Veneers – Plainview, NY

What’s the Difference Between a Veneer and a Dental Crown?

Both veneers and dental crowns are types of restorations that are meant to conceal a part of the tooth. A crown, which is a tooth-shaped “cap,” fits over the entire portion of the tooth that is visible above the gums. Veneers, by contrast, only cover up the front-facing surface of a tooth. Since less enamel must be removed to make room for a veneer when compared to a crown, veneers are considered a more conservative treatment.

Are Veneers Permanent?

In order for the veneer to lay flush against your tooth, we’ll have to shave off a thin sliver of enamel. Because tooth enamel is an inorganic material, it does not grow back once it has been lost. For this reason, we won’t be able to remove your veneer in the future without immediately placing another one. Doing so would leave your tooth more vulnerable to sensitivity and cavities.

While the veneers themselves are not permanent, they can last up to two full decades, provided you take proper care of them.

How Do I Make My Veneers Last?

The good news is that maintaining your veneers is not very different from caring for your natural teeth. Twice a day, brush your teeth with a fluoridated toothpaste for two minutes at a time. Floss and rinse with an antibiotic mouthwash at least once daily. If you grind your teeth or play sports, wear a nightguard or mouthguard respectively to protect your veneers and underlying teeth from damage. Lastly, avoid using your teeth as tools or chewing on extremely hard objects such as ice, peppermints, nuts, popcorn kernels, pens, etc.

Will People Be Able to Tell I Have Veneers?

Not at all! Each veneer is designed to look as natural as possible. When creating your veneers, your cosmetic dentist in Plainview will take every aspect of your appearance into account, including your face shape, skin tone, and surrounding teeth. Because of this, as well as dental porcelain’s remarkable ability to mimic natural tooth enamel, no one outside of our dental team should be able to tell that you have veneers!

What Happens to the Teeth Under Veneers?

At your first appointment, we’ll prepare your teeth by removing a thin layer of enamel to ensure the veneers fit properly. A powerful, safe, and effective bonding material is used to attach the restoration to your prepared teeth. Since the altered enamel is permanently covered by the veneer, the procedure does not increase your risk of cavities. However, you’ll still need to protect your new and improved smile by brushing twice a day, flossing daily, limiting your sugar intake, and visiting your dentist regularly.

Is There Anything I Can’t Eat with Veneers?

You’ll receive temporary veneers to protect your teeth while you wait for your permanent restorations to be made. During that time, you’ll need to avoid eating hard foods (i.e., raw fruits and veggies, ice, hard candy), sticky foods (i.e., gum, caramel, toffee), and dark-colored foods and drinks (i.e., coffee, soda, red wine). Although you can enjoy almost any food once your permanent veneers are in place, you should continue to exercise caution to keep your new grin in its very best shape. Make sure you drink alcohol sparingly as it can weaken the bonding material holding your veneers in place.

Will I Still Be Able to Drink Coffee with Veneers?

It’s worth noting that veneers are typically made of porcelain, which is a stain-resistant material. Highly pigmented food and drinks have more difficulty penetrating beneath the surface because the material is nonporous, unlike natural enamel. For that reason, you can drink coffee without worrying much about it staining your restorations. Of course, excessive consumption of coffee can still have a negative impact on your appearance. If you want your veneers to stay bright for as long as possible, you should only consume dark-colored beverages in moderation.

Do Veneers Give You a Lisp?

When you first get your veneers in Plainview, you may have difficulty pronouncing certain words or making specific sounds. That happens because the tongue is not used to accounting for the presence of the restorations when you talk. Even though it’s only a slight difference in thickness, it still affects the way the tongue moves. Luckily, any lisp you develop is temporary and should go away as soon as you get used to your veneers. You can speed up the adjustment process by repeating difficult-to-pronounce words, having more conversations with loved ones, and reading aloud. In some cases, asking your dentist to reduce the thickness of the restorations in certain areas can make the lisp go away.