Have you ever wondered what natural teeth look like under veneers? You aren't alone! In fact, it's one of the questions we commonly ask when patients come in for veneers. After all, it's natural to wonder how your teeth will look once we cover them with your shiny new veneers.
To help you better understand the veneer process, let us show you how your teeth will look under veneers and how to care for your new tooth shape.
How your teeth look under dental veneers will vary slightly, depending on the type of veneers you have. Currently, we offer three different types of veneers: porcelain veneers, composite veneers, and no prep veneers. All of these have a slightly different treatment process, which means how your natural tooth looks underneath the veneers will vary. Let's take a look at how your teeth could look.
Underneath porcelain veneers, your teeth will appear smaller than before as your enamel is filed away. Filing away the enamel provides a rougher surface for your veneers to adhere to, but it also ensures there is enough room in your mouth for your veneers to fit. By removing the enamel, there is more room in your mouth, so your veneers will fit without looking too big for your mouth.
It's a common misconception that your teeth are filed down to stumps for veneers to be fitted, but this is not true. Yes, your teeth will be filed and might seem smaller than before, but they will not be filed down to stumps that cannot function as teeth. Having said that, the veneer process is irreversible, so you will need to always wear veneers once you have them fitted.
Alongside the shape of your teeth, their appearance changes when we file them for porcelain veneers. As we remove the enamel, your teeth become rougher, and you might experience tooth sensitivity. As the enamel is removed, the colour of your teeth can change, and they can seem duller than your other natural teeth. This is not anything to worry about, as you won't be able to see your natural teeth under your veneers!
Learn about our porcelain veneer treatment process.
Often, we need to do a little bit of filing to your teeth before applying composite veneers, which can change the shape of your teeth slightly. They might become a little smaller or thinner to allow space for the composite resin to sit on your teeth and provide you with a natural smile. Under the composite resin, your teeth will still look like your teeth, and you can have the resin removed without needing to reapply it. However, you will want to use the correct toothpaste to strengthen your enamel.
Learn more about our composite resin veneer treatment.
Unsurprisingly, your teeth will look pretty normal under no-prep veneers. Very little preparation work is required for no-prep veneers, and we rarely need to change the shape of your existing teeth.
In some cases, we will lightly score or etch the surface of your teeth, which might change their appearance slightly. This is done to help the no-prep veneer adhere to your teeth and occasionally make your teeth a little thinner so that the veneers do not look too big for your mouth. You can expect your teeth to remain the same after having no prep veneers placed, which allows you to remove no prep veneers if you wish.
Learn more about our no-prep veneer treatment process.
Generally, yes, veneers are considered safe for your natural teeth. As long as your veneers are installed correctly by a professional, they are considered safe in the short term and long term. There have been some concerns about the lack of enamel causing issues in the long term, but as long as you maintain good oral hygiene and your veneers are installed correctly, this should not be an issue.
To help keep your natural teeth safe, you should adhere to the following guidance:
Brush your teeth twice daily using a fluoride toothpaste
Floss daily to remove food particles and plaque between teeth
Use an antiseptic mouthwash daily
Avoid bad habits that can harm your teeth (nail biting, chewing on ice, smoking)
Attend regular dental checkups
You can find more details about our veneer aftercare here.
You need a healthy mouth, gums, and teeth to qualify for veneers. Don't worry if you don't have all three of these yet, as we can help address any dental issues before fitting your veneers.
The criteria for veneers can vary slightly depending on your dentist, but usually, we ask for the following:
Ideally, your teeth should be free from decay before your veneers are placed. Once your veneers are installed, they will cover any decaying teeth, making it harder for you to clean any cavities, which can cause serious issues down the line. If left unchecked, your teeth could rot underneath the veneers, causing them to come loose or fall out.
To prevent this, we assess your oral health before applying veneers and can treat any decaying teeth to give your veneers the best chance of success.
You also need healthy gums, free from infection or disease. Adding veneers to inflamed gums can aggravate them, causing pain along your gums and potentially gum disease and other complications.
We will examine your gums before recommending veneers and can offer solutions to address any infections or inflammation.
Another essential criteria is a thick tooth enamel. As we remove a layer of enamel from your teeth when we file them, we need to make sure there is plenty left to protect your teeth. If you don't have a thick layer of tooth enamel, you will unlikely be a candidate for veneers.
We will assess the thickness of your tooth enamel during our consultation and provide you with guidance where needed.
We also recommend that your teeth are mostly intact. If you have a large filling or a tooth that is damaged, we might recommend a crown instead. This is because veneers are recommended for minor cosmetic enhancements, whereas a crown will offer more protection if your tooth is already damaged.
Chronic teeth grinding, clenching, or Bruxism are common conditions that can damage your veneers. Grinding your teeth over time can wear away at your veneers, causing them to become damaged and need replacing.
There are methods we can try to address your teeth grinding first, or a nightguard can be used to prevent you from grinding your teeth through the night.
Your teeth might change their appearance slightly under veneers, but don't let that put you off having them. No part of your tooth will be visible, and if you opt for composite or no prep veneers, you can remove them without any changes to their appearance.
Why not book a consultation with us today to see what veneers could do for your smile?
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