Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. If you have tooth flaws, you may be all too aware of this, doing everything you can to hide your teeth whenever you meet someone new. What if you could smile confidently? With porcelain veneers, you can!

How Do Porcelain Veneers Hide Tooth Flaws?

A veneer is a thin, custom-made porcelain shell that bonds to the front of your tooth. It’s made of tooth-colored materials, which are carefully matched to your existing teeth for a completely natural finished look. The veneer can be a different size, color, or shape than the tooth it’s bonded to, which allows it to hide tooth flaws very effectively.

Create a Beautiful, Customizable Smile with Veneers

Here are five tooth flaws that all but disappear when you hide them behind veneers.

Gaps in Your Smile

You want your teeth to sit snugly against one another. If there are gaps between some of your teeth, your mouth may appear neglected. Large openings in your smile also provide nooks and crannies for food particles to hide and bacteria to multiply. As a result, you’re more likely to develop cavities and gum disease if you don’t address the gaps between your teeth.

You could invest in a retainer to bring your teeth together manually, but veneers are a faster, more convenient option if the gaps are caused by small teeth rather than poor alignment. Veneers can be crafted to increase the width of your existing teeth slightly, closing the gaps and making your smile look even and more beautiful.

Discoloration

Have you tried to remove severe stains with teeth whitening? While professional in-office bleaching can usually remove such intrinsic stains, others are too deep to touch. Traumatic injury from a sporting incident or fall can also cause a tooth to “die,” cutting off the blood supply and causing the tooth to darken.

Whitening can’t always fix deep stains or dead teeth—but veneers can! As long as the tooth in question isn’t rotting or infected and doesn’t need to be removed, you can simply cover it up with a custom-made porcelain veneer.

Crooked Teeth

Veneers aren’t meant to replace orthodontic treatment, but if you have crooked teeth that don’t need to be moved into better alignment, veneers could be an option.  Meeting with your dentist is the best way to determine which option will help your smile the most. A thorough oral exam and X-rays should reveal whether braces or veneers are the ideal choice.

Uneven, Worn, or Oddly Shaped Teeth

Is one of your front teeth longer than the other? Do you have a scraggly tooth that resembles a vampire fang? Maybe one or two of your teeth are smaller than the rest. Whatever the case, veneers can almost certainly help.

Your dentist will take a good look at your teeth and determine the best route to take. For instance, to improve the appearance of uneven front teeth, it may be simpler to file down the longer one rather than lengthen the shorter one. Whatever cosmetic restoration you require, a qualified dentist can facilitate your needs.

Chipped Teeth

Tooth enamel is hardy, but it’s not impervious to cracking or chipping. Indeed, it’s surprisingly easy to damage a tooth while playing contact sports. Other injuries such as falling down, getting in a car accident, or being struck in the mouth can also cause bits of teeth to break off.

Veneers restore your appearance by smoothing out chips and cracks, making them invisible. Anyone who sees your smile after having this restoration work performed will only notice beautiful, healthy-looking teeth.

How Do Porcelain Veneers Work?

When you set an appointment to discuss your cosmetic dentistry needs, we’ll show you how veneers can help you hide the tooth flaws you feel most self-conscious about. If you decide to move forward, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth. The mold is sent to the lab, where your veneers are custom-made to fit your teeth and improve your smile. Before you leave, you’ll set a second appointment to have your veneers put on.

To ensure the most desirable results, your dentist prepares your teeth by shaving them down slightly. This prevents the veneers from protruding unnaturally. Next, dental cement is used to bond the veneers to your teeth. A curing laser speeds up the drying process and ensures a permanent bond. Finally, your dentist removes any excess cement, followed by cleaning and polishing your teeth. When the process is complete, you’ll have the beautiful smile you’ve always dreamed of!

To learn more about hiding tooth flaws with porcelain veneers, or to schedule a consultation with our Boulder, CO dentist, please call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998.