The Pros and Cons of Veneers — Are They Worth it?

When you watch actors and actresses in movies or at award shows, it seems like each and every one of them has absolutely perfectly shaped and colored teeth, how do they do it? Most of the time they do it with the help of porcelain veneers. It’s very rare for someone to be born with perfectly aligned and shaped, and with all of the junk food we eat, it’s even more rare for someone to be able to keep their teeth white. With veneers, these troubles can all be put behind us.

But veneers aren’t for everyone. Let’s discuss some of the pros and cons of dental veneers to see if they are right for you.

What are Dental Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are a thin tooth-colored shell that is applied over existing teeth to give them an improved look. The goal of a veneer is to change the shape, size, or color of a tooth or teeth.

They can be used to help a patient with a number of problems:

• Cracked or chipped teeth
• Discolored teeth
• Misshapen teeth.

There are also a few different types of veneers such as porcelain, composite, and instant veneers.

Pros of Veneers

Veneers provide the patient with a boost in confidence due to the immediate change in the look of their teeth. Fixing a problem like a crack or chip can be a huge relief.

Another thing that is nice about veneers is that they are applied over the existing teeth, and many times there is no need, or little need to do any reshaping of the tooth. This means that your existing teeth remain intact.

You can also make your teeth appear bright white instantly. However, a shade closer to your natural teeth is usually recommended to avoid looking unnatural.

Cons of Veneers

One of the cons of veneers is that they don’t change in color over time like your natural teeth do, so if you do it to get a brighter smile, but you don’t cover all of your teeth with veneers, then over time, the difference in color will become obvious.

Veneers are also prone to chipping and cracking if you’re not careful. They are not recommended for people who habitually bite their nails or other hard objects.