It is Never Too Late to Straighten Your Teeth

If you still have all of your teeth but you are not happy with how they appear, porcelain veneers seem to be one of the best ways to get a smile you are happier to share. Veneers are thin pieces of material that are shaped to look like regular teeth and are bonded to the surface of your existing teeth. Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths floating around that can lead to some common questions about veneers. Here is a look at some of those questions potential patients tend to have about porcelain veneers. 

Do your teeth have to be completely drilled or filed down?

One of the biggest concerns people have if their dentist recommends porcelain veneers is if their teeth will be filed down before the veneers can be placed. While it is true some necessary filing and drilling may have to be done, it is really rare for the dentist to take off much of your tooth at all. The primary purpose of filing or drilling the tooth before a veneer is placed is to eliminate any damages so that if there is present decay, it will not grow worse under the veneer. However, in some cases, the reshaping part of the veneer application process is done so the veneer will rest uniformly against the tooth. 

Why go for veneers if they don't last very long?

People tend to assume that because veneers are porcelain, they must be fragile and short-lived. However, porcelain veneers are actually highly resilient; they can last a long time if you take proper care of your oral health. You should expect the veneers to last between 10 and 15 years, and in some cases even longer than that. The same actions that can damage your regular teeth can damage your veneers, so if you are careful about taking good care of your smile in general, you will see the veneers last you a really long time. 

Why do veneers look so different than the rest of your teeth?

If you only need veneers on one or two of your teeth and not all of them, you may assume that veneers will stick out like a sore thumb. It is a common misconception that veneers look too perfect or too distinguishable from the natural tooth, but this is not true at all. When the veneers are created for your teeth, the cosmetic dentist will go to great lengths to match the color hue, shape, and other features of existing teeth so the veneers look just as natural. 

For more information, contact a business like Alliance Family Dental.