A bright, perfectly aligned smile can profoundly impact a person’s self-confidence and self-esteem. Unfortunately, dental chipping, misalignment, and discoloration can prevent otherwise healthy teeth from coming together in a beautiful smile.
Fortunately for these individuals, dental veneers offer an efficient and non-invasive path to a beaming and flawless smile!
What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are thin shells, custom-made (typically of dental porcelain or composite), that are bonded to the front surfaces of discolored, chipped, irregularly shaped, or misaligned teeth to enhance the appearance of a person’s smile. With proper care and strong oral hygiene habits, the expected lifespan for composite veneers is at least 10 years, with strong porcelain veneers lasting as long as 20 years.
It’s important to note that veneers are only a cosmetic solution and do not address tooth decay or gum disease underneath them. These underlying dental issues should always be addressed before veneer placement. Thus, it's important to consult with a dentist to determine if dental veneers are right for you.
What Problems Can Dental Veneers Fix?
Dental veneers help address a variety of dental issues, including:
- Severe staining or discoloration on the surfaces of teeth that are unresponsive to teeth whitening treatments
- Minor cracking or chipping on the surfaces of teeth
- Irregularly shaped teeth
- Large gaps between teeth
- Teeth that have been worn down due to excessive grinding (bruxism)
How to Care for Dental Veneers
Caring for dental veneers is essential to their longevity. Fortunately, this is as essential as maintaining good oral hygiene practices—twice-daily brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups. It’s also important that anyone with veneers refrain from biting on hard objects and using their teeth as tools, minimize their consumption of stain-causing foods and beverages, and wear a mouthguard during sports (and to bed if tooth grinding is an issue) to protect their veneers.
Precision Placed Dental Veneers in West Allis, WI
If you’re in the West Allis area and want to learn more about the cosmetic and functional benefits of precisely placed dental veneers, contact Dr. Roberto Monteagudo and the excellent Wisconsin Smiles team to schedule a consultation!