Listen to Your Dentist When They Recommend Wisdom Teeth Extraction

If you are self-conscious about your smile, a cosmetic dentist will help make your teeth look just the way you want. As long as you have no cavities, serious decay or infections, and your teeth are not severely out of alignment, porcelain veneers could be your best option. Here is some information about veneers that is useful to know before having them put on.

Problems Veneers Can Correct Your Smile

Veneers can be used to make your smile whiter. They can also hide cracks or chips in your teeth. While they cannot correct seriously crooked or overlapping teeth, they can be applied in a manner that will make slightly out-of-alignment teeth look better. In addition, if you have a gap between two teeth, but not a missing tooth, they can be placed to hide the gap.

How They Are Applied

The cosmetic dentist will file away some of the natural enamel of your teeth. This will roughen your teeth so the bonding material holds more securely. This will also keep your teeth the same thickness you are used to so you will not have to make adjustments to the way you talk.

Once your teeth are prepared, the dentist will apply the bonding agent and the veneers. He or she will work on each veneer to make sure it is the proper shape and they all fit together well. Once they are all in place, a special light will be used to set the bonding agent.

Eating with Veneers

Porcelain veneers are as strong as glass. Once applied to a tooth it is as strong as the original. However, they will crack or chip if you try to take off a bottle cap, crack nuts or chew hard candy the same as your natural tooth would.

Taking Care of Veneers

Although they are stain resistant, veneers can stain if you do not take care of them properly. Make sure you brush your teeth after eating or drinking things that would stain your normal teeth. If you have the habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, ask the dentist for a mouth guard to protect the veneers from pressure cracks.

It is important to note that you must continue to brush and floss your teeth as normal after having the veneers put on. You still have natural teeth behind them, and some of the enamel has been removed. If you do not take care of your teeth and gums, you will end up with tooth decay, infections and gum disease. Considering the veneers are permanent, having decay under them is hard to fix and can be painful.