Unsightly teeth don’t have to keep you holding back, too self-conscious to smile openly or engage socially. At Shirer Family Dentistry, we have helped many of our patients in the Aiken, South Carolina, area and neighboring communities to transform unsightly teeth into confident smiles with the help of porcelain dental veneers. Today we’d like to address the most common questions we hear about this amazing restorative process.
Q. How can dental veneers help me?
A. Veneers transform the front of your teeth for a flawless looking cosmetic fix. Custom-crafted of thin shells that look like tooth enamel, they are molded to your front teeth and attached through a bonding material. This allows them to blend in seamlessly with your natural teeth since they are shaded the way you want them to look. Our porcelain veneers are durable and stain-resistant and can help keep your smile looking its best for 7-15 years.
Q. How do I know veneers are right for me?
A. If you have chipped, cracked, or worn-down teeth, your teeth are stained, irregular, or you have gaps between teeth, these are all things dental veneers can fix! They can even help you fix slightly misaligned teeth. Veneers can change the size, color, and shape of unappealing teeth for a beautiful transformation.
Q. How do veneers work?
A. They cover your tooth flaws and make you look your best as long as you take good care of them. This means you don’t want to use them as tools, i.e. opening your latest Amazon order, as a bottle opener, or to hold a flashlight between your teeth as an extra hand. You also definitely don’t want to indulge in bad habits like nail biting or chewing on ice or hard candy. Otherwise, you might end up with a cracked or chipped veneer.
Q. How long does it take to get my veneers?
A. Generally, it takes two visits. First, our dentist lays the preparatory groundwork to reshape your natural teeth to get them ready for the veneers. Once that is completed, the veneers will be custom-crafted in a dental laboratory, where they will be customized to fit each tooth’s shape and color per our dentist’s specifications.
Q. How do I take care of my veneers?
A. Plaque and tartar can still collect on them just like they do on your teeth. You’ll want to brush at least twice a day and floss at least once. You’ll also want to attend all semi-annual dental cleanings. Not only are the teeth under the veneers still susceptible to tooth decay, but tartar needs to be removed using a special tool, and your teeth also need polishing to stay as nice as your porcelain veneers.
Q. Are there dietary restrictions with my veneers?
A. Well, you don’t want to regularly chew on hard things, like ice, hard candy, nuts, or chicken with bones. But these same items can crack or chip your natural teeth too so just keep that in mind (in other words, they’re a bad idea). The good news is, unlike your natural teeth, your porcelain veneers will resist staining so you can still enjoy your wine and coffee and eat your favorite blueberry desserts!
If you are ready to speak with one of our skilled dentists in Aiken about fixing your dental issues and are leaning towards dental veneers, we invite you to meet with our dentist to see if you are a good candidate for this restoration. Drs. Michael and Susannah Shirer look forward to helping you with your oral health needs. Call us at 803-648-6400 today! For your convenience we are also open on Fridays.