Veneers can transform your smile, providing a fantastic solution for discolored, chipped, or misaligned teeth. However, if you’re interested in the treatment, you should know that the process involves altering your natural teeth. But how much enamel is removed for veneers, and why? Continue reading to learn more about enamel reduction for porcelain veneers and see if it’s a good choice for you.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Dental veneers are thin, shells of porcelain tailor-made for your teeth. They’re designed to cover multiple cosmetic imperfections at once by bonding with the front of treated teeth. Once in place, they blend seamlessly with your smile, providing a natural and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Why Does My Enamel Need to be Removed?
Enamel removal is an integral part of the veneer process. The main reasons for this enamel reduction include:
- Creating Space: Veneers need to fit seamlessly over your teeth. Removing a thin layer of enamel ensures that the veneers don’t look bulky or unnatural.
- Bonding Surface: The rougher surface created by removing enamel helps the veneers adhere better, ensuring they stay firmly attached to your teeth.
- Alignment and Shape: Slight adjustments to the tooth surface can improve the alignment and shape of your pearly whites, helping the veneers sit correctly and look uniform.
How Much Enamel Is Removed for Porcelain Veneers?
Fortunately, porcelain veneers don’t require a lot of enamel to be removed. Porcelain veneers usually require between about 0.5 to 0.7 millimeters of enamel to be buffed off from the front surface of the tooth. This is roughly the thickness of a fingernail.
It’s important to keep in mind that once your enamel is removed, it can’t be restored. Your teeth can’t naturally repair themselves like the rest of your body. So, even if you won’t lose a lot of the structure, the process still makes your natural teeth slightly weaker. Once you get veneers, you’ll need to keep replacing them every 10 to 15 years to protect your smile.
Making an informed decision about veneers starts with understanding enamel reduction. The removal is minimal and designed to preserve as much of your natural tooth structure as possible, but it’s irreversible. So, discuss your options with your dentist to choose the best option for your dental health and smile goals!
About the Practice
Dr. Joseph Khalil and Dr. Giordano are both talented and passionate dental experts who can be trusted to take care of your teeth. If you’re ready for a smile transformation, they have the skills and technology to help you build a beautiful smile! Call (703) 938-4300 to schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation at Oakton Dentistry By Design or visit the website to see other services.