Should You Get Porcelain Veneers? Ask These 5 Questions To Your Dentist

Porcelain veneers are a great option for completely transforming your smile. Made from wafer-thin ceramic materials, veneers are designed to completely cover up the front surfaces of your teeth and treat almost any cosmetic flaw in your smile.

But at Max Dental Studio, we recognize that getting porcelain veneers from Dr. Mauro Nunes is a big commitment. If you’re not sure whether or not investing in veneers in Durham, NC is right for you, we understand! 

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So if you’ve been asking yourself, “Should I get porcelain veneers?” we’ve put together a list of the top five questions you should ask your dentist before you commit to treatment. Read on to learn more about how veneers work and what you should expect if you want to transform your smile at Max Dental Studio.

1. Is My Mouth Healthy Enough For Veneers?

This is a very important question. Dr. Mauro Nunes will only recommend porcelain veneers to patients who have healthy smiles. You can only qualify if your smile is free from gum disease, cavities, tooth infections, and other common oral health issues.

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Why? Because veneers are a type of cosmetic dentistry. While porcelain veneers can strengthen your teeth slightly, they are not primarily intended to treat any type of oral health issue. If your teeth are not healthy, you will typically need restorative treatments like dental fillings or crowns to restore them before you can get cosmetic dentistry from Max Dental Studio.

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This is why your veneer consultation at Max Dental Studio will always involve a comprehensive oral exam, often accompanied by X-rays and intraoral scans, too. Before you can commit to enhancing your smile, Dr. Nunes will need to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy enough to handle your veneers without any complications.

2. What Should I Expect From The Veneer Treatment Process?

After your initial consultation, it usually takes two more visits over a 3-4 week period to transform your smile with veneers. The process is minimally invasive, simple, and totally pain-free. Once you’re approved for treatment at Max Dental Studio, here’s what you can expect:

Preparing and trimming your teeth

Before you can get porcelain veneers, you’ll need to have a little bit of natural enamel removed to make room for them. Dr. Nunes will begin by cleaning your teeth and numbing the treatment area for your comfort. Then, he will gently remove a thin layer of tooth material to accommodate your new smile.

Tooth scans and temporary veneers

After trimming your teeth, Dr. Nunes will take scans of your smile. He will use these to design your new teeth based on your input and preferences. Once your teeth have been scanned, he will attach a set of temporary veneers to your teeth to protect them until your final set is finished and ready to be placed.

Designing and crafting your veneers

Dr. Nunes will finalize your veneer designs and send them to a dental lab. A highly-qualified technician will craft your new smile from layers of durable porcelain material, with a close eye on a natural and realistic appearance. It will usually take 2-3 weeks for your porcelain veneers to be finished and sent to Max Dental Studio.

Final veneer placement

Once your final set of porcelain veneers arrives at Max Dental Studio, you’ll come in for your last appointment. Dr. Nunes will remove your temporary veneers and clean up your teeth. Then, he will check the fit of each veneer before bonding it permanently in place with dental cement. The final step is to polish your porcelain veneers and your natural teeth to ensure an even, beautiful, and confident smile.

3. How Long Can I Expect My New Veneers To Last?

Porcelain veneers last longer than any other type of cosmetic treatment, including both dental bonding and teeth whitening. You can expect your new veneers to last for at least 10-15 years if you take great care of your teeth. In fact, some patients can keep their veneers for two decades or even longer.

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Not only do they have a very long lifespan, but porcelain veneers also stay bright and beautiful for the entire time they're in place. This is because porcelain is completely non-porous, unlike both natural enamel and composite dental resin.

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This means that stains from coffee, tea, wine, cola, and other common sources cannot stain your new smile. Of course, your natural teeth can still be stained, so it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene and reduce your intake of staining foods and beverages for the best results.

4. What Do I Have To Do To Care For My New Smile?

Another great benefit of veneers is that they're easy to care for. For the most part, you’ll be able to treat your new smile just like you treated your old teeth. After a while, you may forget that you even have veneers! Here’s an overview of the steps you should take to protect your investment in porcelain veneers:

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• Maintain great oral hygiene by brushing at least twice a day for two minutes, and flossing once every day
• Use ADA-accepted alcohol-free mouthwash as part of your oral hygiene routine to kill bacteria and keep your natural teeth strong
• Avoid biting into very hard foods with your front teeth to prevent chipping and wear to your veneers
• To prevent veneer wear and damage, make sure you never chew ice or any non-food objects like fingernails, pens, or pencils
• Do not use your teeth as “tools” to open packages, tear tape, or for any other such purpose
• Invest in a night guard to protect your smile if you grind your teeth at night
• See your dentist every six months for a teeth cleaning and an oral exam. This ensures that both your veneers and your natural teeth are healthy and in great shape

5. Are There Any Downsides To Porcelain Veneers?

It’s important to understand the porcelain veneers pros and cons before you commit to treatment. Veneers do have lots of benefits, like their long lifespan, durability, stain resistance, and versatility.

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However, just like any other treatment, porcelain veneers do have some downsides that you’ll want to ask your dentist about before you commit to treatment. Here are a few of the most common drawbacks associated with getting porcelain veneers:

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• Requires permanent enamel removal – During the veneer preparation process, a small amount of enamel must be removed from each tooth that’s getting a veneer. This is done in order to make room for your new veneers. However, this process is irreversible. Once you commit to veneers, you will need to keep them for the rest of your life.
• Porcelain veneers can’t be repaired – Unlike dental bonding, which can often be repaired in a single visit, porcelain veneers usually must be completely replaced if they crack or chip. While they are very durable, this means that replacing a damaged veneer is a bit more complex and costly.

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• May make teeth more sensitive – In patients with sensitive teeth, veneers may not be the best choice. The treatment involves removing a thin layer of enamel, which can worsen teeth sensitivity in some cases. In others, though, veneers can actually help with sensitive teeth, so this is very patient-dependent.
• More costly procedure – Porcelain veneers are typically more expensive than alternatives like composite bonding and teeth whitening. Their long lifespan helps make up for the higher initial cost, but this is still something to consider if you’d like to enhance your smile on a budget.

Get Answers To All Of Your Veneer Questions At Our Office

At Max Dental Studio, Dr. Mauro Nunes specializes in enhancing smiles with porcelain veneers in Durham, NC. If you’re interested in a more confident smile and have further questions about how treatment works, what to expect, or the benefits of veneers, our team is always here to help.

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So don’t wait. If you’d like to learn more about how veneers work and see if you’re a good candidate for treatment, give us a call at (919) 383-7020 or contact our team online to book your appointment. Whether you’re in Durham or anywhere else in the Research Triangle, Dr. Nunes and our team are here to provide the expert care you need.

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