Am I a Candidate for Veneers?

Many people who desire a whiter, brighter smile consider porcelain veneers as an option. However with a variety of dental restoration treatments, it is important to find the option that is right for you and that you are best suited for. In order to be an ideal candidate for porcelain veneers, there are a few things you will want to know.

Dental veneers are porcelain shells that are individually made to look like your natural teeth. These shells are then adhered to the surface of existing teeth to correct the color and contour of your existing teeth. With that being said, an ideal candidate for dental veneers is someone who would like to improve the color or contour of their teeth.

Specifically speaking, the ideal candidate for veneers is someone who has minor cosmetic imperfections or severely stained teeth. It is also important for individuals considering veneers to have good oral health, sufficient tooth enamel, moderately straight teeth, no history of teeth grinding or clenching,  and who practice good oral hygiene.

Dental veneers are a great solution for individuals who have severely stained teeth and have tried whitening treatments before with no luck. Since whitening treatments have the best results on mild to moderately stained teeth, those with more severe stains are often not satisfied with the results. However, because dental veneers sit over the existing surface, they are able to improve the tooth’s color.

They can also improve the tooth’s contour. This is especially helpful for individuals who may have chipped, cracked, or broken teeth. This also works for mildly crooked teeth. Dental veneers will be placed and will even out damaged teeth, while also making crooked teeth appear straight.

However due to the nature that dental veneers are placed, there are a few prerequisites to ensure that they can function properly. The first is that the individual must be in good dental health. Dental issues like tooth decay, excess cavities, or gum disease impairs the teeth’s ability to act as a good foundation for the veneers. This is not to say that if you have a dental issue, you are immediately not a good candidate for dental veneers, however you may need to undergo restorative treatment to fix the issue before continuing the veneer process.

Another necessity to placing dental veneers is having enough tooth enamel. Without proper tooth enamel, the veneers will not successfully adhere to the existing teeth and this will negatively affect their functionality. Most dentists will not place veneers on insufficient tooth enamel for this reason.

It is also important to have moderately straight teeth with no history of teeth grinding or clenching. This is because a misaligned bite or teeth, and teeth grinding or clenching can put excess strain on the porcelain. Although porcelain is durable, it is not intended for this type of activity and the extra strain may cause it to crack.

Finally, the individual must practice good dental hygiene. This means brushing at least twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and visiting the dentist for a checkup and cleaning at least once every six months. It is important to keep the veneers, and the existing teeth they are adhered to, as clean and healthy as possible.