One of the topics we get asked about most frequently is dental veneers. What are they? What are they made from? Which celebrities have them? And we’re happy to answer your questions! But it’s also common that people are curious about dental veneers but are too afraid or embarrassed to ask about them or might be misled by a slew of myths about their effectiveness and purpose.
But as dental professionals and a practice that desires to make dental care open, easy, and personalized, we believe it’s our responsibility to provide all the information and encourage your questions, curiosity, and learning when it comes to dentistry. So if you’re looking at options to improve your smile or are just curious about veneers for your teeth Rhoades Dentistry would love to be of assistance.
Debunking Common Myths About Dental Veneers
Dental veneers generate a lot of buzz, but a lot of the information about them are shrouded in myths. To bring you everything you need to know about dental veneers we’re here to assuage any worry around the subject, and debunk the eight most common myths about dental veneers.
Myth #1: Veneers Only Go On Front Teeth
Veneers can be used for a number of reasons, such as tooth discoloration, chips or gaps in teeth, and even misaligned teeth, all of which can be true of any of the teeth in your mouth and are not just limited to your front teeth. While many people get veneers for their front teeth, you can get veneers for all teeth or just a few, and they can be for any teeth in any area of your mouth.
Myth #2: Getting Veneers Is Painful
Like many other dental procedures, with the application of local anesthesia, your dentist will numb the area when fitting dental veneers and you will often feel very little. While some patients feel a slight discomfort during the procedure if they are receiving a large number of veneers, often patients receiving 2-4 veneers experience very little pain or no pain at all during the procedure. Following the procedure, many feel slight discomfort in the gums following the however, this will fade quickly. While dental procedures can be scary, pain should not be a concern, and getting veneers at Rhoades Dentistry means leaving dental anxiety behind.
Myth #3: Veneers Are Too Expensive
Dental work can be expensive, but there are many options you can explore to help with expenses. When considering a dental procedure, we suggest looking into what exactly your insurance covers and having a chat with our dental office over the phone or at your next appointment. We will do our best to answer your questions and help pave the way as much as we can to help you receive the dental treatments you require. No dental insurance? There are also many plans you can peruse to help foot the bill. With these options, dental veneers can end up being a long-term investment that can improve your confidence, without breaking the bank.
Myth #4: Veneers Stain Easily
A common myth about veneers is the fear that they will stain easily, however, this is not the case. Unlike natural teeth, veneers do not stain like with regular coffee consumption, colorful substances or highly acidic food and drink. Veneers are often made of porcelain which is designed to resist stains and keep your smile as white as can be. Dental health is still of utmost importance with veneers to ensure that they retain the same dazzling look throughout their whole life, so while it’s impotant to brush regularly and avoid gritty products like charcoal and baking soda, this permanent dental solution will likely promise you a stain resistant smile for many years. Interested in discussing dental hygiene for veneers? Call our practice and book a cleaning or whitening. Our dental hygienists will be happy to share information and help you achieve a picture-perfect smile.
Myth #5: Veneers Weaken Teeth
Contrary to popular belief, veneers do not damage your teeth but do quite the opposite. Veneers can be beneficial in tooth repairs on many accounts, especially in enamel repairs. Tooth enamel can is weakened by many things, such as acidic foods or drinks. Veneers, luckily, can treat enamel erosion and abrasion, strengthening your bite. So, when you worry about veneers weakening your teeth, you should feel comforted in the fact that they can actually protect your teeth from further damage, erosion, and staining.
Myth #6: Veneers Look Fake
A common fear about getting veneers is the worry that they will be very noticeably fake. But with today’s technology, your veneers can be customized precisely to fit to your teeth’s shape, size, and color. Due to a highly developed matching and fitting process, modern day veneers are often indistinguishable from your natural teeth and it’s possible the secret might only be shared with you and your dentist! While some patients opt for veneers that are as different from their natural teeth as possible, as each veneer is fitted directly on your tooth it cannot significantly change the shape, size, orientation or gapping of natural teeth, so much so that individuals seeking veneers to fix wonky or gapped teeth, are referred for orthodontic work before having veneers applied. What veneers do brilliantly is protect enhance what you’ve already got, masking chips, discoloration and yellowing, erosion and other minor damage. With a smile that is designed with your dentist, you can rest assured that your veneers can be largely indistinguishable from your natural teeth.
Myth #7: Veneers Damage Tooth Structure
Similar to the myth that veneers will weaken your teeth, it is false that veneers will damage your tooth structure. Veneers are often used to repair your tooth structure and with so many uses of veneers, it is not surprising that they are often recommended as a solution to cover chips, cracks or other minor damage in teeth. Structure strengthening is a popular purpose of dental veneers and is another reason for their increasing popularity over the last twenty years.
Myth #8: Veneers Are Only for Cosmetic Purposes
Veneers are popularly used for cosmetic dentistry, but the benefits of veneers extend far past just cosmetic purposes. As discussed already, there are countless reasons someone may seek out veneers, to sum up, these could be:
- Enamel repair and restoration
- Closing small gaps between teeth
- Restoring structural integrity for teeth damaged by erosion, chips and cracking
- A non-invasive alternative to minor tooth decay
- Restore confidence in your person
There are a number of reasons why you might choose veneers aside from pure cosmetic reasons. But as a solution to a wide range of cosmetic dentistry concerns, no matter your interest in veneers, it is important to understand their range of uses and their accessibility to you.
