Are Veneers A Worthwhile Investment For Your Teeth?

When you watch television and admire the perfect white smiles of the stars, it's important to realize that most of them have veneers. These are white porcelain covers that are applied over their natural teeth to make them look perfect, whether they are naturally chipped, discolored, or a bit crooked. If you want that same perfect smile, you may be considering investing in veneers yourself. But are they really worth the hefty price tag they carry? Here's a look at the pros and cons to consider before you make your appointment.

Pro: Veneers are a life-long solution to your dental woes.

To put the veneers in place, your dentist has to remove away a thin layer of your tooth enamel. For this reason, you have to keep wearing veneers forever once you have them put into place. If you were to have them removed, your teeth would be overly sensitive and prone to decay. You might eventually need to replace your current veneers, but you can count on having veneers in place for life. This is in contrast to other cosmetic dental procedures like tooth whitening that offer only temporary results.

Pro: Veneers correct several problems at once.

Are your teeth yellow and a little crooked? Perhaps you have one chipped tooth and another that is too small. Veneers cover up all of these problems with one simple solution. If you were to try to fix the teeth themselves, you may have to go through several months -- or even years -- or orthodontics, whitening, and bonding appointments to get similar looks.  

Con: Veneers won't change color as they age.

Porcelain is a non-porous material. So, it won't absorb colors and develop stains over time like your natural teeth do. While this may sound like an advantage since you want your teeth to remain looking white and perfect forever, it can actually lead to a strange-looking smile after several decades. Your back teeth won't typically be covered with veneers, so when you open your mouth, the differences in color between these and your veneers might be obvious.

Cons: You'll need to chew carefully.

Porcelain is a bit more delicate than natural tooth enamel. So, it can be prone to chipping and cracking. If you want to keep your veneers in good shape, then you should not open packages with your teeth, chew really hard foods like candy and ice, or play sports without a mouth guard.