Porcelain veneers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

What is a Porcelain Veneer?

Composed of thin layers of thin dental porcelain that mimic tooth enamel, veneers actually adhere to the tooth’s surface, improving your smile’s appearance. They’re a good option to correct cosmetic issues in otherwise healthy teeth, such as:

• Size and shape: A chipped tooth can make you feel out of sorts, especially with a job interview, family gathering, or milestone event like a wedding on the horizon. But once a veneer covers the front of that tooth, it’s secure and comfortable. No one will know it’s there except you and your dentist. Veneers also can lengthen teeth that have been shortened because of tooth grinding, or bruxism. If you’ve always thought your teeth looked too big, too small, too square, or too round for your face, veneers even can change their overall shape to enhancing your features better.
• Tooth Color: Coffee, tea, tobacco products, aging, and even certain medications all can contribute to our teeth looking dingy, yellow, or discolored. If traditional whitening treatments haven’t given you the results you want – or if you have one tooth that’s particularly stubborn to such treatments – veneers can make your teeth naturally bright again. But why stop there? Veneers come in a variety of shades, so you can even go a bit brighter.
• Alignment and spacing: Don’t worry about wearing braces, especially if you’re beyond your teen years, to correct small gaps in your smile. Porcelain veneers can fix those gaps that can make you feel self-conscious, as well as other minor adjustments in your tooth alignment.

Our veneers dentist in Fort Lauderdale can assess your individual needs and discuss whether veneers are right for you. If you decide to get veneers, the dentist first will take a mold of your teeth to ensure a custom fit. Depending on the brand and type of veneers used, the dentist might have to reduce a small amount of your natural tooth’s enamel (less than 1 mm of the surface). But adding veneers to your teeth is painless. Once in place, a veneer won’t move or stain. It should feel and look as natural as the rest of your teeth.

How Is a Veneer Different from a Crown?

Like a filling or a crown, a veneer is permanent. Both veneers and crowns adhere to the underlying tooth structure, are made from the same material, and can change the shape and color of teeth, improving their overall look.

But a crown, sometimes called a “cap,” fits over the entire tooth down to the gums. A veneer covers only the front surface. Because of how they’re applied, crowns often are preferred if you’ve lost a lot of tooth structure because of decay, age, trauma, or grinding your teeth. A dentist must remove more of a tooth’s exterior enamel for a crown to fit properly.

A crown actually helps strengthen a tooth once cemented in place. Crowns also are a good choice for molars with structural or cosmetic issues because crowns are stronger under the greater amount of bite force that your back teeth use.

How Long Do Veneers Last?

Barring any accidents to your teeth, veneers should keep your smile looking bright and beautiful for years to come. Just be mindful not to use your teeth to open bottles, bags, or other items, and remember to brush and floss daily.

What Are Lumineers^®?

Lumineers are a specific brand of veneers. Because they’re known for being ultra-thin, they require little to no reduction in the surface enamel of your natural tooth. They’re also highly translucent and look as natural as they feel. Yet they’re quite durable – they can last more than 20 years!

How Do I Care For Veneers?

For the most part, you’ll care for your veneers as you would your natural teeth: by brushing and flossing daily. But to protect your veneers from an underlying issue such as tooth clenching or grinding, your dentist might suggest that you wear a custom-made night guard.

If you have veneers on your front teeth, you’ll also want to be careful about biting into certain hard foods such as candy apples.

Schedule a Consultation for Veneers in Fort Lauderdale Today

Have additional questions about whether veneers are right for you? Give our friendly staff a call at (954) 302-7410 to set up an appointment. We’re happy to assist you.