Dental veneers are a lot like putting on fake fingernails, but on your teeth. Veneers are designed to enhance the physical features of the teeth, such as the color, shape, and size, that may not be ideal in some way. Here are some questions you may have about dental veneers before you move forward with the procedure.
What Materials Are Veneers Made With?
Your dental veneers will be made out of composite resin or porcelain. The porcelain is definitely the premium material of the two since it's a glass-like substance that will replicate the shine of your teeth for the most lifelike appearance. Porcelain is also going to be incredibly durable, which helps them last a very long time. Porcelain veneers are often made at an external lab, which means it can take some time to get the finished veneers back. It will also require a second visit to install the veneers on your teeth
Composite resin veneers are going to be a bit more affordable, but have their own disadvantages. They won't have the same lifelike appearance as porcelain veneers and will also not be as durable. However, the veneers can be made by your cosmetic dentist during your visit. They are often handcrafted and applied directly to your teeth as they are being made, which means you'll have instant results after your first appointment.
How Are Veneers Different From Caps?
Dental veneers are a bit different from caps, even though they may seem as if they are the same thing. Caps generally refer to crowns, which completely covers the tooth from all sides. Caps are used when the tooth has broken down and needs to be reconstructed, while a veneer is for healthy teeth and just covers the front surface.
The other difference between veneers and caps is the amount of tooth reduction that is necessary for caps. You may be surprised at how much of a tooth must be shaved down to put a cap on a tooth, which will permanently alter the tooth as a result. Dental veneers require little to no tooth destruction, and the tooth will remain intact.
What Determines The Cost Of Veneers?
If the dental veneers must be crafted in an external lab, you can expect that cost to be passed onto you as the patient. If the dentist is crafting the veneers in their office, you'll see some cost savings since the dentist is not working with an outside vendor. Using a veneer on a single tooth can often be a bit more expensive as well since the dentist needs to match the color with all of the surrounding teeth. This is something that is not much of a concern when all of the teeth in your mouth are getting dental veneers.
Our oral surgery and general dental website offers important information on how to prevent dry socket following a tooth extraction. After getting your tooth pulled, a protective blood clot develops over the extraction site. Many of our blog posts explain how this protective clot helps promote healing after an extraction.
You'll learn that if the clot is accidentally dislodged, dry socket may occur, which can raise your risk for infection and heavy bleeding. We'll provide you with important tips on how to prevent this by avoiding smoking and drinking through a straw. You'll also learn that swishing water around your mouth should be avoided for a couple of days following your extraction because doing so creates a suction that may dislodge your clot, leading to dry socket.