(217) 546-3333Veneers in Springfield
Some problems in life just can’t be fixed. Fortunately, an unsightly smile is not one of them. Cosmetic dentistry offers several ways to enhance your smile. One of the most popular and effective is veneers. With these, stains on a tooth, a chipped or broken tooth, even teeth that are worn down or irregularly spaced can be remade to look natural and attractive. Any combination of these cosmetic flaws disappears behind veneers.
What are Veneers?
Veneers have been a part of cosmetic dentistry for many years. Today, the materials used are so lifelike, you might not even be able to tell the difference between teeth that have veneers and your natural teeth.
In simple terms, veneers are ultra-thin coverings of dental porcelain that one of your Springfield dentists adhesively bonds to the front of teeth that show when you smile. Veneers are custom designed and handcrafted. This way, each one is built to fit a specific tooth. Your teeth will not look like they’re made of identical blocks of porcelain. Instead, you’ll have a new smile that is naturally attractive and functions well.
What Can Veneers Help With?
Veneers can hide many different types of smile imperfections. In fact, veneers have a nickname—instant orthodontics. They don’t have anything to do with braces, but they can be used to make a slightly crooked tooth look straight. Other imperfections that veneers conceal include:
- Chipped, cracked and broken teeth
- Teeth that are misshaped
- Teeth that are too small
- Teeth with wide gaps between them
The Benefits of Veneers
Simply put, there are numerous benefits that come with veneers! Some of the most noteworthy ones include:
- Quick results – Since the entire treatment process can be completed in three visits or less, you won’t have to wait more than a few weeks to achieve your smile goals.
- Fix multiple imperfections at once – Whether you’re unhappy with your smile due to a small flaw, like a chip on your front tooth, or pigmented discoloration that’s more evident, veneers can help.
- Longevity – If you care for your teeth and your veneers properly, they can last for over two decades.
- Stain-resistant – Unlike your enamel, the materials used to craft veneers are stain-resistant. So, you won’t have to give up coffee or any other dark-colored beverages!
- Versatility – If you have one imperfect tooth, you can use veneers to transform your smile. If you want to fix 10+ teeth, you can use veneers to transform your smile.
How Do I Get Veneers?
Although the process is rather straightforward, the dentist takes great care in order to get all of your “smile details” just right. First, you’ll come in for a consultation and examination. You and the dentist will discuss what you’d like to change about your smile. Then, he will examine your teeth and gums to make sure you are enjoying good oral health overall. This is essential to the success of your veneers.
Then, we’ll take a series of X-rays, photographs and measurements of your mouth. Along with your personal preferences, these will guide the dentist as he designs your new smile.
The process of placing veneers typically requires two appointments. At the first, your teeth are prepped. The dentist needs to slightly reduce the size of your teeth in order make room for the veneers. A slim layer of enamel is removed—about the same thickness as a veneer. Once this is done, you’ll wear a temporary set of acrylic veneers. These protect your prepared teeth, and they will also give you some time to get used to what veneers feel like before the permanent ones are bonded into place.
When your permanent veneers are ready, you’ll return to Advanced Dental Care of Springfield to have them bonded to your teeth. Brush and floss as usual, schedule regular dental checkups and use a little extra care when you eat; try to avoid biting hard foods and other objects with your veneers. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful smile your veneers provide for many years!
Understanding the Cost of Veneers
When you first encounter the cost of veneers, you might be a little bit put off by the price tag. However, if you look up cheap veneers, you’ll be able to see why the good ones spare no expense.
The investment you make into your veneers are sure to pay off dividends, but we still want to make sure that paying for treatment is as pain-free as possible. Here are a few things for you to keep in mind.
Veneers VS Other Cosmetic Treatments
For one, it’s worth noting that veneers aren’t the only thing out there if you’re trying to improve your smile. While they’re undeniably effective, there are other cosmetic procedures at other price points.
If you want to repair small imperfections, direct bonding is an inexpensive way to do so. If the color of your teeth is more your concern, then teeth whitening is a treatment that’s on the affordable side.
However, if you want to completely alter the color and shape of your smile, as well as address any misalignment you may have, veneers are the best option. They can do all of these things at once in as little as two appointments.
How to Make Veneers Affordable
As you may know, veneers aren’t used to deal with oral health problems—they’re considered to be a purely elective procedure, and as a result, most dental plans won’t cover them.
Thankfully, we have financing services that make funding your dental care easier and more convenient than ever. We work often with CareCredit, Sunbit and Prima Healthcredit, each of which offer ways for patients to break the cost of dentistry into affordable payments.
Explain that veneers are not covered by dental insurance but there are other options available to help make the cost budget-friendly.
Veneer FAQs
Veneers can completely change the way that you look to others, and to some extent, how you feel about yourself. While that can be incredibly liberating for people, it’s also natural to be a little bit apprehensive about what that kind of treatment is going to look like, and what to expect from the procedure.
If you have questions, don’t worry—we’ll take the time to talk to you about any concerns you may have. If you want to learn more about what veneers could offer you, here are answers to a few of the questions you may have.
What Happens to the Teeth Under Veneers?
While veneers are wafer-thin, they’re just thick enough that if you put them on unaltered teeth, they’ll stick out a little bit. For that reason, it’s necessary to remove a tiny portion of enamel in order for the veneers to look completely natural.
Fortunately, the amount of enamel necessary to remove is minimal, and shouldn’t affect the overall health of your teeth. However, you will need to replace your veneers if you ever break them in order for them to continue protecting your teeth.
Will I Still Be Able to Drink Coffee with Veneers?
Veneers are made of porcelain, which is non-porous and much more resistant to stains than your natural enamel. As a consequence, your teeth are much less likely to become discolored as a consequence of drinking coffee.
However, veneers aren’t stain-proof, and will darken eventually. Their being stain-resistant can also be a double-edged sword, as it could potentially create a contrast between your dental work and your natural teeth. For those reasons, you may still want to avoid coffee if you want your smile to look its best.
Can Veneers Be Used for Bite Corrections?
Veneers can change how your teeth look, which does make it possible for them to change the alignment of your teeth or your bite. If you have an open bite, for example, veneers can potentially make your teeth larger so that they meet correctly.
However, because veneers don’t involve actually moving your teeth, they’re limited in what they can do for your bite. You may need much more significant orthodontic intervention if you have a severely misaligned bite.
Can You Whiten Veneers?
While veneers being non-porous means that they’re resistant to stains, the opposite is also true—it’s not possible to whiten them. As a consequence, if you don’t take care of them, they’ll only slowly get darker with time. If you want them to get whiter, you’ll have to replace them entirely.
If you are interested in teeth whitening, the best move is to get the whitening treatment before getting the veneers and get the restorations to match.