When Are Veneers the Best Solution?

Your smile is the first thing people see, and it can directly impact their impression of you. An even, white, perfect-looking smile can do wonders for your self-esteem and self-confidence, positively affecting your personal and professional life.

At Margaret Culotta-Norton, DDS, PC, in Washington, DC, Dr. Culotta Norton and Dr. Peter Grinc provide a range of cosmetic dentistry options, including veneers to address mild to moderate visible dental issues. Here’s when veneers might be the best solution for imperfections in your smile.

What veneers are

Veneers are thin shells of tooth-colored porcelain that have been custom-shaped to fit over your teeth. When adhered to the front faces of your teeth, they can provide years of smile perfection, no matter what your teeth look like underneath.

Veneers are an affordable option for covering up the things you dislike most about your smile and can be replaced every decade or so as needed. When you choose veneers, your smile will become something you’re able to be proud of.

When veneers are the best solution

Veneers can’t fix every flaw, but they are the ideal solution for many common cosmetic dental issues.

Tooth discoloration or deep staining

Sometimes even the most aggressive tooth whitening done in the dental chair isn’t enough to bleach out stains that have worked their way deep below the surface. Veneers allow you to choose the best shade of tooth color for your complexion, and the whiteness will remain unaltered even if you have a taste for red wine or curry.

Cracked or chipped teeth

Using dental bonding for a chip or crack in a front tooth can leave a visible sign of dental work. Veneers give you an even, unmarred smile so you don’t have to keep worrying about cosmetic damage that isn’t interfering with the functionality of your bite.

Teeth that appear too short  

A gum line that is too low covers up a lot of your front-facing tooth surface and can give you a “gummy” smile. Veneers can rectify this issue and give you perfectly shaped teeth that aren’t overlapped with your gum line. 

Gapped, crooked, or misaligned teeth

While orthodontic treatment can force teeth into a desired position, not everyone wants braces or invisible aligners. Veneers can easily mask any teeth that don’t quite line up, delivering a row of teeth in perfect alignment.

The veneers process

The first step of getting veneers is a one-on-one consultation. We’ll discuss what you want your new smile to look like and complete a thorough physical examination of your mouth, teeth, gums, and jaw to make sure you’re a good candidate.

During the second step of the process, we use special tools to carefully shave a tiny layer of enamel off of the front-facing surfaces of your teeth. This makes room for the veneers and bonding agent.

We make molds of your teeth at this stage and send them to the fabrication lab, along with instructions for how your finished veneers should look. We provide temporary veneers for you to wear over the next week to 10 days. 

When you return to our office, we use a special bonding agent to affix your new veneers in place and complete your new smile. We also give you instructions on how to extend the life of your veneers. With proper care, you can go up to 20 years between sets of new veneers.

Ready to talk about whether or not veneers could be your best solution? To schedule an appointment, call 202-833-1111 or visit the contact page for more options.