Originally developed for Hollywood starlets, dental veneers have become one of the most popular ways to restore damaged or discolored teeth. However, with veneers costs ranging in the thousands of dollars, many people try to cut costs by ordering veneers online, or traveling out of the country to receive cheap dental work. In today’s post, our Apex dentist explains why cheap veneers can have very negative consequences for your smile, and why you should only receive veneers from an experienced, licensed dentist.

Risk 1: Too Much Enamel is Removed   

To apply veneers, the tooth’s enamel must be filed down, much in the same way fingernails need to be buffed before artificial nails can be applied. Inexperienced or unlicensed dentists might grind away too much enamel, preventing the veneers from fully adhering and causing them to eventually fall off. In addition, having over-filed enamel will make biting and chewing very uncomfortable, if not downright painful.

Risk 2: Not Enough Enamel is Removed

Problems can also arise when the dentist doesn’t grind away enough enamel. Since veneers are about as thick as a plastic credit card, they easily can make the teeth look and feel too bulky. Too much thickness can also impede your speech, making it difficult to pronounce words with certain syllables. Finally, if the veneers are extended too far past the natural teeth, they will crack very easily.

Risk 3: The Color Does Not Match 

High-quality veneers should be slightly translucent, so that they reflect light just like natural teeth. Making veneers the right color and opacity actually requires some artistry on the part of the laboratory that mixes the porcelain, and can’t be easily accomplished by unlicensed technicians. Overly-white, opaque veneers can look extremely fake and garish. 

Veneers Are Not Reversible

The most important thing to know about veneers is that once they have adhered, they cannot be easily replaced. Since they adhere to your ground-down tooth enamel, every new veneer placement takes more enamel and threatens to cause you more sensitivity. Most veneers will need to be redone every 10 or 20 years as they crack or weaken, but redoing them immediately after placement is very risky. 

Get Quality Veneers from Our Apex Dental Boutique!

Veneers are an extremely popular treatment which can help restore your teeth to their natural size, shape, and color—as long as they are created by a licensed professional! If you want your veneers to be matched to the exact color of your teeth, adhere correctly, and last the next few decades without any issues, visit our Apex cosmetic dentist office. To schedule an appointment with us, click here!