, 99% of the time, veneers remain undetectable. Today’s modern technology allows dentists to create veneers with shells as thin as 0.3mm. Dental professionals color-match the material and shape it to resemble natural teeth, but in a more straightened fashion. When you work with a highly trained dental professional, like the ones at Garden State Dental Design, you can be 100% confident that your veneers will not be fake looking and bulky. The only thing people will notice is your brand-new perfect smile!
Another pervasive myth suggests veneers require having to completely file down all your real teeth. Fortunately, this is no longer true. In some cases, parts of some teeth, or the fronts, may need to be partially shaved for the veneers to fit more naturally. However, the amount remains minimal because of how thin today’s veneers can be. The thin shell allows for a fit over the natural tooth without appearing bulky or feeling intrusive.
For those of you considering not getting veneers out of fear that the process will be painful, let us put your worrying to a quick end. The procedure for getting veneers does not hurt. In fact, thanks to modern dental technology, the process has become even less invasive! To soothe your worries even more, you will be given a local anesthetic so the dental professional can remove the top few layers of enamel from your teeth. The anesthetic works as a precautionary measure and can be easily opted out of, if you speak with your dentist first. After the veneers have been put on, you will not experience any pain. Adjusting may take a day or two of getting used to, but pain will not become your new normal.
Many people believe that veneers will stain and chip easily, causing them to steer clear of veneers as a dental procedure. This myth makes sense as veneers become a replacement of your original teeth, which do stain and chip. However, high-quality porcelain or resin composite materials prove durable and stain resistant. As long as you treat your veneers like your real teeth and brush and floss regularly, they will remain pearly white.
Finally, people avoid getting veneers thinking they will be high maintenance. This is very untrue. Veneers need the same amount of maintenance as real teeth. As long as you continue to brush your teeth twice a day and floss, no extra maintenance will be needed. However, veneers do have a 10-year lifespan, so once those ten years have passed, you should see your dental professional to get new ones put in. If you want to elongate the lifespan of your veneers, it’s been found that taking extra good care of your veneers can make them last up to 20 years longer. So be sure to brush thoroughly.
Veneers are a transformative dental solution that can dramatically enhance your smile while also addressing various dental concerns. Despite the myths, they are natural-looking, durable, low-maintenance, and more accessible than ever thanks to modern dental technology. If you’re considering veneers, don’t let misinformation hold you back from achieving the confident, radiant smile you deserve.
Ready to take the next step? Contact the trusted experts at Garden State Dental Design in Millburn New Jersey to schedule your personalized consultation. Call us today at (732) 669-7227 and let’s bring your dream smile to life!
