If you have Instagram or TikTok, you probably already know they are great indicators for the next big trend. Recently, it looks like the new cosmetic trend on Instagram and TikTok are veneers! Are you really surprised though? Porcelain veneers can greatly enhance any smile from correcting chipped teeth to even changing the alignment of your teeth! At Sugar Fix Dental Loft in Lakeview, Dr. Brittany Dickinson is an expert at transforming smiles with minimal preparation. This means healthy, strong teeth that look gorgeous! In this blog, we’ll discuss the ins and outs about veneers and debunking those TikTok rumors of the “peg tooth” preparations!
So what are veneers?
Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that have the same shine and sparkle of natural teeth. They are bonded right on your natural teeth changing a range of issues a person may have with their smile.
Veneers can change a lot about a person’s smile, here are a few examples on why people considered getting veneers done:
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Closing gaps in between teeth
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Rebuilding broken/worn down teeth
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Realigning teeth that are uneven or irregular
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Fixing chipped teeth
Can I just get composite bonding?
Composite bonding is just as great of an option for correcting people’s concerns along with veneers, but over the years, bonding will be more prone to replacing compared to veneers. While bonding is an excellent solution to enhance your smile, composite resin material will not last as long as a porcelain veneer. It’s also not as stain-resistant and is more susceptible to chipping.
Does that mean you have to pull out all my teeth? Are my teeth still there?
Yes! Your teeth are still there, but now they are more enhanced! You don’t have to pull any teeth out for veneers, but slightly roughening or shaving the surface of your teeth will be required.
Doesn’t that mean my teeth will be pegs? I see that on TikTok all the time!
The way of prepping veneers has changed significantly over the years. The “pegs” or “nubs” as we like to call them, are more of what we call at the dental office as crown preparations. While some “old-school” offices may still do this for veneers, Dr. Brittany Dickinson maintains the strength of your teeth and even reinforces them with minimal preparation (minimal shaving) veneers. Typically, porcelain veneers can be as thin as a contact lens, and bonded to the enamel of your teeth, which holds a much stronger bond.
Although roughening the teeth is necessary for this type of procedure, Dr. Brittany will know best and be as conservative as possible with prepping your teeth for your future smile.
Don’t veneers ruin your teeth?
Although the tooth surface does need to be roughened, porcelain veneers do not damage your teeth by any means. In fact, it protects your natural teeth from further damage. Fragile or worn down teeth risk further damage down the line. With veneers, the porcelain helps replace the years of damage and prevents further weakening of your teeth. Porcelain veneers act to reinforce and add that extra strength that your teeth have lost over time.
How long do veneers last?
Your veneers’ longevity depends on your lifestyle and home care to be quite frank. If you are a person who opens cans with your teeth, or bites your nails, etc. be aware that your veneers may not last as long as the person who doesn’t. A proper rule of thumb is anything you should not do with your natural teeth, do not do with your veneers!
With proper aftercare (like wearing a night guard at night, if recommended) and routine cleanings, you can see your veneers last many years.
I’m ready for veneers but how does this all work?
Here at Sugar Fix Dental Loft, we are dedicated to make sure each patient has a smile of their dreams in just 3-4 visits!
- We will start with a consultation, customized to your needs.
- We will take photos of your teeth and mouth, and if you are interested, Dr. Brittany will digitally mock up your perfect smile. Impressions will be taken and sent to our esthetic lab to mock up your smile.
- If needed, whitening your teeth to its optimum shade, will give you more predictable shade with your porcelain veneers.
- Then once we get your mock up from our lab, we will then prepare your teeth for the veneers. Dr. Brittany and staff will take more photos of your teeth and preps. They will also take impressions of your prepared teeth to send over to the lab. The benefit of your prep date is that you can walk out of the office with a version of what your porcelain veneers will look like! We call this the “trial smile”. We encourage our patients to let us know what changes they would like to make with their temporary smile to make sure that they are satisfied and informed throughout their treatment.
- Once we get your final porcelain veneers, you get to see them on before we bond them on permanently. If you love them just as much as we do, we will cement them on for you!
Are you ready for the smile of your dreams?
Schedule your consultation in Lakeview with us today to learn more!
