Dental Veneers?

My dentist suggested veneers as one method of tooth whitening.





One question that came to mind was tooth color can really be affected by what you eat.





Since most teeth are naturally stained and I drink a lot of coffee, if I got veneers, wouldn't they just get stained over time as well.





What would therefore be the point of getting veneers considering what I read about them included that you have to have your teeth shaved down slightly to install the veneers and that this process really is a permanent one.

Dental Veneers?
I have veneers on my upper teeth (the front 10), had the first 6 done about 15 years ago, and I feel qualified to answer your question.





I first read about veneers while waiting in the dentist's waiting room, and the brochure said 'ask your dentist what veneers can do for you'. So, I did. He said veneers would be wonderful, so I went for it (the front 6). My own teeth weren't THAT bad, but they weren't movie star either, so I thought it would be great. What I didn't realize was that they jackhammer the enamel off of your teeth first, I guess I had the idea the veneers would pop on the way false fingernails do. The veneers were WAY too white and didn't match the teeth around them, and they were too thick and square. They looked awful. A year later I got them replaced with veneers that were a better color, and got my natural teeth reduced so they didn't end up so thick-looking. Last year I got the 6 replaced with nicer veneers yet, plus another 4 teeth so the entire top is done.


Problems with my veneers: the shape of my top teeth don't coordinate with the shape of my bottom teeth; the color of my top teeth are whiter than my bottom teeth (even though I was aware of shade problems, I still ended up with a color difference).


Your veneers will break if you chew your fingernails. Take my word.


This dental work has cost me a fortune over time. Would I do it again? No, my real teeth weren't that bad. Braces/whitening would have been cheaper, and it wouldn't need to be redone. And veneers don't stain like the rest of your teeth, so you will need to keep whitening your natural teeth if you want them to match.
Reply:All-porcelain restorations are the latest, most natural looking application of the art and science of cosmetic dentistry. Porcelain veneers or full porcelain crowns are generally the esthetic restorations crafted for patients that you see on make-over shows. The process enables the dentist to close spaces, visually rotate teeth, and give the appearance and function of a natural smile.





For decades dentists have had materials available that create a durable bond to tooth enamel. Porcelain veneer techniques utilize these bonding capabilities to securely affix a thin sheet of porcelain (the porcelain veneer) to the front of a tooth or to bond a full-coverage porcelain crown into place. The most effective and appropriate type of porcelain restoration can only be determined after clinical examination.





Although porcelain itself is inherently brittle, when it is firmly bonded to a sturdy substructure (a tooth) it becomes very strong and durable. One property of the tooth's enamel covering is that it is translucent in its undamaged natural state. The translucent property is an important component that gives teeth their characteristic appearance. Porcelain veneers and crowns, because of their glass-like translucency, are esthetically superior to other types of cosmetic dental bonding. When bonded onto a tooth's surface the porcelain mimics the characteristics of natural, unadulterated enamel. This translucency provides a sense of depth and thus a very natural appearance.





The main disadvantage being the cost $1200 per tooth, and the insurance won't cover it. However, attractive options have become available in travelling to less costly countries like Thailand, India, Dubai, Singapore, etc. where it costs $200-250 per tooth. You may also explore internet to search for something like Hollywood dream smile dentists in India, etc.
Reply:Veneers are a very acceptable and nice way to solve whitening issues as well as minor orthodontic issues. Veneers will not stain so that would not be a future problem and if you are worried about prepping your teeth ask your dental professional about prepless veneers (lumineers).