Are You an Ideal Candidate for Porcelain Veneers - Dental Care Info

Porcelain veneers are a good option for many people who want to improve their smiles in a number of different ways. However, it is also an expensive option, which is sometimes not feasible for the problems you may have. If you aren’t sure what it takes to make you an ideal candidate for porcelain veneers, here are some of the features to consider.

Sometimes teeth have had extensive dental work and you may have a number of cavities and fillings. White fillings become discolored over time just like teeth do but not necessarily the same color. Veneers are a good way to cover up fillings and stains and create the illusion of perfectly healthy teeth.

In some cases, if a lot of the tooth has been lost from decay, a dental crown may be a better option. Porcelain veneers will add strength to teeth but not enough to make up for those that have lost a lot of their structure. Individuals with periodontal disease are not candidates, either. You must be successfully treated for any gum disease before you can be considered a viable candidate for veneers.

You need to have the enamel on your teeth reasonably intact before you will be a good candidate for having porcelain veneers applied. If you have already had excessive dental bonding applied to the tooth or your teeth have an unusual amount of wear, the dentist will not be able to successfully bond the veneers to the teeth.

Bruxism, or tooth grinding, will prevent you from being a good candidate for porcelain veneers, as well. Grinding can cause the veneers to chip or break. Once the veneer is broken, it cannot be reapplied and must be replaced with a new one. Since the enamel of the tooth is altered in order to apply the veneers in the first place, the tooth will no longer be presentable without the veneer.

Due to the treatment of the tooth before the veneers are placed, it is considered a permanent procedure. For the right candidate, this is the ideal answer to improve their smile. However, for the wrong candidate, porcelain veneers may only lead to the development of other problems.