Do Dental Veneers Ruin Natural Teeth?

Dental veneers are one of the most popular forms of cosmetic dentistry in Houston, TX, and other cities throughout the world. Even celebrities have chosen to get veneers due to the realistic look that veneers provide. Veneers are ideal for addressing imperfections such as permanently discolored teeth, chipped teeth, gaps and more. Yet, some people hesitate to consider them because of the idea that they ruin natural teeth.

What Are Dental Veneers Made Of?

Dental veneers are made of porcelain, a high quality material that mimics the look and feel of natural teeth. After being tinted to match a patient’s other teeth, the veneers are shaped into exceedingly thin chips that are then attached to the front of a natural tooth. Because of the meticulous process of matching the color and shaping of the veneer, the result can be a near flawless smile.

How Are Dental Veneers Attached to the Teeth?

In previous years, a tooth had to be ground down–almost to a point–before attaching a dental veneer. This weakened the tooth structure. But with the application of the veneer, the tooth structure was restored. Now, dental technology has improved a great deal and the process of how dental veneers are attached to teeth has changed.

Today, a microscopic layer of enamel is removed from the surface of the tooth. This creates a surface where the adhesive can readily adhere to the tooth, so the dental veneer can be permanently attached. After that, the tooth (or teeth), go under a special light that “cures” the adhesive. This solidifies the bond so that the dental veneer stays safely in place while you eat, bite, speak and so on.

Do Dental Veneers Ruin Teeth?

Dental veneers are intended to be a permanent cosmetic dentistry solution. As such, they aren’t meant to be removed. A person may need to have a dental veneer replaced at some point, but they aren’t meant to be removed permanently. The removal of that thin layer of enamel can’t be reversed. At the same time, the loss of the enamel isn’t a problem because the veneer serves as the new “layer.” So the structure of the tooth is restored, just as it was before, and the tooth is not ruined.

If you’d like to discuss the possibility of getting dental veneers in Houston, TX, please contact us today. We’d be happy to answer all your questions about ways to enhance your smile!