Home » What Happens to Your Teeth Under Veneers?
10 SepGeneral Dentistry
The cosmetic dentists at The Dental Boutique have the skills and experience to sculpt the smile you’ve always wanted. A popular way to achieve this amongst our Gold Coast clients is with dental veneers. Before undergoing the treatment, many of our clients ask us a similar question: will the veneers damage my natural teeth in any way?
The good news is that when fitted properly, your natural teeth will stay as strong and healthy as ever underneath the veneers. But to give you more of an insight into what you can expect from the process, let’s take a look at what is happening below that porcelain surface.
Preparing the teeth for veneers
It’s important to know how your natural teeth are treated to prepare them for the veneer application. A very thin layer of the enamel has to be removed in order to reshape the tooth’s surface. The overall thickness or shape of the tooth is not dramatically altered (the way traditional veneers were once fitted), but the amount of enamel that’s removed tends to be the same thickness as the veneer (about half a millimetre).
This process means that veneers can not be removed; they can only be replaced, because they now act as the enamel. They should be properly maintained to ensure they last longer, with daily brushing and flossing, and other positive oral hygiene habits.
What is the impact on underlying teeth?
Aside from this removal of part of the enamel, properly fitted and bonded veneers have no impact on the supporting teeth. The majority of clients won’t experience any of the issues or horror stories they’ve heard – such as bad smells or rotting of the natural teeth. In fact, veneers could even protect the teeth from decay, since there’s less exposed tooth material.
Additionally, for patients that are having veneers fitted due to damaged or weakened teeth, the veneer offers an added layer of protection and helps to preserve the tooth’s structure. Not following the advised care and hygiene practices could compromise your tooth enamel and structure, and you could notice damage to your natural teeth over time, or a shortened lifespan of your dental veneers.
What problems can veneers fix?
Veneers can correct both cosmetic and functional oral problems, making your smile not only beautiful, but healthy, too! They are commonly used to address issues such as:
- Discoloured/stained teeth
- Broken or chipped teeth
- Gappy teeth
- Teeth that are not aligned
- A range of other cosmetic issues
Book with our private dental clinic in the Gold Coast
At The Dental Boutique, we use the latest technology to help our clients achieve their dental goals, whether that be for cosmetic purposes, functionality, or both. Our skilled private cosmetic dentists will work with you to uncover your needs and ensure that you finally get to experience a smile that fills you with confidence.
You can count on the highest standards of care and advice from our dentists. To book a consultation, or find out more about our suite of services, give us a call on (07) 5591 2262 or email [emailprotected].
