Veneers – Pros and Cons

What Are Veneers?

According to the American Dental Association, veneers are a permanent change used to correct tooth imperfections such as stained or chipped teeth. Veneers are made of thin porcelain or composite resin coverings that are bonded to the front surface of a tooth using a dental cement. [1]

Because veneers can be a permanent solution to common esthetic issues, weighing the pros and cons are important before committing to this type of dental treatment. You can get additional information about veneers at our Calgary, Regina or Saskatoon dental clinics on our services page.

Pros:

1. Veneers Replace Damaged Enamel:

Enamel can be worn away over time by consuming highly acidic food or drink, eating too much sugary foods, aggressive tooth brushing, grinding your teeth (bruxism), damage from stomach acid due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or a variety of other reasons. Damaged enamel can’t grow back. However, veneers can be used to replace lost enamel. Porcelain veneers help to conceal any jagged or uneven edges on your teeth while also protecting them from further damage.

2. Veneers Can Fix Minor Cosmetic Issues:

Veneers may help correct many cosmetic dental issues and can assist with fixing chips, cracks, gaps between teeth, minor misalignment and/or discoloration, and may help correct many cosmetic dental issues. Veneers don’t change the position of your teeth and are attached to the front surfaces only, but they can be helpful for masking minor cosmetic problems after they’re applied.

3. Veneers Can Whiten Your Smile:

Drinking coffee, tea, smoking, or eating pigmented foods can cause your teeth to become discolored over time. Dental offices like Simpli Dental offer take home and custom fitted teeth whitening options, but another option is veneers, which are mostly stain-resistant and permanent.

Cons:

1. Cost:

The price of veneers will vary with your dentist and what you need done, but in general, you can expect to pay between $925 and $2500 per tooth, according to the American Dental Association. Composite veneers cost around $400 to $2000 per tooth and last between 5 to 7 years.[2] Veneers also aren’t typically covered under insurance. At Simpli Dental Saskatoon and Regina, our prices for veneers start at $575, plus lab fees.

2. Possible Increased Sensitivity:

The removal of your tooth enamel can make your teeth more sensitive as it’s the enamel’s job to protect the sensitive dentin underneath it. Dentin is a part of the tooth and contains something called tubules, which connect to the tooth’s nerve. When the tubules are exposed to hot or cold temperatures, the nerve sends pain signals to the brain.[3] However, veneers can replace enamel, and because permanent veneers bond to your teeth, they will also provide protection against hot and cold temperatures. Any sensitivity you experience in the days following placement of your veneers will most likely be due to the procedure itself. Luckily for the majority of people, this quickly subsides.

3. It’s Semi-Permanent:

Veneers are semi-permanent because you cannot restore the enamel that was removed. It’s important to keep in mind that many veneers will also eventually have to be replaced. They can also be removed and replaced with new veneers or crowns.

Make an appointment with your nearest Simpli Dental office today to see if veneers are a right fit for you and your smile!

Fun Fact: The amount of tooth enamel removed to apply veneers is very minimal – in fact, your dentist may only need to remove as little as half a millimeter or about the thickness of a fingernail. Some individuals are also good candidates for no, or minimal-prep veneers that require no, or little removal of the natural tooth structure.

Citations: 

[1] Dental Veneers: Pros And Cons – Colgate

[2] What to Know Before You Get Dental Veneers – Healthline

[3] Do Porcelain Veneers Cause Dental Sensitivity? – First Line Dental