Porcelain Veneers: 5 questions answered

Porcelain Dental Veneers Costa Rica

Dental veneers are a cosmetic alternative that can help you achieve the bright smile you’ve always wanted. Each veneer is a thin wafer of porcelain that is permanently cemented over the front surface of your natural tooth.  Their purpose is to improve the appearance of your teeth through changes in their size, color, shape, and position. We love dental veneers because they are an excellent option, more conservative than some other procedures.  However, they demand skill and talent from your dentist. If you are considering veneers here are five things you should know.   

Can I have veneers over all my teeth?

Grosso modo, there are two types of teeth according to purpose. Front teeth, from canine to canine, have an esthetic purpose because they show when you smile. This does not mean they do not serve other purposes in your mouth, but this is paramount to others. Back teeth, molars and premolars, have a functional purpose, namely to chew. Since veneers do not have any functional purpose, they should be placed only over front teeth.

Am I a candidate for veneers?

Candidacy for dental veneers is not for everyone. Veneers are discouraged when there are bite problems like crossbites, overjets, or inverted bites, heavy bruxism damage, or severe misalignment. Porcelain veneers can close small gaps, correct discoloration, and slightly align teeth, but they are generally not an alternative to braces or invasive restorations. They are also not recommended over teeth that have fillings or root canals. In these cases, the full coverage of  crowns will work best.

How do veneers hold up?

Porcelain veneers hold up through adhesion. The dentist prepares the front surface of your tooth, removing a small layer of your enamel. This is done to prevent bulkiness and to increase retention. Veneers are then cemented permanently over this prepared tooth structure.

What are the risks of veneers? 

If your bite is less than ideal, veneers can chip or fracture due to chewing pressures. Another risk of veneers is that they are non reversible procedures. Once the dentist preps your front teeth you must commit to have veneers for the rest of your life. Now, each time you change your veneers your dentist must re-prep the surface, so this means after several changes your veneer can turn into a crown.

What is the cost for a dental veneer?

Even though veneers are a more conservative option than crowns because the dentist grinds less tooth structure, they do require more skill for a good result. This is the reason why they are often more expensive. In the United States, a veneer can hover over 1000$ each. Luckily, in Costa Rica you can find the perfect blend of talent and cost. Porcelain veneers can range between $300 and $5000 each. Now, it is important to remind these are porcelain, not resin. Resin veneers can be done chairside and can be used in more limited situations. Their cost is also inferior to porcelain.

Porcelain veneers can help you achieve an even, bright smile. If you are conscious of minor defects on your otherwise healthy teeth such as small gaps, discoloration, or unevenness in size or shape this is a great option for you. At the Costa Rica Dental Team our restorative dentists have great talent in esthetic procedures with both crowns and veneers. We encourage you to visit our before and after page to view the transformations they have completed.  In just a little over a week you too can get the beautiful smile you want. Have you decided to try Costa Rica? Contact us now to find out what’s next.

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