Veneers are a wonderful treatment modality to repair or beautify teeth in what is termed as minimally-invasive dentistry [1].
Before exploring this treatment, we would first advise patients to understand their overall goals they want achieved.
Finding the right dentist is tricky. Taking advice from friends who have had veneers done, checking on reputable reviews can also be helpful.
When consulting your dentist, discuss your goals and ask the dentist for advice on his recommendations. The choice between composite or porcelain veneers can have an effect on the possible changes, the reliability and longevity of veneers.
Find out more on:
- the process,
- maintenance,
- reliability and
- the longevity of the dentist's veneers.
It may be prudent to find out options should there be any breakage or dislodging of the veneers over time. The dentist may also have photographs of his veneers after 5, 10 or more years of use.
Ask to see examples of the dentist's own work (not pictures off the internet) especially similar cases to your own. Beware of digital designs as they do not fully account for the position of your teeth and may not be reliably reproduced in your mouth. A physical mock-up on a model of your own teeth can be a much more accurate representation.
You may also like to know that veneers can be used to change tooth position, not only to change tooth size, shape and colour. This may be an alternative to traditional braces. This is how many celebrities have beautified their smiles(as seen on TV's "Extreme Makeover").
References:
1. Burçin Akoğlu Vanlıoğlu B, Kulak Özkan Y. Minimally invasive veneers: current state of the art. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry. November 2014:101. doi:10.2147/ccide.s53209
