What Are Veneers And How Do They Enhance Your Selfies?
Sparkling white, symmetrical and shapely front teeth are something that we all desire. Achieving the perfect smile to broadcast in selfies and in job interviews is a very appealing goal, however it doesn’t always happen naturally. When teeth are naturally off-center or misshapen veneers are a great way to give the appearance of an even smile. In this blog post we describe what are veneers and how they can help to enhance your smile.
What Are Veneers?
A veneer is a wafer-thin layer of material molded to the surface of a tooth to correct a chip or crack, or to enhance its cosmetic appearance. Veneers are manufactured using either porcelain or a synthetic acrylic material. These materials are easily bonded to the teeth and hold the appearance of a natural tooth. Veneers are placed onto the teeth like a sheath at the dental clinic by a dentist.
Types Of Veneers
There are two primary varieties of veneers and these have applications in different circumstances. Traditional veneers are used in a similar fashion to crowns. Namely, weak or decaying areas of a tooth are removed and the veneer is moulded to fit the available space on the tooth.
Prep-less veneers don’t require any removal of tooth material. This treatment can be more comfortable for patients, but is generally limited to situations where there are spaces between the teeth or the tooth being treated is smaller in size than the adjacent teeth.
How Much Do they Cost
The cost of veneers varies from between $1400 and $1800 per tooth. Many patients also make requests for a ‘digital smile plan’ which is a digital plan that outlines how a perfect smile should look on the patient. Digital imaging, X-Rays and facial measurements are used to produce a digital smile plan.
Risks of Veneers
While veneers have traditionally been used to correct imperfect teeth, some dentists are concerned that the treatment is increasingly being used to enable dental dysmorphia, a mental condition where the patient is paranoid that their teeth are in worse shape than is actually the case. Indeed, the president of the Australian Dental Association in Victoria has blamed unrealistic portrayals of celebrities’ teeth for the prevalence of this condition.
Veneers can also weaken or crack after ten to twenty years. They are irreversible, so, unlike a tattoo someone gets in their 20s and has lasered off later, veneers are impossible to remove, more so when the teeth beneath them have been filed down in preparation for adhesion.
Despite these risks, many patients have found their confidence improving after investing in this treatment. It can help patients to achieve the ‘selfie-worthy’ grin which can do great things for career prospects, romance and social lives.
If you are looking to correct or enhance your natural teeth, please contact the team at Big Smiles Dental to book an appointment for a veneer fitting. We are open from Monday to Friday, 8:00AM to 4:00PM. Contact us on (02) 9921 1799 to make a booking today.