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Just as coffee, medication, or aging can stain your teeth over time, discolored teeth can drain your confidence—and your desire to smile. Porcelain veneers are one way to restore your teeth’s outer beauty. This fairly simple treatment fixes aesthetic issues such as teeth that are just a bit misaligned, chipped, or misshapen. Our experienced dentist in New Castle can assess your needs and discuss whether veneers are the right option for you.
What is a Porcelain Veneer?
Composed of thin ceramic layers that mimic natural tooth enamel, porcelain veneers essentially create a new outer shell for your tooth by adhering to a tooth’s outer surface. They’re as permanent as a filling or a crown and can cover a variety of cosmetic concerns:
- Color: Veneers can whiten your teeth, even ones especially stubborn to other whitening treatments. They come in a variety of natural-looking shades, so you can match the hue to your existing teeth or take them a step or two brighter.
- Size and shape: Veneers can make chipped teeth look like new again, or lengthen teeth that have been shortened because of tooth grinding (also called bruxism). They even can change the shape of your teeth to complement your features better if you’ve always thought your teeth were the wrong size or shape for your face.
- Spacing and alignment: If you don’t otherwise need braces, veneers can close small gaps between your teeth and make other minor adjustments in alignment.
Our dentist in New Castle can show you what your teeth will look like with veneers before any treatment starts. To apply veneers, the dentist first takes a mold of your teeth so the veneer has a custom fit and feels comfortable. Depending on the type of veneers used, the dentist might remove a small amount of your natural tooth enamel to ensure a good fit. But once they’re attached, veneers are virtually worry-free. They won’t stain, shift, or move around while you talk or eat, just give you a radiant smile.
How Is a Veneer Different from a Crown?
Both veneers and crowns improve the appearance of teeth dramatically by changing the shape or color. But where veneers are a cosmetic procedure and adheres only to a tooth’s front surface, a crown (sometimes called a cap) also restores a tooth’s function and covers an entire tooth down to the gums. A crown is best when the underlying tooth needs to have a damaged or decayed area removed. Crowns also are recommended for cosmetic and structural issues in back teeth because of the strong biting force between your molars.
How Long Do Veneers Last?
Veneers are a permanent option for improving the appearance of your teeth. As such, they could last several decades, depending on your lifestyle, proper care, and the brand used.
How Do I Care For Veneers?
Care for your veneers as you would your natural teeth, only with a gentle touch. Veneers can be quite strong, but we don’t recommend using veneer-covered teeth to bite into very hard foods, such as candy apples – or ripping open packages with these teeth. If you have an ongoing issue such as clenching or grinding your teeth, your dentist likely will recommend that you wear a custom-made night guard to protect your new smile while you sleep. Otherwise, just brush and floss your teeth gently each day.
Schedule a Consultation for Veneers in New Castle Today
If you have additional questions about whether veneers are right for you, our helpful staff is glad to set up an appointment for our dentist in New Castle to evaluate your smile.
Call us today at (302) 352-2321 or book an appointment online.
CareCredit
CareCredit is a healthcare credit card designed for your health and wellness needs. Pay for the costs of many treatments and procedures through convenient monthly payments.
