The Pros and Cons of Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are one of the best ways to restore teeth that have become damaged due to wear, neglect, injury or genetic factors. For over twenty-five years, dental patients have been helped to achieve a more natural-looking smile. They are not for everyone however, and may not even be the best or more effective solution for every patient. Like any medical or dental procedure, porcelain veneers have numerous advantages, but also some drawbacks.
The “Pros”: Of all available materials, porcelain most closely resembles the natural surface of the teeth, known as the enamel. Most people who are not dental professionals don’t realize that tooth enamel is not in fact opaque (a material that light cannot penetrate). If you could see out from the inside of your own mouth, you would notice that teeth are actually translucent, like the fabric used to make lampshades. A certain amount of light actually penetrates the enamel and is reflected by the dentin – the interior material of the teeth. This is why beautiful smiles appear to have a certain luster.
Since porcelain is essentially ceramic, which has properties similar to that of glass, in the thin layers used to make porcelain veneers, it imitates this same effect when hit by light, which is why they are so natural looking.
This glass-like property of porcelain also makes it highly stain-resistant. Although one may have to cut back on their consumption of substances such as red wine, tea, coffee and blueberries, the fact is that the ceramic surface of porcelain veneers are much easier to keep clean and stain-free than other materials. In extreme cases of teeth blemish and stains, porcelain veneers are used for teeth whitening.
The “Cons”: Although porcelain veneers are very durable when done properly, they can break or crack, in which case they will have to be replaced with new ones. (They may also fall off altogether, but as long as they are intact, it is a relatively simple matter for the dentist to fix them in place again.)
Another drawback is that the technique used to put porcelain veneers in place results in permanent alteration of the tooth; there’s no going back. Additionally, veneers are not permanent; although they can last a very long time, after fifteen years at the most they will have to be replaced.
Finally, they tend to be very expensive (as much as $3000 per tooth), and may not be covered by all dental plans, should you be one of those lucky Americans fortunate enough to have such coverage.
