How to Compare Dental Veneers

While the first generations of dental veneers were temporary and tended to fall off at any given time, veneers today offer a quick and painless solution to a number of cosmetic dental issues.

Function

• Dental veneers are a great option when it comes to improving the appearance of your teeth. A dental veneer is a thin piece of material that is shaped and molded to custom-fit a tooth. Veneers are used to close gaps between teeth, cover stained teeth, and correct the appearance of crooked and oddly shaped teeth. You can have just one tooth covered with a veneer or you can have multiple teeth covered.

Types

• Two types of materials are available for making dental veneers: composite resin and porcelain. Composite resin veneers are made from a tooth-colored plastic material, and are the less expensive and quicker option. Their life expectancy is 5 to 7 years and they can be made right in your dentist's office. Porcelain veneers are more durable and last much longer than composite resin veneers. They are less prone to staining and cost significantly more than composite resin veneers. Porcelain veneers are made in a laboratory rather than in the dentist's office, so the time frame for production and placement is longer.

Benefits

• Relative to other dental procedures, veneers require less time and fewer visits to your dentist's office. Veneers are minimally invasive, require no recovery time, and can be used to fix multiple problems simultaneously, such as chipped and discolored teeth.

Warning

• To place the veneer properly, your tooth will be reshaped slightly with a file. This renders the procedure irreversible. Also, although the procedure shouldn't be painful, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry recommends using an anesthetic while having veneers placed to ensure maximum comfort during the procedure.