Like a pair of eyes, a smile is a defining facial feature that can capture a lot of attention from other people. Someone who smiles often may be considered more attractive and approachable to others compared to someone who does not. People who like their smiles tend to smile more often and find themselves smiling without even realizing they are doing so. Research has shown that feeling good about your smile correlates with self-confidence and increased happiness. Psychologists have found that smiling releases endorphins, induces pleasure in the brain, and can boost someone’s mood and sense of well-being.
People who are self-conscious about their smile, however, may feel stressed and anxious. Missing teeth, crooked teeth, discolored and stained teeth, or gapped teeth may all be sources of insecurity that cause people to smile with their lips closed to hide these perceived flaws or cause people to stop smiling altogether.
A lack of dental visits can also breed unhappiness, as people who do not regularly visit their dentists tend to have poor oral health and issues such as gum disease that affect their daily life. Poor oral health may increase the likelihood of having poor physical and mental health, which is why practicing good dental hygiene is crucial.
People should not avoid their dentists because they do not like their smiles and are ashamed of flaws in their teeth. A trip to dental professionals is the solution to improving their oral health and gaining confidence in their smiles.
Dental professionals, such as those in the New Jersey area, are trained to provide Restorative Dental Care and solve cosmetic and structural problems such as chipped or cracked teeth, misaligned teeth, and discoloration. Patients with good periodontal and oral health can have veneers placed.
What are veneers?
A veneer is a thin shell made of porcelain or naturally-colored filling material that is designed to cover a tooth’s front surface. Veneers are custom-made by a dental technician to fit over a patient’s tooth or teeth, as they are created using an impression of a patient’s teeth provided by the patient’s dentist.
Veneer placements are permanent, as dentists have to remove some enamel from a patient’s tooth or teeth to make room for the shell. Since the process is irreversible, patients should consult their dentists to determine if they are good candidates for veneers. Some dentists may not suggest veneers for patients who lack the tooth enamel necessary for veneer support or patients who have gum disease.
How are veneers placed?
The veneer placement process is a relatively simple procedure that does not typically cause pain or extreme discomfort to patients. Little to no anesthesia is required, nor is extended recovery time.
The first part of veneer placement is veneer creation. An impression of a patient’s teeth is made and used to create custom veneers. Dental professionals ensure that the veneers match the look of a patient’s natural tooth enamel and teeth as best as they can, to create a natural look that allows veneers to blend in with natural teeth.
Dentists remove a little bit of enamel from a patient’s tooth to retain the tooth thickness and make the veneer the same size as natural teeth. The dentist will clean the patient’s tooth or teeth and roughen the surface of them to make sure the veneer will stay in place. The application of a liquid bonding agent and special cement then bonds the veneer to the tooth or teeth. Dentists then remove any excess material and clean the surrounding area.
Veneer placement is overall a painless procedure. How much veneers hurt relies on how much enamel needs removing. A dentist rarely needs to numb a patient’s tooth or teeth, as they only remove a small amount of enamel for this procedure. Patients should be aware of any temporary sensitivity they feel when eating, especially hard, crunchy, or chewy foods, but there are generally no drastic or painful repercussions of veneers.
Patients can care for veneers like natural teeth: They should be flossed and brushed daily with non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste. After some time, patients should check in with their dentists to see about having veneers replaced when necessary. By keeping up proper oral hygiene and veneer maintenance, patients can be confident that their veneers always look good, giving them a reason to smile.