If you hesitate to laugh or duck out of photo ops because you’re self-conscious about your smile, you may be a good candidate for dental veneers — tooth-colored porcelain shells that permanently bond to your teeth. They’re an excellent choice for people who want to improve their smile.
At OK Tooth in Midtown Manhattan, New York, Charles M. Marks, DDS, and our team of experts specialize in artistically transforming smiles with custom veneers. Here’s what veneers can do to boost brightness, cover flaws, and much more.
If you’re not happy with your facial features, such as the shape of your nose or the color of your eyes, surgical options and contact lenses can alter your look. But what can you do about that gap in your teeth?
You may think the only way to fix it is to wear braces for a few years, but there’s an easier way. Veneers effectively widen the shape of your teeth on either side of the gap and close the space, so they fit together nicely.
A hard blow to the face, the habit of using your teeth as tools, or an unfortunate chomp on an errant popcorn kernel can crack or chip your teeth. Don’t make the mistake of believing this is merely a cosmetic issue.
Damaged teeth are highly susceptible to further damage, and they open the door to bacteria that cause decay. Left untreated, this can lead to serious infections and even loss of the tooth.
Veneers bond with your tooth and repair it so you can avoid serious complications inside the tooth while improving the look on the outside.
Some people are born with a beautiful set of teeth, except for one that looks like a baby tooth compared to the others. Or you may have one front tooth that’s longer than the rest or is shaped like a corn kernel rather than a tooth.
Veneers were made for these types of problems. We form-fit the porcelain shell to perfectly match your natural tooth, but the side you see is a completely different shape that matches the size, shape, and color of the rest of the teeth in the row.
Over the years, everyone’s teeth accumulate a few stains from coffee, tea, wine, and foods. And as you age, the enamel on your teeth wears away and reveals the yellow dentin underneath. In many cases, a professional teeth whitening treatment can restore the brightness, but not always.
If you have a tooth that doesn’t respond to whitening treatments, you may be a good candidate for veneers. If your tooth discoloration is due to damage, decay, or medications — including certain antihistamines, antibiotics, and antihypertensive drugs — your best bet is to cover it with a veneer.
The ideal scenario for a good dental hygiene routine is a mouth full of straight, properly spaced teeth. But if genetics or life have dealt you a different situation, you may be at risk for dental problems, such as cavities, decay, gum disease, and erosion.
Depending on the severity of your misalignments and spacing problems, veneers may be able to help prevent these issues by creating a more uniform environment that responds well to brushing, flossing, and chewing.
Veneers can cover a lot of different dental flaws, but the benefits are more than cosmetic — they can also improve the health of your teeth. To find out if veneers can solve your dental issues, schedule an appointment at OK Tooth by calling our friendly staff or booking your visit through our online tool today.
