Dentists in South Tampa can offer a wide variety of cosmetic dentistry options for smiles that just don’t measure up to your personality and self-image. Porcelain veneers can resolve stained, gapped, chipped, and crooked teeth. With porcelain veneers, you’ll have the smile you want and feel confident enough to show it rather than hiding it behind your hand.
What are porcelain veneers?
Dental veneers are custom-made shells of porcelain that cover the front surface of your teeth. Porcelain is the most stain-resistant material for veneers, and also reflects light similarly to natural teeth. Veneers can solve dental issues ranging from discoloration to misshapen or unusually sized teeth. With basic precautions and good oral habits, your veneers can last for 15 years.
Transforming your appearance with porcelain veneers is usually a two-appointment process. At your first appointment, your dentist will assess and measure your teeth. Then, you and your dentist will choose the profile and color of the veneers to match your goals. Finally, the dentist will prepare your teeth to receive the veneers at your next appointment. At your second appointment, your dentist in South Tampa will confirm the measurements and fit of your veneers, then bond them securely to your teeth.
There are three especially common reasons that people get porcelain veneers: discoloration, misshapen or oddly spaced teeth, and damaged teeth.
Porcelain veneers in South Tampa can solve discolored teeth
Not even the most diligent brushing and flossing can prevent every tooth stain. Smoking, eating, and drinking stains our teeth — especially things like tea, coffee, and red wine. The color of your teeth also changes with age. Over time, the yellowish substance called dentin behind the enamel is revealed. Injuries to your teeth can yellow them, as well, since that trauma triggers the body to produce more of that yellowish dentin. Antihistamines, antipsychotics, high blood pressure medications, and antibiotics are taken as children can also cause discoloration.
Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic dentistry option but doesn’t solve every discoloration problem. Teeth that are stained brown don’t respond well to whitening techniques; gray-tinged teeth may not respond at all. Whitening will also have no effect on the color of your teeth if the color change was caused by injury, trauma, or the side effects of medication.
The good news is that — no matter what the cause of your tooth discoloration — porcelain veneers in South Tampa can solve it as long as your teeth are generally healthy.
Misshapen or oddly spaced teeth
Not every smile is filled with teeth that are just the right shape, width, and length to suit our preferred appearance. Teeth sometimes grow crooked or with unsightly or inconsistent gaps between them. Porcelain veneers are not an orthodontic solution for crooked or gapped teeth but can eliminate the self-consciousness that people often feel when their teeth are crooked or oddly sized, shaped, or spaced. Veneers placed on the surface of the teeth will completely hide the flaws behind a pristine new surface that you choose yourself.
Damaged teeth
If you’ve suffered a chipped or broken tooth, go see a dentist to address any urgent issues before turning your mind to cosmetic issues. Once your dental health issues are resolved, your dentist in South Tampa may recommend porcelain veneers to restore the appearance of your damaged tooth cost-effectively and efficiently. Veneers will restore — or even improve — the appearance of your original tooth, and add strength and support to it as well.
Porcelain veneers are one of the most versatile cosmetic dentistry options that your dentist in South Tampa can offer to address discoloration, gaps, misshapen, and damaged teeth. If you’ve been hiding flawed teeth, smiling confidently again may be as easy as contacting a dentist about porcelain veneers near you.