Are Porcelain Veneers Right for Me? By N. Perry Orchard on May 26, 2015

There are many factors that play a role in the appearance of your smile. The color, shape, size, and alignment of your teeth can enhance - or detract from - your overall appearance. If you wish to improve just one of these features, or all of them at the same time, you may be a good candidate for porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are tooth-shaped fabrications that fit over the front of your teeth to hide imperfections. Unlike braces, which improve the alignment of teeth, or whitening, which brightens the teeth, veneers mask dental flaws rather than correcting them. At Robertson and Orchard, DDS, Dr. Charles A. Robertson and Dr. Nicholas Perry Orchard can examine your mouth and determine if veneers are well suited to your needs. To learn more about porcelain veneer candidates, contact our Corpus Christi practice today.

Mild Misalignment

If you have mild misalignment issues, such as a twisted tooth, gaps between teeth, or crowding, veneers may be able to create a more uniform and straight appearance. To achieve this improved appearance, our dentists will remove some tooth enamel from the treated teeth. This is done to create a good bonding surface for the veneers, but it also serves another important purpose in cases of misalignment. The teeth will be slightly reshaped so the veneers do not appear bulky and sit flush within the mouth.

Tooth Shape

Some patients have a misshaped tooth, either due to injury or genetics. In these cases, we can fabricate a veneer that extends the length or width of the tooth to bring it into proportion with surrounding teeth.

Tooth Size

The size of the teeth can affect the appearance of the smile. For example, many patients wish to lengthen their teeth to create better proportions within the mouth. If you feel that some of your teeth are too large in comparison to surrounding teeth, we can fabricate veneers in a slightly larger size for the smaller teeth. In addition, if you feel that some teeth are too narrow, we can make them appear wider by designing the veneers to a more ideal width.

Tooth Color

Some patients have deep-set, intrinsic stains that do not respond to teeth whitening. In these cases, the best solution is to mask the teeth with porcelain veneers. You veneers can be made in a bright shade of white to create a more dazzling smile.

Other Considerations

To be a good candidate for porcelain veneers, patients should have good oral health. If we identify the signs of decay or gum disease during your consultation, we will create a treatment plan to address these problems before we approve you for veneers treatment.

Patients who undergo treatment should be aware that this treatment is not reversible. This means that you will need to wear veneers for the rest of your life. When your first set of veneers wears down, which typically takes 10 to 15 years, you will need to undergo replacement treatment.

If you suffer from bruxism, veneers may not be right for you unless you commit to wearing a mouth guard at night to protect your teeth.

To schedule your porcelain veneers consultation, contact Robertson and Orchard, DDS.