12 Things To Know Before Getting Veneers

Dental veneers are a thin layer of porcelain that are bonded to the tooth to disguise it’s colour, shape, or place in the mouth. Many people consider them for whiter, or straighter teeth. Before deciding if you want veneers, it’s important to properly research and understand them, as veneers are forever and can be expensive. 

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1. For the best results, you need to see someone skilled. Dental veneers may be an aesthetic procedure, but it is also a very serious dental procedure, so it’s important to look at the previous work of the cosmetic dentist you’re considering to make sure you like their style. Take some time to look at before and after pictures of their patients, and ask to see photos of their work after a few years so you can see how their work lasts. You want to be sure you still like your smile in ten years time, not just when you leave the dentist. 
2. Veneers aren’t a must, just an option. Anyone can have veneers, but most people choose to have them in order to correct an issue. Many patients are people who have crooked teeth despite trying braces, want to permanently whiten their teeth or those with chipped or damaged teeth from falls and other accidents. 
3. One style does not fit all. Unlike going for a haircut, you can’t go to the dentist with a picture of your favourite celebrity and ask for their smile. Your dentist should take a look at the problem you want to correct and find a way to make it work for your face. A good cosmetic dentist understands that veneers need to work for your face and suit you to look their best. Veneers aren’t cheap, so to make the veneers cost worth the investment, your dentist should take into account how you talk, the facial expressions you make, the way you smile, the end look you want, and the functionality of your teeth, before designing your veneers that really work for and your face. 
4. Imperfections are fine. Many people want veneers to get a perfect smile, but in reality, the best veneers should maintain the character of your smile and enhance it, not disguise it. Ideally, your veneers should look real when they’re done, so leaving some of the imperfections makes your smile look real and not too much like you’ve had work done. 
5. You don’t need veneers on all your teeth. If you’ve had an accident and damaged just one tooth, then you can have just one veneer to disguise the damage. You can also have a whole set of veneers done if you want to create an entirely new set of teeth. Your dentist should be able to advise you on whether you can have just a few veneers fitted in with your existing smile or whether more veneers would look better. If you’re only having a few fitted, the veneers should look realistic against your own teeth. 
6. Tell your dentist if you’re planning on having further work done on your face. Any work on the face, especially things like lip fillers, change the appearance of your face and will change which veneers will best suit you, so you must be honest with your dentist about any plans you have for fillers or other work. It’s also worth bearing in mind that lip fillers cast a shadow over your teeth, which can make them look greyer. 
7. Get the colour right. People always want a really white smile, but too white will look unnatural. Teeth are naturally yellow-white or grey-white, but most of us want teeth that are just white. An established Beverly Hills dental practitioner should be able to find the perfect shade that will look white against your skin tone but not so white that your teeth
   look fake. 
8. Your dentist will create temporary veneers. When you’ve talked over your needs with the cosmetic dentist, they will take a mould of your teeth and use this to make temporary veneers out of a liquid composite. This will be bulkier and less shiny than the finished porcelain veneers, but they are useful to give you and your dentist an idea of how your final smile will look and if there is anything you would like to change. Usually, you will wear these for about a week to see how you like them and if they suit your face. 
9. Many cosmetic dentists will charge for a consultation. In a lot of industries, a consultation appointment is free, but this is actually often not the case with cosmetic dentists, so remember to include this price in your budget when working out what you can afford. Often, this fee will be put towards the cost of your veneers if you decide to go ahead, but if you choose to see a few different dentists before deciding who you want to use, these fees could soon add up. 
10. Your gums will be sore afterwards. There is a healing process to go through after having veneers fitted, and your gums will need time to reform around your new teeth. This process can make your gums feel very sore, but this is normal. Ease your pain with Ibuprofen. 
11. The healing process will take longer if you’re hard on your teeth. If you’re a teeth grinder or you clench your teeth, they will take longer to heal. However, this discomfort is temporary, and you will soon get used to your new smile and no longer notice them at all. 
12. You need to take care of your veneers. Veneers are expensive, so it’s important to consider them an investment that you should take good care of to make them last. Ask your dentist if they offer a payment plan to help you spread out the cost. You should care for your veneers with good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth properly, floss every day and make sure you see your dentist twice a year for a check-up and a professional cleaning to keep your veneers looking their best.