Porcelain veneers in Miami, Florida

What is a Porcelain Veneer?

Composed of thin ceramic layers that mimic natural tooth enamel, porcelain veneers adhere to a tooth’s outer surface, restoring and improving the beauty of your smile. They’re as permanent as a filling or a crown and can cover a variety of imperfections, such as:

Color: Veneers can brighten teeth, even ones especially stubborn to other whitening treatments. They come in a variety of natural-looking shades, so you can match the hue to your existing teeth or take them a step or two brighter.

Size and shape: Veneers can make chipped teeth look like new again, lengthen teeth that have been shortened because of tooth grinding (also called bruxism), and fix other similar issues. If you’ve always thought your teeth looked too square, too round, too big, or too small for your face, they also can change the shape of your teeth to complement your features better.

Spacing and alignment: If you don’t want to use braces or if your situation doesn’t quite require them, veneers can close small gaps between your teeth and make other minor adjustments in alignment.

After assessing your individual needs, our dentist in Miami can show you how your teeth might look with veneers. Before applying them, the dentist will take a mold of your teeth to ensure a custom fit.

Depending on the type of veneers used, a small amount of tooth enamel (less than 1 mm) might need to be removed before your veneers are adhered in place. But adding veneers to your teeth is painless, and once they’re attached, they’re virtually worry-free.

Veneers are as permanent as a filling or a crown. They won’t stain, shift, or move around while you talk or eat, and they should feel as comfortable and look as natural as the rest of your teeth.

How Is a Veneer Different from a Crown?

Both veneers and crowns are made from the same material, adhere to the underlying tooth structure, and can change the color and shape of teeth, improving their overall look. But a crown (also sometimes called a cap) fits over the entire tooth down to the gums, while a veneer only covers the front surface.

Because of how they’re applied, crowns often are recommended if you’ve lost a lot of tooth structure because of decay, age, or trauma, or because you grind your teeth. For a crown to fit properly, the dentist must remove more of a tooth’s exterior enamel (at least 2 mm). Once cemented in place, however, the crown actually helps strengthen the tooth.

Crowns also are a good option for back teeth that have structural or cosmetic issues because crowns are stronger under the greater amount of bite force between your molars. Both veneers and crowns can change the color, shape, size, and overall appearance of your teeth. 

Both are made from materials that mimic tooth enamel and are designed to be permanent. They’re custom-made to fit your teeth and adhere to your natural teeth. However, veneers are a cosmetic dental procedure used to hide minor imperfections in generally healthy teeth. As such, they’re applied only to the front of teeth.

Crowns are used to structurally repair a tooth that has been damaged because of decay, age, trauma, clenching, or grinding. Installing a crown (sometimes called a cap) in involves removing more of your exterior tooth enamel (at least 2 mm) so that the crown covers the entire tooth down to the gums.

Crowns also are preferred for molars. Once they’re applied, a crown actually helps strengthen a previously weakened or damaged tooth.

How Long Do Veneers Last?

Veneers are designed to be long-wearing, durable options for enhancing the beauty of your teeth. Their durability varies depending upon the brand of veneers used, proper care, and your lifestyle, but barring any accidents to your teeth, they should last for decades.

What Are Lumineers^®?

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

How Do I Care For Veneers?

Care for veneers as you would your natural teeth: by brushing and flossing them daily. If you have an underlying issue such as tooth clenching or grinding, you might want to wear a custom-made night guard to protect them. You’ll also want to be mindful about certain foods and tasks, especially if veneers are on your front teeth.

As tough as veneers can be, we wouldn’t advise using teeth with veneers to rip open packages or bite into hard foods such as candy apples.

Schedule a Consultation for Veneers in Miami Today

Have additional questions about whether veneers are right for you? Our friendly staff in Miami is glad to set up an appointment for you to discuss any concerns about using veneers and how they can fit into your dental care. Call us today at (305) 851-6464.