9 Things to Know Before Getting Dental Veneers
Many of us would agree with the old saying, you’re never fully dressed without a smile. However, sadly, many of us aren’t happy with ours. Whether it’s crowding, crookedness, or discolouration at fault, our teeth have a huge impact on the way we look. Without our winning smile intact, we can lose our self-confidence, which has a huge impact on our quality of life.
Fortunately, there is something we can do to make us look and feel ourselves again. Although money can’t buy everything, it can buy you the perfect smile. Veneers are thin porcelain covers that are permanently bonded over the front of teeth to give them an improved shape and colour. Before you decide on dental veneers for crooked teeth though, here are nine things you should know:
1. You Need an Exceptional Dentist
While your reasons for having dental veneers may be purely cosmetic, it is a complicated dental procedure. You wouldn’t trust your tummy tuck or liposuction to an amateur, and getting veneers for crooked teeth should be no different. Make sure you carefully choose your dentist; they need to have the right qualifications and experience if they are going to live up to their promises. Take a look at the before and after pictures and ask for recommendations. You need to like their style and agree with their philosophy if you are going to let them change your appearance.
2. Every Smile is Unique
No doubt you think your smile is pretty special, and rightly so, everyone is unique. Getting veneers is far from a one-size-fits-all process. You may have an idea of what you’d like to change about your teeth, but you need to trust your dentist. Your dentist will help you make the desired changes while taking into account many variables. The way you talk, the expressions you make, and your personality all play a part.
3. You Shouldn’t Strive for Perfection
While you might want to replicate a celebrity’s smile that you’ve spotted in a magazine, there’s no guarantee it’ll work for you. A set of unnaturally white teeth is going to do nothing positive for your image. You need to work with what you’ve got, accept your smile for what is, and then make it better. The great thing is that there are many options that can be customised to suit your face, whether you keep your teeth straighter, round off the edges, or create more lip support with longer front teeth.
4. Veneers Whiten Your Teeth Permanently
Cosmetic tooth whitening can produce great results, but many teeth whitening treatments can be a lengthy and, largely disappointing process. It doesn’t always work and, when it does work, it doesn’t last forever. It’s even worse for those of us who make certain lifestyle choices, enjoying regular cups of coffee and glasses of red wine isn’t going to help your teeth stay shiny white. Veneers, on the other hand, are pretty much stain resistant. Permanent stains and the monotony of keeping up with teeth whitening procedures are a thing of the past.
5. You Don’t Have to Get Veneers On All of Your Teeth
If you are considering getting veneers in Canberra, bear in mind that you don’t have to do your full set of teeth. It comes down to what you’re hoping to achieve, as well as what you can afford. You might find that having veneers on your front few teeth alone is enough to change your smile entirely. Veneers can be like a missing piece in a puzzle, slotting in place amongst your natural teeth perfectly.
6. You Get A Trial Smile
After the consultation with your cosmetic dentist, temporary versions of your veneers will be made. This is done by taking a mould of your teeth and creating veneers out of liquid composite. It’s like having a blueprint for your new smile. You get to wear them for a week or so to check that you’re happy with them. After your trial period, you have the opportunity to make changes, so they are just right.
7. Veneers Are An Investment That You Should Look After
Having veneers isn’t cheap, but it’s an investment in the future of your smile. And, if you’re going to fork out money to get the smile you deserve, you need to make sure you take care of it afterward. You should practice good oral hygiene, brushing, flossing, and rinsing to keep your veneers clean and the rest of your teeth and gums healthy. If you look after them well, you should still be smiling strong for well over a decade.
8. There’s a Little Pain But Plenty to Gain
Getting veneers isn’t a hugely painful process, but any dental procedure requires a little discomfort. If you’re having a full set of veneers fitted, it can take quite a few hours. You’ll be numbed with localised anaesthesia so you shouldn’t feel any real pain. Bonding cement is used to attach the veneers to your existing teeth, which can result in some sensitivity after the procedure. Your gums might be a little tender too. Fortunately, any pain you do experience can be combated with over-the-counter pain relief. And, hopefully, your new smile will help ease the pain too.
9. Veneers Can Be Replaced
If you look after your veneers, then they should be sparkling for many years to come. However, after 15 or so years, you might need a refresh. Fortunately, veneers can be replaced. The old veneers are carefully removed, without taking away any more of your underlying natural tooth. You then start the process again, which might include consulting your cosmetic dentist in Woden about what you’d like to achieve, and, hopefully, smiling from ear to ear.
Veneers are the perfect solution if you’re unhappy with the way your teeth look. And, as a semi-permanent solution, while your wardrobe might change often, you’ll always have the winning smile to accompany it.
If you would like to explore whether dental veneers are the right choice for you, why not book a free cosmetic consultation at our Canberra dental clinic in Woden. Simply call today on (02) 6281 2222.
