Dental veneers are a popular method of transforming your smile. With this versatile treatment option, you can enhance the appearance of a single tooth or undergo a complete smile makeover with teeth that are whiter, straighter, and overall more aesthetically pleasing. Dr. Diana Tadros—our Fort Lauderdale cosmetic dentist—offers both composite resin and porcelain veneers to help her patients achieve the dramatic smile makeovers they desire.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Veneers are thin covers that are placed over the teeth to improve their appearance. This can cover issues like stains, chips, gaps, or uneven spaces. Many patients choose veneers if they’re unsatisfied with the overall shape or size of their teeth, opting for veneers for a more proportionate look.
Veneers are available in both porcelain or composite resin, which each have their own pros and cons. Our cosmetic dentist, Dr. Diana Tadros, will recommend which option is best for you based on your cosmetic preferences, dental health, and other factors.
What Are the Benefits of Veneers?
Dental veneers offer numerous benefits for patients seeking smile enhancement, including:
- Concealment of tooth chips, cracks, and stains
- Closure of gaps or spaces between the teeth
- Aesthetic improvement of mild tooth misalignment—sometimes called “instant orthodontics”
- Lengthening of short or worn teeth
- Reshaping of the teeth for a more uniform smile
- Long-lasting, natural looking results
- Durable and comfortable smile enhancement
- A quick, minimally-invasive treatment process
Smile Trial – Designing Custom Veneers
Veneers require a lot of skills and artistry from Dr. Tadros as well as from the lab and ceramist. At Beauty and the Teeth, we design your smile digitally and will have you in what we like to call a “trial smile” provisional that allows us to tweak the design before the final veneers are made. This helps to ensure that your final results are exactly what you’re looking for.
Who Is a Candidate for Veneers?
A majority of people who are interested in transforming their smile can benefit from veneers. Unfortunately, however, not everyone is a candidate. Before choosing veneers, your teeth and gums must be in good health. This is crucial to ensure that the teeth support the veneers over time. In addition, those who clench or grind their teeth may not be well suited to veneers, which can chip or break. Finally, you should be 100% certain that you want to choose veneers before having them placed, because the procedure requires removing a small amount of tooth enamel, making veneers permanent. For patients who have reservations about enamel removal, less invasive treatments such as teeth whitening or cosmetic dental bonding may provide good alternatives.
What Is the Procedure Like for Dental Veneers?
The process of getting veneers is much less invasive than other options such as porcelain crowns or caps. First, Dr. Tadros will remove a very small amount of tooth enamel from the front and sides of the teeth to make room for the new veneers. Then, a digital impression of the teeth is taken so your veneers can be custom fit to your teeth. At this stage, Dr. Tadros will select a shade that looks natural but still meets your cosmetic goals and fits your teeth with temporary veneers if necessary. The impressions are sent to a lab to create custom porcelain or composite veneers. Once your permanent veneers are ready to be placed, Dr. Tadros will make any necessary adjustments according to your Smile Trial and make sure the veneers fit perfectly before bonding them to the teeth.
How Long Do Veneers Last?
Both porcelain and composite veneers are made of durable, high-quality materials. When expertly applied by a cosmetic dentist like Dr. Tadros, they can last for many years—or even over a decade. In general, porcelain veneers last for around 10-15 years, while composite veneers last around 5-8 years. Both treatments are designed to be strong and stain resistant to ensure maximal longevity.
How Do I Care for My Dental Veneers?
Veneers are designed to look and feel natural, and they can generally be cared for in the same way as regular teeth. Blushing and flossing at least twice daily and attending your regularly scheduled dental visits is typically sufficient for keeping your veneers in good condition. Dr. Tadros also recommends that patients avoid using their teeth to open packaging and to exercise caution when consuming particularly hard or pitted foods, such as nuts or cherries, to avoid accidental damage to the veneers.
Schedule an Appointment for Dental Veneers
To learn whether veneers are right for you and to see how beautiful your smile can be, schedule an appointment with Dr. Tadros at Beauty and the Teeth. Call our Fort Lauderdale office or contact us online.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can you sleep with veneers?
Veneers are permanently attached to the teeth. This means that you can do anything you might normally do with natural teeth, including sleeping.
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Can veneers fall off?
Veneers can fall off on very rare occasions. This is not common. It is important to have a Board Certified Cosmetic Dentist with advanced training plan your case and assess your bite prior to treatment to avoid these mishaps.
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Do veneers make your teeth look bigger?
Veneers can make your teeth look bigger or smaller depending on what your goals are cosmetically as well as what your bite can accommodate. At Dr. Tadros’ practice all patients are digitally designed and are able to preview their smile digitally prior to treatment.
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Are veneers permanent?
Veneers are permanently attached to the teeth, however, their life span can vary depending on the planning and bite/grinding habits.
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Do veneers feel like real teeth?
Veneers should feel the same as natural teeth. Often times we can remove little to no tooth structure to allow the veneers to fit comfortably and feel natural.
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What are the requirements for veneers?
In order to be a good candidate for veneers, you must have a comprehensive exam to determine if veneers are the best option for your cosmetic goals. Often times, bondings or whitening can achieve similar goals.
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How long does it take to get veneers done?
The process of getting veneers, from your initial consultation to final placement of the veneers, typically takes about three weeks to complete. During your consultation, Dr. Tadros can explain what you can expect.
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How often do veneers have to be replaced?
Veneers should be replaced if they show signs of chipping or cracking. On average, this occurs about every 15-20 years.
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What happens to teeth under veneers?
The teeth under your veneers will have some enamel removed in order to accommodate a comfortable fit. This can make them susceptible to decay without proper care, so seeing your dentist regularly is crucial.
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What is the process of getting porcelain veneers?
Veneers are completed in a few visits to ensure that the results are optimal. During your first visit, records will be taken to digitally design your new smile. Once you return, you will have the chance to preview and try on your smile before starting the process. The teeth will then be prepared for your new restorations and you will leave with a “trial smile”. Your temporaries will be carefully evaluated to ensure all aspects meet your expectations prior to the permanent veneers being fabricated. Then, the custom veneers will be placed over the teeth and permanently bonded in place during your last appointment.
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Do you have to brush your teeth with veneers?
It is important to brush your teeth with veneers just as you would your natural teeth. You should use a non-abrasive toothpaste that does not contain ingredients such as baking soda to avoid damaging your veneers.
