Dental veneers are a type of dental fixture that is placed over the front of a patient’s teeth to improve the appearance of their smile. Veneers are an effective way to improve the aesthetic qualities of one’s teeth. Below, we answer the question: will my veneers look unnatural?
However, many patients worry that veneers and other types of artificial dental fixtures may stick out and appear unnatural. Fortunately, modern dentistry has progressed to the point that veneers appear quite life-like nowadays.
If you’re thinking about getting veneers installed and are worried if your porcelain veneers will look unnatural, take a look at this guide that can help assuage your worries surrounding this fantastic dental procedure.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are custom-made artificial shells that are placed over a patient’s natural teeth. The purpose of dental veneers is to improve the aesthetic appearance of one’s teeth. They are able to hide many imperfections that might be present in one’s natural teeth.
Will My Veneers Look Unnatural?
There is some concern among patients that dental veneers will appear unnatural, primarily due to the worry that they will appear unnaturally white or clean compared to one’s average smile. However, this worry is often exaggerated, as modern dentistry allows for a great deal of precision in terms of matching installed dental veneers to a patient’s natural teeth.
There are several steps taken in this regard to ensure that veneers blend in naturally with the natural teeth of a patient, including the following:
- Color matching: Prior to the installation of your veneers, your physician will take a sample of your teeth to observe the shades of color present in your natural teeth. They will then color-match your veneers to your real teeth.
- Material quality: Choosing suitable materials for your veneers can help to ensure that they have a natural appearance. High-quality porcelain veneers are considered the industry standard for mimicking the appearance of natural teeth.
- Teeth shape: Your dentist will customize the shape of your dental veneers to match the subtleties present in your natural teeth. This is one of the most critical steps for ensuring that they appear similar to one’s natural teeth.
- Placement technique: On top of the above techniques, the expertise and skill of your dentist will also determine how natural your dental veneers appeal at the end of the day. Properly installing one’s dental veneers and using essential bonding techniques are both necessary for achieving a natural appearance in an installation.
Types of Dental Veneers
Several different types of dental veneers are available. Which one you select will have a significant impact on the appearance of your overall results:
- Porcelain veneers: Porcelain veneers are the most common type of dental veneer and are considered the industry standard. These veneers are custom-made to match the appearance of one’s teeth. Prior to installing this type of veneer, some enamel will be removed from the surface layer or your teeth to enable the installation of the artificial outer shell.
- No-prep veneers: No-prep veneers are considered a less invasive option in terms of selecting veneers. This is due to the fact that this type of veneer requires less initial enamel removal to install.
- Removable veneers: Removable veneers are akin to a retainer, and can be removed from the mouth at any time. Removable veneers are a more casual option for those who are interested in having veneers but don’t necessarily need them to cover the teeth at all times. Removable veneers are the newest type of dental veneer that has been developed.
You will be able to discuss with your dentist which type of dental veneer would work best for your situation. Most patients who go in for a consultation will find that traditional porcelain veneers will fit their needs.
What Issues Can Dental Veneers Fix?
Dental veneers are highly useful for addressing several different common aesthetic issues of the teeth. Some of the following issues can be fixed using dental veneers:
- Permanently stained teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Broken teeth
- Diastema (gaps in the smile)
- Teeth that are unevenly shaped
- Small teeth
Dental veneers are only effective if there is a lack of more severe oral health issues at play. If a patient is suffering from extensive tooth decay or gum disease, they may not qualify for the installation of dental veneers.
The Best Dentist in Desert Hot Springs
Shodhan Dentistry is the most trusted dentist in the Desert Hot Springs area. If you’re interested in discussing plans for installing porcelain veneers, give our office a call today to talk about your treatment options.
