What are Porcelain Veneers?
You’ve probably heard of porcelain veneers before. They’ve been around for a long time, and they’re one of the most common elective dental treatments. They’re cosmetic shells that go over the enamel of your teeth to create a perfect smile.
However, you probably didn’t know just how rich of a history veneers have.
The first porcelain veneers were made in 1928, and they were just as cosmetic-based then as they are today. The original veneers were used to create a flawless smile for theater performers. They were adhered to shortly before a performance with short-term, removable, adhesive, and they were removed after the show. This helped create the flawless smiles of the earliest theater stars in American culture.
Veneers have been used to enhance one’s smile ever since, but they’ve also improved dramatically. Now, veneers aren’t just applied for a few hours. They’re permanent fixes for your smile.
We offer the finest porcelain veneers in West Hartford, CT at JP Dentalto ensure that all our patients can have a beautiful, Hollywood-worthy smile, and we always put our patient's health, safety, and comfort first.
Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
With porcelain veneers being cosmetic, the benefits aren’t the same as something such as a root canal, tooth implant, or dentures. However, they do provide a wide variety of benefits.
First, they provide a hard, durable, layer on top of your enamel. Considering many of the cosmetic problems we’ll be talking about soon stem from weak enamel, that extra layer of protection can be very beneficial.
If you have chips or thin enamel, veneers can help with that, too. A veneer will fully cover a chipped tooth and make it look exactly like it would if it were in perfect condition. Thinner, more worn, enamel is also covered with a beautiful, natural-looking, shell. So, your thin enamel won’t be visible.
Finally, if you have stained teeth that won’t whiten, such as stains common with smokers and those who haven't really taken care of their dental health for a long time, that will be covered up, too.
While veneers are typically only used to cover cosmetic issues, and shouldn’t be used on teeth that require real, function-based treatment, they can restore your smile for the rest of your life.
Porcelain Veneers VS Other Cosmetic Dental Options
There are two primary types of veneers available. At JP Dental, we offer the porcelain veneers that we’ve talked about so far. However, you can also get “composite” veneers. That means the protective shell is made of plastic.
On the surface, these two options do the same thing. They cover your tooth and make it look undamaged again. However, there are some major differences that need to be covered.
First, let’s get the price out of the way. If porcelain sounded more expensive than plastic when we mentioned both options, you’re correct. Porcelain veneers cost about twice as much in most situations. Also, since this is an elective cosmetic procedure, most insurance plans don’t cover it. Especially not in full.
Second, and the last negative thing about porcelain veneers, is that porcelain veneers take longer to apply. It’s not a one-trip process. This is due to the quality, which we’ll talk about shortly, and it should be expected for good work to take a while.
Now that the only two drawbacks are out of the way, let’s talk about how porcelain comes out on top.
First, porcelain veneers are incredibly durable. You’re going to have them in your mouth your entire life unless you get them removed. They’re permanent attachments. So, you want your veneers to hold up and look great for the long haul.
On top of that, they look more natural. Porcelain veneers aren’t really noticeable. It doesn’t look as if you have artificial layers on your teeth, and no one should be able to tell that you’ve had work done. Composite can be done very well, but plastic simply doesn’t mimic the natural appearance of enamel perfectly.
Finally, you’ll have to maintain your composite veneers. Porcelain veneers are more or less a “set it and forget it” option except for checking with your dentist to make sure you haven’t damaged them, and that’s unlikely to happen.
Overall, porcelain is the premium option for cosmetic tooth repair.
Get Porcelain Dental Veneers in West Hartford, CT
Porcelain veneers are premium, and they do require a decent financial investment. So, you want to make sure you’re getting them from a qualified professional who will do it right.
That’s JP Dental in West Hartford, CT.
JP Dental offers the highest quality dental services, from porcelain veneers to all your general dental needs such as implants and the latest braces technology, and we put you first.
For the highest quality dental services possible, book a consultation with JP Dental today.