Unfortunately, your teeth aren’t indestructible. No matter how well you take care of them, they will eventually wear down. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to sit there and let everything happen. We here at the Shallowford Family Dental Group can help you out by designing dental veneers for you.
But what exactly are veneers? If you’ve always wanted to know the answer to this question, then we’ve got just the thing for you. We’ve prepared a brief explainer on dental veneers and how they can help you. If this is something that you want to learn more about, read on as we break down everything you need to know about dental veneers.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Veneers are dental prosthetics designed to help people achieve the look they desire for their teeth. There are a slew of different reasons why people get veneers. Some people need veneers because they’ve chipped their teeth while other people use veneers to cover up gaps that start to form between their teeth.
There are two types of veneers that are widely used: porcelain and composite resin. Each type has unique advantages and disadvantages attached to them:
Porcelain veneers are made with dental porcelain. The most significant advantage attached to porcelain veneers is how closely they resemble a person’s natural teeth. Porcelain is also stain-resistant, which makes it a great overall choice. One downside to using porcelain veneers is that they are pretty susceptible to chipping. If you opt for porcelain veneers, we recommend being extra careful when eating hard food.
Composite resin veneers are significantly less expensive than their porcelain counterparts. While they don’t match the color of your natural teeth, dentists can get the color pretty close. The main downside to composite resin veneers is that they need to be replaced every five to seven years.
How Long Do Dental Veneers Last?
The lifespan of veneers is dependent on the type of veneers you get. As we’ve already mentioned composite resin veneers last around five to seven years. On the other hand, porcelain veneers last significantly longer as they usually can last 10 to 15 years. Now, it’s important to note that the lifespan of your veneers will also heavily depend on how you take care of them.
What’s the Best Way to Care for Dental Veneers?
To extend the lifespan of your veneers, it would be wise to practice good oral hygiene. This means regularly brushing your teeth, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash. Aside from being diligent with your oral hygiene, dentists also recommend avoiding food and beverages that can end up staining your veneers. Here are a couple of things you’ll want to avoid:
- Coffee
- Dark sodas
- Red wine
- Tea
- Dark juices (cranberry, grape, tomato)
- Beets
- Dark chocolate
- Tomato sauce
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped further your understanding of dental veneers. Despite how common they are, there are many misconceptions that surround this extremely useful prosthetic device. If you have any more questions regarding dental veneers, it would be best to speak with your trusted dentist as they will be able to further elaborate on the information that we’ve provided here.
If you’re looking for a dentist in Chattanooga to help you with your veneers, Shallowford Family Dental is the way to go. We’re rated number one when it comes to general and cosmetic dentistry. Contact us to book an appointment!