Veneers FAQ
Veneers are a very popular dental procedure as they can correct teeth very easily, but many people have a lot of unanswered questions about them. Here, we have listed the most popular questions people have about veneers and answered them, so you can make an informed decision about what is right for you. At the end of the day, veneers offer people confidence and give them a smile to be proud of.
Who Could Benefit from Veneers?
Veneers are a great option for so many people as they can correct different problems with your teeth and offer a permanent and long lasting solution. Many people who have stained, discoloured and see-through teeth opt for veneers. Sometimes, teeth whitening and taking care of your teeth doesn’t stop them from discolouring, so applying a veneer restores and unifies your teeth.
For others that have teeth of different length or that looked mismatched, they can make their teeth look neat and uniform. The most popular place to get veneers is the two teeth at the front, as many people have problems here. Veneers can offer you a healthy, white and neat smile and correct many different kinds of aesthetic issues.
Is There Any Difference With Speech?
At first, you will notice some slight differences with speech when you first get your veneers put in. Because our mouth is a small space and you have something new in there taking up room, you can expect some small differences in the way that you speak, although many of them don’t last that long and aren’t really noticeable to those who know you.
When you first get your veneers, some people might notice a slight lisp that occurs but this doesn’t last that long, perhaps a few days. After this time your mouth usually adjusts and if you didn’t have a slight lisp before this usually goes away quite quickly.
Another slight difference in speech that people notice is pronouncing words that contain v or f. To make these sounds with our mouth we rely on our front teeth and because these have become thicker, a slight change will occur. The good news is though that none of these speech changes are permanent and they will naturally go away once you get used to your veneers, or you practise pronouncing words.
Do People Usually Experience a Lot of Pain Afterwards?
Getting veneers is a very pain-free procedure and most people experience very little pain to no pain, at the most there might be a slight soreness. Before you get veneers your dentist will usually administer a numbing agent, so if there was any sensation you won’t be able to feel it.
Having two to four veneers is very straightforward and you can expect no negative physical sensations from this. If you are having more, let us say six to eight, you may feel a little bit of discomfort afterwards but most patients don’t describe this as being painful.
This can easily be solved with some paracetamol or ibuprofen which can be got over the counter from your local pharmacist, but you won’t need anything stronger than these simple pain relievers.
Can You Still Brush Your Teeth in a Normal Way?
Yes, you can still brush your teeth and floss as you normally would. Many people that veneers are easy to damage or they will need some sort of special treatment, although normal dental and oral hygiene are all you need to look after them.
So don’t worry you can still brush them as you would your enamel teeth and still floss them the same too. You also don’t need any sort of special toothpaste, just make sure you look after them like your other teeth and they will last a long time and still look great.
Is There a Risk of Them Staining With Coffee and Red Wine?
Veneers are covered with a stain-resistant resin which does prevent them from becoming discoloured by things like tea and coffee, although this usually lasts for about 5 years. Because of the resin coat and the fact that porcelain veneers are not porous like natural teeth are, for a while they will usually stay more stain-resistant than your other teeth.
This can be great, but you will have to make sure that if you have natural teeth surrounding them, that their colours match. When this happens you can have your natural teeth whitened or hygienically cleaned to make sure that they look uniform, which is what people with two from veneers often do.
After this 5 year period your veneers will discolour just like natural teeth. This tends to happen around the edges of them and near your gum line. They will never look out of place though and when this happens, you care for them exactly like you would your natural teeth when they become stained, so no special treatment is needed for the veneers.
Do Veneers Last for Life or Do They Have to Be Replaced?
Veneers are a low-maintenance and long-lasting solution, so it will be a long time before they will ever need replacing. Usually, the earliest veneers will need replacing is 10 years but is rather rare and most people, if they look after them right, can have veneers that can easily last up to 20 years.
The longevity of veneers all comes down to how you look after them and your dental hygiene routine. Like any dental procedure, if you brush your teeth twice a day, floss and don’t smoke, then your veneers will last so much longer. So, how long your veneers last is up to you, but after a significant amount of time they may have to be replaced.
How Are Veneers Fixed to Your Teeth?
When getting veneers, your dentist will take an impression of your mouth, so that your veneers will fit to your mouth exactly. Next, a small part of the enamel will be shaved off the front of your tooth so that the veneers can sit there comfortably. When this has been done, they will permanently bond the porcelain veneers to the front of your tooth, making it look like your natural teeth.
What Are the Different Types of Veneers?
Porcelain
These are the most common type and a dentist will take an impression of your tooth and create a veneer to fit your exact mouth. This is one of the strongest types there are, but can be more difficult to repair than other types.
Lumineers
These are the upgraded version if you like and are much thinner than traditional porcelain although just as strong. They do tend to last longer than traditional veneers and are reversible if you don’t want them anymore, unlike porcelain ones where part of the tooth is shaved away.
Composite
This is the more cost-effective option and usually lasts about 5 to 10 years. They can be quickly and easily applied, although they are more likely to chip and stain compared to porcelain, they can be repaired more easily.
How Much Do Veneers Cost?
The cost of veneers will be different, depending if you are registered as an NHS patient, when an appointment will be available or if you have opted to go private. Getting veneers as an NHS patient will mean that they cost less, usually the cost will be partially reduced and can depend on many different factors.
Getting veneers privately does cost more but appointments are usually more readily available, so a lot depends on how long you are willing to wait and what is available at your local dentist. You can see our prices for NHS and private veneers on our fees page, where you can view the cost of each of our dental procedures. In the UK, prices range from £350 to £1200 depending on the material used and the techniques or laboratories used to manufacture the veneers.
If you have any more questions about veneers then contact us today, to learn more from our specialists. You can also head over to our blog, where you can find our more about similar dental topics.