Dental veneers are used to improve the appearance of your teeth and make your smile more attractive. However, just like any other medical procedure, dental veneers also have benefits and side effects. Well, consider the following explanation before you decide to do dental veneers.
Dental veneers are procedures performed by dentists to enhance the appearance of teeth. Some conditions that can be treated with dental veneers include broken teeth, discolored teeth, unequal sizes of teeth, or gaps between teeth.
There are two types of dental veneers, namely veneers made of porcelain and resin composite materials. The difference is that porcelain veneers are more stain resistant than resin veneers. Porcelain veneers are also more durable and more similar to natural teeth.
Dental Veneer Procedure
Before undergoing a dental veneer procedure, you usually need three visits to the dentist. Once for a consultation and twice for making and installing dental veneers. This procedure can be performed on several teeth at once.
If you want to do dental veneers, there are several stages that you need to go through, namely:
- The dentist will examine the condition of your teeth. If there is damage to the teeth or gum problems, the doctor will postpone the dental veneer procedure until the condition is resolved.
- If there are no problems with the teeth or gums, the doctor will continue the procedure by scraping the surface layer of the tooth or enamel to prepare a place for the dental veneer, so the veneer does not stand out.
- Next, the doctor will make an impression of the tooth using a material similar to putty so that the veneer matches the original shape and size of the tooth.
- The doctor will place a temporary veneer on the tooth surface while waiting for the permanent veneer to be made. The time required for the process of making permanent dental veneers can vary, generally it takes about 1-2 weeks.
- After making permanent dental veneers, the temporary veneers will be removed and replaced with permanent veneers. The dentist will check the color, size, and fit of the permanent veneers prior to installation.
Your dentist will ask you to come back a few weeks later to check the condition of your gums and make sure the veneers are in place. A thorough dental cleaning will also be carried out to prevent decay of the dental veneers.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Dental Veneers
There are several advantages or benefits of dental veneers that you can get, including:
- Looks like real teeth
- Not easy to change color
- Does not affect the condition of the gums
- Teeth look whiter
Although it makes teeth look white, clean, and neat, dental veneers also have some drawbacks or side effects, namely:
- Relatively expensive price
- Can't be repaired if it's broken
- Teeth become more sensitive to hot or cold foods and drinks because the enamel has been eroded
- The color of the teeth that are pasted with veneers is not the same as the color of other teeth
- Dental veneers can fall out if you have a habit of biting hard objects, such as nails or ice
- Dental veneers are not the right choice for those of you who have unhealthy teeth, such as damaged or decayed teeth, sore gums, or have large fillings
- Teeth with veneers can still decay
Dental veneers generally do not require special treatment and can last for 7–15 years. Maintenance is also quite easy. You only need to brush it every 2 days or clean it with dental floss.
It is also recommended that you avoid foods and drinks that can cause stains on your teeth, such as coffee, tea, orwine, after veneering.
If you have questions about the dental veneer procedure or experience complaints after undergoing a dental veneer procedure, such as pain or swollen gums, please consult a doctor so that an appropriate examination and treatment can be carried out.
