If you end up getting gum disease or tooth decay or something that wreaks havoc on your smile, there are various cosmetic dentistry surgeries that you can undergo in order to replace those missing teeth. Among others, a type of procedure that can be done is to get porcelain veneers placed over your existing teeth. You don’t have to remove your teeth in order to put them on. In fact, it’s better if you do not. Veneers are very popular in cosmetic dentistry. These can be put over discolored teeth to enhance your teeth but there are risks and problems involved with this. So, are they really worth it? Here are some pros and cons to getting veneers put in your mouth.
Pros
- Veneers do a great job of improving your smile. If you have chipped teeth or they have become malformed or discolored past the point of being able to be whitened, they’re a great option for natural looking, white teeth.
- Veneers can be done in as little as two visits. The whole process is not very complicated or painful and doesn’t require a long recovery period. It’ll all be over after about two weeks.
- The material that is used on veneers is porcelain. Porcelain is great for veneers because it doesn’t stain and has the look of real, natural teeth.
- Veneers have actually been found to help your natural teeth get stronger. The bond between the veneer and the natural tooth is extremely strong and helps aid a true makeover.
- There is minimal preparation needed in order to get the procedure one.
- There are actually various different colors that you can choose from. Some people do not like the bright white veneers because they look to fake. Others get veneers simply to have that bright white look. It just depends on each person’s preference and desires.
- The best thing about veneers is that they can make people feel a lot more confident about themselves. When you have problems with your teeth, it’s easy to feel self conscious and paranoid about them.
Cons
- In some cases, the teeth have to be shaped to fit the veneers properly. This means that the procedure cannot be reversed. Once it’s done, that’s it, there’s no going back.
- They can be very expensive and don’t even last your entire life. Veneers usually have to be replaced after about 15 or 20 years, sometimes sooner depending on how they are taken care of.
- Depending on the type of procedure you get done, you may have to have a layer of enamel removed which can be even more damaging on your teeth. This can make your teeth sensitive to excessive hot or cold drinks and foods.
- They’re definitely an artificial solution. For someone that wants a more natural answer to their problem, veneers probably aren’t for them.
- Veneers are extremely expensive as is a lot of cosmetic dentistry. Just one veneer can range anywhere between $1,000 to $5,000. When you add up all of the teeth that you want to have covered by veneers, the final cost can be more than one person can afford.
- Porcelain is pretty durable but it’s not impervious to all damage. Chipping and breakage can still happen. Teeth grinding and hard foods can cause just as much damage to veneers as they would regular, natural teeth.
Perhaps engaging in good habits like brushing and flossing your teeth daily would help you to have better oral health and not even need to consider the veneers. Of course, cosmetic dentistry is no only for when you have tooth and gum issues. You can get it done just because you want your teeth to look nicer. However, consider the above points and see if it is really worth the trouble for you to do this. There may be some easier things that you can do at home. Your best bet is to make sure that you are brushing twice a day and flossing at least once. You should also be visiting your dentist twice a year to make sure that you are preventing any possible problems. Start your children in these habits when they are young and they won’t have to worry about any kinds of surgeries.