At Saginaw Dental, we do more than just promote the health of your teeth and gums. We also care about how confident you are in your smile. When you have aesthetic flaws like chips, gaps, and stains, it can be hard to find a reason to show off your pearly whites. That’s where veneers in Saginaw can come into play. These custom-made restorations can be fitted over your front teeth to essentially mask your cosmetic imperfections. If you’re ready to completely revamp your smile with veneers, don’t hesitate to give us a call!
Veneers are shells of durable dental porcelain that are custom-made to meet each and every patient’s individual smile needs. They are handcrafted in a lab by a skilled team of ceramists and are able to permanently conceal virtually any flaws in your teeth. Additionally, veneers are highly resistant to staining, meaning you can enjoy items like coffee, tea, and berries to your heart’s content without worrying about tarnishing your smile.
For smile flaws like chips, cracks, and severe stains, veneers are the perfect treatment, as they can be bonded to your teeth to give them the appearance of being naturally perfect. Even if you have minorly crooked or gapped teeth, you may be able to benefit from veneers. They can instantly correct uneven spaces and slightly misaligned teeth, earning them the nickname “instant orthodontics.”
However, before we place veneers, it’s crucial that your underlying teeth and gums are in good condition. This means that if you have any cavities or instances of gum disease, we must address those issues beforehand.
After your initial consultation with your cosmetic dentist in Saginaw, getting veneers takes just two appointments. The first phase of your treatment entails cleaning your teeth and removing a very thin layer of enamel. This will ensure your veneers lay flat and don’t bulge out in your smile. Then, impressions of your prepared teeth are taken and sent off to our partnered dental lab to create your permanent veneers. In the meantime, we can attach temporaries to your teeth. A few weeks later, you’ll return to our office and your veneers will be bonded in place with a special dental cement.
Veneers can easily last 10 years, or even longer if you properly take care of them. That involves:
When patients come in for their veneers consultation, they have all sorts of questions for our team – from if the process is painful to if they have to stop drinking coffee. So, we decided to answer some of the most frequently asked questions right here as well! Of course, if you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, you can still contact our Saginaw dental team to learn more as well.
Don’t worry – your mouth will be numbed for the veneer placement. As a result, you shouldn’t feel any discomfort during the treatment process. Once you return home, you might feel some soreness, but you can take an OTC pain reliever to alleviate it. As always, if you have any questions or are unsure if a symptom you’re feeling is normal, you can always give us a call. We’re here to help!
Yes, you can still drink coffee with veneers! We do recommend using a straw though. After all, while your veneers are resistant to dental discoloration, your natural teeth are not. That’s why taking proactive measures to keep your teeth white (i.e., brushing twice a day, not smoking, getting a dental cleaning twice a year) is essential.
There have been several studies done to answer this question. In 2012, there was one conducted by Beier that reported veneers lasted for 20 years 83% of the time, which is quite impressive! However, the longevity of your results rests largely on how well you take care of your smile. That’s another reason we encourage our patients to adopt good oral hygiene best practices, like brushing and flossing consistently.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. While one patient might want to fix a few chipped teeth, the next patient may want to completely transform the size, shape, and shade of each tooth. In other words, it really depends on what your specific aesthetic goals are! During your consultation, we will learn all about your dream smile and share if veneers are the best cosmetic dental treatment for you and, if they are, how many you’ll need.
Although you won’t have to completely alter your diet with veneers, there are a few foods we recommend exercising caution with. Hard candies, like lollipops, are a great example because they are packed with sugar and the tough exterior can easily chip one of your veneers. Instead, we encourage our patients to focus on finding foods that are smile-friendly and delicious, like fresh fruits, lean proteins, and cooked vegetables.