Dentist Questions Orthodontist

Are veneers safe for my teeth?

I want to get veneers. Are veneers safe for my teeth?

5 Answers

DentistOrthodontist
Veneers are an excellent way to get that more perfect smile that you've always wanted! One of my first big veneer cases was for my own daughter back in 1994. She still has them on (now going on 28 years!) There are several types of veneers. Resin (composite) veneers are non-porcelain restorations that are usually done chairside by your dentist. There are laboratory-created veneers that come in 2 kinds: the kind that is glued over your teeth with minimal alterations or the kind where significant alterations of your teeth are needed to make the laboratory veneers. I use both types where indicated. If your front teeth have gaps and are essentially just looking for a cosmetic enhancement then minimal-alteration veneers (Often called "Lumineers" which come from a predominant lab) can be perfect for you. Think of this type as "press-on-teeth". They are actually fitted over your existing teeth so they will be wider and longer than your natural ones. Great if you need those gaps or chips fixed.
The second type of Veneer involves substantial alteration of the front of your teeth. If your teeth are discolored, disfigured, misaligned, etc, this type of veneer is for you. Since we're changing the way your existing teeth look then the dentist has to change the actual tooth surface to make them fit within the confines of the width and length of your teeth. I hope this serves as a brief introduction.
Now back to your question: Are veneers safe? Veneers are a more conservative way to cosmetically and functionally restore the smile zone of your front teeth. Veneer placement involves some reduction of the surface of the tooth at the sides, the top, and the front. We normally do not touch the tongue side of the tooth except at the tip of the tooth where we wrap the veneer to give the tip a natural look and some security as well.
Veneers are more conservative therefore than a full-coverage crown. Unfortunately, dental insurance companies disdain paying for cosmetic restorations like veneers but would rather pay for the dentist to fully reduce a tooth to make a crown. Seems senseless but I don't make the rules! Anyway, veneers can give you an excellent smile and can last a long time! How long? Well, like a new car, it will last for a long time with proper care and preventive maintenance. Brush them, floss them, and use a fluoride rinse. They are safe, but they are not normally reversible. Once reduced you can't go back (well maybe close to the originals if you remove the "Lumineers"). Discuss your concerns with your dentist. He or she can give you a better smile in as little as two visits to their office.
They are safe but it will remove some tooth structure.
Veneers oftentimes require removal of healthy tooth structure. They are generally safe but do require maintenance and replacement over time.
Generally, yes.
However, some of your tooth is usually removed before placement.
That tooth structure is gone.
Sometimes veneers last a very long time, and the improved esthetics is worth it.

‘Safe’ is a difficult concept-here’s a long answer: eating a granola bar may not be safe for some teeth yet risk should be considered as an aspect to a desired result (cosmetically and functionally)
Veneers are ‘safest’ when there is the least clenching and grinding contacts between teeth. Veneers are considered safe to teeth and to general health. Veneers are not usually expected to provide extra strength to teeth, rather are meant to provide ideal cosmetic outcomes