Veneers: A Quick Guide From Local Dentists

Dental veneers have become more popular than ever over the last few years. You see them all over social media feeds and more notably showing up on our favorite celebrities. To many of us, it can feel like everyone has them, so let’s try to figure out if they’re right for you.

A lot of common aesthetic concerns - whether it be tooth color, shape, crowding or chipping - can be fixed with veneers, but each case needs to be considered. For instance, many concerns like mild discoloration or small spacing issues often should be treated with whitening, bonding or orthodontics before considering veneers. Veneers are a life-changing way to fix your smile, but it’s important to understand that some patients can achieve similar results with other options.

Now that we’ve decided you’re a good candidate for veneers, you need to understand the upkeep required. All health and beauty standards require consistent care to maintain. From the daily routine of brushing our teeth or applying moisturizer to the monthly maintenance of dyeing our hair or getting Botox injections – consistency is key to seeing and maintaining the results you want, and veneers are no exception.

To place veneers, the tooth or teeth in question have to be prepared, which requires removing a small amount of the outer enamel layer to make room for the veneer to be attached. This means veneers are a lifetime commitment. Thankfully, veneers have an excellent life expectancy with studies showing that 95% remain functional after 10 years, with an 85% survival rate at 15 years and some patients even experiencing longer results with proper care. If you get veneers at 30, with proper care and upkeep, you would get two or three replacements over a lifetime.

You’re a good candidate for veneers and you understand it’s a commitment, so now you want to know who will do the maintenance and touch-ups you’ll need over the years.

All good things take time and that is true of dentistry too. Good dental care happens slowly with small adjustments – catching a crack before it’s a fracture, catching a filling before it’s a crown, learning that someone clenches when work gets busy. That takes building trust and knowing a person over years, and that means finding a dentist who plans to still be around. That’s why we recommend choosing a locally owned and operated office with a dentist you can rely on.

Veneers can be transformative. If you’re considering them, talk it through with someone willing to have an honest conversation and someone who intends to be around for the long haul either way.

To learn about the comprehensive dental services offered at Vantage Point Dental Studio in Severna Park, go to www.vantagepointdentalstudio.com.