The Canadian Dental Association defines dental veneers as very thin shells (manufactured from porcelain or composite resin) that are attached to the front part of a tooth. They are used as a part of cosmetic dentistry to improve the appearance of teeth, providing recipients with a flawless smile. Today, we’re here to answer your question about whether or not dental veneers are for you.
6 Signs You Need Dental Veneers to Restore Your Smile
1. You Have Cracked / Chipped Teeth
While there are steps to take to prevent cracked or chipped teeth, there’s a good chance that if you’re reading this article, it’s already too late. Fret not, because one of the top indications for dental veneers is this aesthetic ailment. When a mold of your teeth is made by a reputable dental specialist, your custom-made porcelain veneer/s will fit like a glove (or should we say shell?) masking the imperfection caused by the crack, chip, or fracture.
2. You Have Significantly Discolored Teeth
Are your teeth significantly discolored? Have you tried teeth whitening to no avail? While we do recommend that you give a combined effort of clinic and at-home bleaching a shot, years of poor oral hygiene and/or genetic predispositions may have positioned you as a prime candidate for veneers as a means to correct discolored teeth. Your custom-made veneers will boast a natural (and healthy) tooth tone to deliver a bright smile that will get you noticed (in a good way) by all who see you speak, laugh, and smile.
Just be sure to follow these guidelines for eating and drinking to maintain the white smile your porcelain veneer investment has afforded you!
3. You Have Spaces / Gaps in Your Smile
Not everyone has the good fortune of capitalizing on gapped teeth a la David Letterman or Michael Strahan. If gaps and/or spaces (known as diastema in the field of dentistry) have impacted your confidence then veneers may be for you. While dental bonding is also used to treat diastema, patients with multiple diastema and accompanying discoloration typically turn to porcelain veneers.
4. You Have Worn Down Teeth
Direct composite binding and dental crowns tend to be the preferred methods of choice (especially the latter) when it comes to fixing worn down teeth. However, when the cases are not as severe, and the wear and tear is typically of age, veneers may be a viable option.
5. You Have Peg Laterals or Other Irregularity
A peg what? A peg lateral is a dental anomaly that affects the upper lateral incisors. The condition causes the lateral incisors to be abnormally small in size and often pointy in appearance. Patients who suffer from peg laterals tend to be very self-conscious given the direct impact it has on their public facing persona. Dental veneers can be a solution when the space provided by the position of adjacent teeth is optimal.
Beyond peg laterals, veneers are a viable option for many scenarios where which a patient is afflicted with teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped. This can include lingual positioned teeth and malposed teeth that do not require orthodontics.
6. You Suffer from Hypocalcification
Enamel hypocalcification (not to be confused with decalcification) is a condition where which the normal volume of tooth enamel is produced but are hypomineralized, resulting in enamel is softer than normal. Chalky spots on the teeth are visible, impacting aesthetics. Veneers may be used to mask the corresponding discoloration.
We encourage you to learn more about receiving porcelain veneers at our Vancouver clinic, however we also must conclude with a note about dental veneer candidacy. Not everyone is a candidate for this cosmetic procedure. The reasons why you may need to consider an alternative or supplementary treatment include (but are not exclusive to) the following:
- The intended tooth is decayed.
- Existence of periodontal disease.
- Not enough tooth enamel.
- The crack/fracture is too large.
- Patient has an excessive case of bruxism.
Of course, you cannot make this assessment for candidacy on your own. Book an appointment with Vancouver Dental Specialty Clinic today to find out if dental veneers can be used to restore your appearance, or to find out if another option is better suited to your unique needs. Call us today at 604-336-0958.