Porcelain Dental Veneers – Four Ways They Can Benefit Our Canterbury Patients
This increasingly popular cosmetic treatment can help you both look and feel better
The field of cosmetic dentistry is becoming better and more widely known each day. From TV celebrities to coming into contact with people on a daily basis who have had treatment, it is not surprising that the stigma of having improvements to your smile has been well and truly broken. For too long now, the British have been the butt of jokes about our teeth, especially from the USA where cosmetic dentistry has been accepted for much longer.
With this increase in awareness, comes an increase in the number of patients coming to Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic who are looking to do something about their teeth in the hope of having a more attractive smile. Whilst the teeth whitening procedure is the most popular and best known cosmetic treatment that we offer, there is another one which is growing in popularity and which can be used for correcting a number of smile issues. In today’s blog then, we will take a look at the use of veneers in addressing those issues.
Whilst teeth whitening is perhaps the most widely used, it is not the only, or even always the most appropriate treatment available for this purpose. Whilst many people’s teeth will benefit greatly from whitening, those whose teeth have become badly stained or discoloured may not get the results that they had hoped for. Our cosmetic dentist will be able to offer advice on this and, for those who have badly stained teeth, porcelain teeth veneers may be recommended instead.
Whilst whitening bleaches the surface and internals of the teeth, veneers are used to replace the stained enamel surface. This is especially effective where there is heavy staining and discolouration that would receive less benefit from a whitening procedure. Porcelain veneers are non porous and provided that you look after them well, should not discolour and can last for approximately 10 years before they may need to be replaced.
Sensitive Teeth
Tooth sensitivity can be really painful for some people, and even where it is less so, it can still cause problems, especially when eating or drinking hot or cold food and drinks. Few of us will want to avoid a nice cold drink or an ice cream on a really hot day such as those we are experiencing in the UK right now. By fitting veneers to replace the damaged tooth enamel that can lead to sensitive teeth, you can also enjoy those treats too.
It is obviously better to avoid damaging the enamel of your teeth by looking after them better and avoiding damaging foods and drinks such as high sugar acidic beverages, but should you be unfortunate enough to suffer from this, veneers can provide an excellent solution to the problem.
Chipped and cracked teeth
One thing that a teeth whitening procedure certainly can’t do, is to cover up the chips and cracks that our teeth sometimes suffer from, especially when we are older. In fact, these defects may even be more obvious after you have had it done. Whilst a teeth whitening procedure is excellent for many people, if you have teeth that are chipped or cracked, porcelain veneers may well just be the thing that you need.
Whilst fitting veneers does require some dental work, it is an effective and long term solution to this often smile spoiling problem.
Straighter teeth
Patients will usually need orthodontic treatment if they want to have straighter teeth. In some situations though, veneers can be shaped so as to close small gaps between the teeth. One area that this can sometimes be done is where the top two front teeth have a gap between them, also known as a diastema. Although this has at times been seen to be a fashionable look, it can cause problems such as further movement of other teeth. By using veneers to close this gap, you can improve your smile and help to prevent other problems too.
If you would like to make some improvements to your smile, why not come and talk to the team at Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic? Our friendly dentists will be only too happy to advise the most appropriate treatments for you and the associated cost during an initial consultation. If you would like to book an appointment at our Canterbury dental clinic, please call us today on 01227 463529.