Significant research has shown that the smile is an important part of everyday social interactions. It is also important in self-esteem and confidence. However, many people do not feel comfortable smiling because they are embarrassed about various aspects of their teeth including discolorations, crowding or gaps, chips, and the size or shape of their teeth. Cosmetic dentistry offers a solution to improve the look of your teeth and restore their strength to give you the smile you have always wanted.
Dental veneers are a popular option for those looking to bring their smile to life. These include porcelain veneers and composite veneers, and our dentists can provide both options of veneers in Coquitlam. So, which one is suited best for you? This typically depends on what type of cosmetic fix you’re going for and our dentists will guide you through which benefits your overall dental health.
Porcelain veneers offer an excellent opportunity to change the size, shape, and colour of your teeth in a predictable and long-term manner. Porcelain veneers involve placing ultra-thin layers of porcelain over the front of your teeth. This may involve a minor reshaping of the teeth to accommodate the thickness of the porcelain and to create uniformity of the smile. Porcelain veneers also do not discolor over time and can help improve the strength of teeth that are chipped.
Composite bonding or composite veneers is an alternative option to porcelain veneers. Composite bonding involves placing white composite resin, the same material used for fillings, on the front of your teeth to change the size, shape, and colour of your smile. This treatment offers a conservative approach as very little preparation of your natural tooth structure is required. A key difference between composite veneers and porcelain veneers is the long-term colour stability. With composite veneers, it is recommended that you have them regularly polished as they will discolor over time if not properly maintained.
Like porcelain veneers, dental crowns are a great solution for cosmetic fixes as they are made entirely of porcelain. While the visual result of porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns are often similar, the preparation of the tooth structure for a crown is often slightly more invasive. Porcelain crowns are often used when trying to fix more severe cosmetic issues and when trying to provide better structural integrity to weaker teeth (i.e. teeth with larger fillings or teeth with more broken structure). A combination of porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns may be required in some cases to achieve the optimal aesthetic and strength for the smile.
If you are not happy with your smile and want to explore options to improve the look of your teeth, talk to your dentist about what options may be right for you. Your dentist will review the benefits and risks of each option and will advise what would be best for your individual circumstances.
