You can only get dental veneers if your teeth are healthy and free of gum disease or decay. Since veneers require trimming of tooth structure, you need to have sufficient enamel thickness (the tooth’s outermost layer) to get veneers. You should also not have any jaw clenching or teeth grinding habit, as this can easily fracture or chip your dental veneers. Our dentist will carefully inspect your teeth and tell you if you are suitable to get dental veneers or not. 

The most common types of veneers available at the dental clinic are composite veneers and porcelain veneers. 

Porcelain veneers: Porcelain veneers are the first choice for many when they want to go for dental veneers. They closely mimic the look, shade, and color of natural teeth and are custom-made for each patient. It is often impossible to differentiate between natural teeth and porcelain veneers. They are durable, long-lasting, and stain-resistant.  Porcelain veneers can last well up to 10-15 years if maintained properly. They come in various shades and translucencies and require minimal trimming of the tooth structure (0.5 mm). 

Composite Veneers: Composite veneers are more cost-effective compared to porcelain veneers. Our dentist can fabricate them in the office on the same day. They are made of the composite resin material that is used for fillings. Since composite veneers can wear out faster than porcelain veneers, they may last for a shorter time,  8 -10  years. They are less resistant to staining than porcelain veneers. The advantage of composite veneers is that if the veneer fractures or chips, it can be repaired, whereas porcelain ones cannot be repaired (they have to be entirely replaced). 

Palatal Veneers: Sometimes, the teeth’ inside surfaces can get damaged due to forceful brushing, teeth grinding, acid erosion (in case of bulimia, acid reflux syndrome, and chronic vomiting), or an improper bite. In such cases, palatal onlays or palatal veneers are used to restore or fix the front teeth’ palatal (inside surface) aspect. 

Crowns: Both dental crowns and dental veneers can cosmetically correct the shape, look, and color of teeth. Dental crowns cover all the tooth surfaces, whereas dental veneers cover only the front surfaces. Crowns are thicker and much more robust when compared to veneers, which are thin and can fracture if there is some heavy biting force or sudden impact.

Teeth Whitening:  Tooth whitening can correct discolorations and the aesthetics of your teeth to some extent, but it is not as effective as dental veneers. However, Tooth whitening is more conservative of the natural tooth as it does not involve any cutting of tooth structure.

Orthodontic treatment: Dental veneers offer a quick fix for minor alignment problems. Orthodontic treatment can also correct alignment issues and improve a person’s smile tenfold. But the treatment usually takes time to work, often a year or two. Orthodontic treatment offers a comprehensive solution and corrects your aesthetics and your bite and jaw problems. In contrast, dental veneers are suited for those who require only cosmetic correction.