Have you been wanting to fix your teeth for a while, and heard a bit about dental veneers? Here is what you should know to decide if they are right for you or not. 

What Are Veneers?

Dental veneers are a thin layer of porcelain material that goes on the front surface of your teeth. It requires removing a small amount of enamel from the front surface of your teeth for the porcelain to attach to, which will cover up all the imperfections with your teeth. The end result can be stunning, with a transformation that looks like you have an entirely different set of teeth. 

There are also composite veneers, which are done by gluing a composite material to your teeth. The procedure is not as common as traditional veneers, but it helps reshape your teeth so they look much more presentable. This procedure doesn't involve removing part of the natural tooth in most situations, which can make it more appealing to the patient.

Should Anyone Get Veneers?

You may be surprised to learn that dental veneers are not always the right solution. Your dentist may actually recommend that you try other things, such as braces and teeth whitening to get your teeth looking how you want them to. If you do that and decide that you still are not happy with your teeth, your teeth will be in a good position to make you a candidate for dental veneers.

You may want to stay away from veneers if you constantly grind your teeth and put a lot of pressure on them when chewing. You should also avoid veneers if you are dealing with active decay on your teeth, as those problems need to be fixed before applying dental veneers.

Veneers work best when you have teeth that are misshapen and straightening them will not help. Veneers also help with discoloration that whitening does not fix. Chips, cracks, and fractures can also be hidden with dental veneers as well.

How Do You Know What The Veneers Will Look Like?

Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth, which is then sent to a lab to make a model of your dental veneers. You're actually able to preview that model and make modifications if necessary. Once you're happy with the veneers, your dentist will start preparing your teeth for the veneers so that they are ready to put the final veneers on. You'll receive temporary veneers to prepare until the final veneers are ready. 

Contact a cosmetic dentist for more information about dental veneers.