Teeth Veneers
Portland, OR
Veneers provided by Dr. Sheryl Weissman
in Portland, OR at Weissman Dental
 One of the first aspects of your appearance that people will notice is your smile. So even when just one tooth is showing signs of wear and tear, staining, or some type of damage, the first impression others get is already marred. Fortunately, Weissman Dental offers a minor dental treatment known as a dental veneer that can restore your youthful smile.
What Is a Dental Veneer?
Dental veneers are long-lasting dental restorations that not only whiten your smile, but can also repair chipped, broken, or cracked teeth. They are thin coverings made of porcelain or a composite resin that is bonded with dental cement to the front surfaces of teeth that show when you smile. In order to know if veneers are the best treatment for your specific needs, it’s important to weigh their advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Dental Veneers
One of the most common reasons a patient gets dental veneers is to cover teeth that have been stained from years of smoking and/or eating and drinking highly pigmented foods and beverages. Although stained enamel can be whitened in our office or at home, teeth will inevitably become stained again. If you want to brighten your smile for good, veneers can be an ideal solution. Veneers can also fix minor cosmetic issues like cracks, chips, and gaps between your teeth. While they don’t alter the position of your teeth, they can nonetheless camouflage minor misalignment of them. Even though your teeth may be crooked or gapped underneath your veneers, no one will be the wiser. Dental veneers can also replace tooth enamel that has been worn down due to normal wear and tear, highly acidic foods, and/or acid reflux disease when your teeth are repeatedly exposed to stomach acid.
Disadvantages of Dental Veneers
The cost of veneers is relatively high, and they are considered a cosmetic dental treatment by most insurance providers, so coverage is typically limited or nonexistent. The average cost of one dental veneer is $1,300, so it’s important to check with your health insurance provider before deciding to get veneers. In addition, some patients who opt for dental veneers experience tooth sensitivity after the procedure. However, this sensitivity usually goes away after a few days. Finally, veneers are irreversible. In order to properly bond them, we have to alter the structure of natural teeth and the enamel we remove will never grow back.
How Long Do Veneers Last?
Porcelain veneers are quite sturdy and can last between 10 and 15 years with proper care. They don’t require any special care, only the same care that you give your natural teeth. At some point they may need to be repaired or replaced as they can crack or chip just like your natural teeth. Therefore, it’s important to avoid habits that will shorten their lifespan, including smoking, drinking heavily, nail biting, or biting down on super hard foods like ice and candy. Heavy exposure to red wine, tea, and coffee can also decrease the aesthetic lifespan of your veneers.
If the teeth that show when you smile have seen much better days, the team at Weissman Dental can help you regain a more youthful appearance with dental veneers. For more information or to schedule an appointment, give our office a call at (503) 274-2222. |
