How dental veneers can help your dental health

While veneers generally fall into the category of cosmetic dentistry, there’s more involved than just looks. While the primary purpose of any cosmetic treatment is aesthetic, most treatments can also play a role in good dental health. Dental veneers are a prime example. While dental veneers are not an explicit solution to your dental problems, they can certainly play a role in good oral health. Veneers hide imperfections and don’t correct any dental problems – but they actually have a number of benefits for your oral health. Here are a few of them.

Swipe the below image to view before after veneers treatment

Veneers can replace damaged enamel

Veneers are an extremely effective treatment for teeth suffering from enamel abrasion or enamel erosion. Tooth enamel can get worn down from consuming highly acidic food and drinks, various medical conditions such as acid reflux or brushing your teeth too hard. And unfortunately, lost enamel can’t grow back. Without enamel, your teeth are more susceptible to tooth decay, as well as prone to cracks, chips and tooth sensitivity. Your teeth would deteriorate and decay quite quickly, as enamel protects the inner part of the tooth. Veneers can replace the lost enamel and prevent your teeth from further decay.  

Veneers can make your teeth stronger

Veneers have protective qualities when applied to your teeth. Particularly if your teeth are worn, weak or fractured, veneers can help bond a weak tooth together and protect it from any harm. They effectively cover vulnerable and structurally unsound teeth and provide a layer of protection against potential damage. As well, veneers may eliminate the need for more expensive treatments such as crowns or implants.  

Dental veneers can correct gapped teeth

Not only do they change the aesthetic appearance of your teeth, veneers can also change their position. Dental veneers can effectively close small gaps and correct small misalignments. Gapped teeth can cause problems with your bite by not allowing sufficient room for other teeth. Tooth gaps can cause health problems if left untreated. Food can regularly become trapped in these small spaces, which can be difficult to reach. Trapped food can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease over time. If this is causing problems for you, a dental veneer might be an effective solution as it can cover over the crack and prevent food from reaching it.  

Dental veneers can correct crooked or misaligned teeth

Crooked or misaligned teeth can sometime cause health or speech problems, and may affect how you bite and chew. They may make it harder to clean your teeth, thereby increasing the risk of tooth and gum decay and infections. Straightening crooked teeth doesn’t just make for a more attractive smile, it can also be key to improving dental health and relieving symptoms such as jaw pain. Dental veneers are a great choice for correcting issues of tooth alignment and spacing, and can sometimes prevent the need for braces or orthodontic treatment. If the alignment problems are small, they can often be covered over by veneers, rather than having to physically move teeth into better positions. This saves money and time and can give you a much quicker solution to the problem.  

Dental veneers can correct chipped or cracked teeth

Chipped or cracked teeth are all too common, and can be caused by accidents, cavities, poor oral hygiene or tooth grinding. Chipped teeth can put the tooth pulp at risk, which may lead to the necessity of a root canal treatment. Cracked teeth can cause sensitivity to hot and cold, as tissue is lost at the root. Leaving chipped and cracked teeth untreated may lead to more pain, problems, infections and discomfort over time. There are a number of treatment options for chipped and cracked teeth – veneers being one of them. Veneers can effectively cover the chip or crack, especially if there is a fair amount of the tooth still remaining. They are a good choice because they are a long-lasting treatment and don’t involve too much modification of the tooth.  

Dental veneers force you to act

As well as physically helping your oral health, veneers can also have a psychological benefit on your dental health. Veneers act as a catalyst – to get your teeth healthy and to keep them healthy. For most people, the time to get veneers is when your mouth is healthy. Teeth cannot be veneered until you get your existing dental problems sorted out first. Even if you’re just interested in veneers for cosmetic reasons, having them will force you to deal with your oral health problems. Veneers can only be attached to healthy teeth, meaning that gum disease or decay needs to be treated before veneers can be attached. Dental veneers can also help you form the foundation for good oral health. To ensure your veneers last as long as possible, you’ll need to maintain a high level or oral hygiene. This includes daily brushing with fluoridised toothpaste, daily flossing, having regular dental check-ups and having your teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist twice a year. Getting veneers can be the catalyst for the formation of good oral habits that will stand you in good stead throughout your life. As well, dental veneers can make cleaning your teeth easier and reduce the effects of clenching and grinding your teeth. Those with veneers will need to commit to breaking the habit of grinding or clenching, as veneers can be damaged by these habits. You’ll also need to break the habit of chewing or biting on hard objects such as toffee, ice or hard lollies – good news for all your teeth, not just those that are veneered. Having veneers may also help you to reduce consumption of stain-causing food and drinks.  

Consider veneers

There are many advantages you can expect when your veneers are fitted by properly trained, qualified and experienced dentists such as Lentini Dental. If veneers sound like a good idea, get in contact with Lentini Dental to find out more.