Veneers Can Restore Broken, Chipped, and Worn Teeth

A happy smile makes you look good and radiates confidence and self-esteem to those around you. So what are you to do if you have several minor imperfections, such as broken, chipped, and worn teeth?

At Fluegge Family Dentistry, Dr. Matthew Fluegge and our team recommend dental veneers to their patients in East Wenatchee, Washington. This tooth restoration option is easy to place, won’t break the bank, and lasts for years. Here’s why you should choose dental veneers.

What are veneers?

Veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made shells that Dr. Fluegge bonds to your tooth’s front surface to change its appearance, such as size, shape, length, or color.

Veneers are a good choice if the imperfections are relatively minor (e.g., small chips, cracks, or gaps between teeth) and affect only the front surfaces of the teeth.

By themselves, veneers don’t improve oral health, but since they’re resistant to both acid and decay, they can help support a weakened tooth while brightening your smile. Also, we don’t need to shave off as much of the tooth's surface enamel as with other restoration options.

We can shade your porcelain or resin composite dental veneers to match the surrounding teeth. Porcelain is often the better choice, though, because it:

• Resists stains better
• Is stronger
• Reflects light like your natural teeth

Dental veneers are ideal for patients with cosmetic concerns who want a long-term solution but don’t respond well to teeth whitening, orthodontia, or other possible treatment options.

We can place veneers quickly, and if you take proper care of them (e.g., brush, floss, have twice-yearly cleanings, and don’t use your teeth as a tool), most last from 10-20 years. After that, you can replace them.

What are the benefits of restoring teeth with veneers?

Veneers provide several benefits, including:

Fix damage and prevent further issues

Dr. Fluegge permanently bonds the veneer to your tooth’s front surface, sealing over chips, cracks, and breaks and preventing decay-causing bacteria from reaching the inner pulp. It also strengthens weakened enamel, making your tooth more acid- and decay-resistant.

Fill in gaps and spaces

Gaps between your teeth snag plaque and debris like they were going out of style, creating a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Gaps may also stress your teeth and jaw, leading to bite misalignments, uneven wear, fractures, and permanent loss. Veneers, though, bridge these gaps, forming a smooth, impenetrable surface and an aligned bite.

Restore tooth color and shape

Stained and/or discolored teeth can make you self-conscious about your appearance and hesitant to smile, but veneers cover up these imperfections, leaving bright, clean, natural-looking teeth you want to flash. Dr. Fluegge can also shape the veneer to bring a shorter tooth in line with the other teeth in your mouth.

Placing your veneers

Getting dental veneers generally takes two office visits, one for planning and measurement and the other for placement. 

Planning requires determining if you’re a good candidate, based in part on the results from a comprehensive dental exam that includes teeth cleaning and digital X-rays. Once Dr. Fluegge has cleared you and developed a treatment plan, he preps your teeth for the veneer placement.

First, he shaves off about 0.5 mm of enamel from the tooth’s front surface so the veneer will fit tightly against your tooth. Then, he takes a digital impression of your tooth or teeth receiving the veneer(s) and sends the information to a lab to create the actual prosthetics. The process takes about 2-3 weeks; you wear temporary veneers during this time.

Dr. Fluegge removes the temporary veneers at your second appointment and places your permanent ones. He makes any minor adjustments to ensure a good fit before bonding the veneers to your teeth. Once the bonding is secure, you’re all done.

Why should you choose veneers over other teeth whitening options? One reason is that tooth damage or sensitivity makes you a poor candidate for whitening, and veneers offer a long-lasting alternative. Another is that veneers don’t need the same degree of maintenance or touch-ups as teeth whitening. That translates into fewer trips to the office and less money spent.

If you have teeth with mild-to-moderate imperfections and want to jazz up your smile, veneers might be what you’re looking for. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the office at 509-888-3384 or book online today.