Veneers: Boost Your Confidence By Improving Your Smile

Do you often find yourself covering your mouth when you laugh or shying away from showing off your smile in photos? You're not alone. Many people struggle with cosmetic dental issues that affect their self-confidence. 

Fortunately, there's a perfect solution for many dental imperfections: veneers. At OneSource Dental of South Tampa in Tampa, Florida, we specialize in helping people get the radiant smiles they've always dreamed of. 

Our team is led by Nancy Horton, DMD, a skilled dentist with almost three decades of experience. In this blog, she explains what veneers are and what’s involved in getting them.

The basics of veneers

Veneers are custom-made, ultra-thin shells that are placed on the front surfaces of the teeth you see when you smile. You can get one or more, and they’re usually made of porcelain.

Veneers can address a wide variety of cosmetic and minor dental flaws. For example, veneers can cover stains and chips and hide gaps. And, if you have teeth that are oddly shaped or too small, veneers can be placed on the fronts of these teeth to make them look uniform with your other teeth. Furthermore, veneers are tinted to match your other teeth.

Veneers are also durable and long-lasting. They can last for a decade or longer with appropriate dental hygiene and regular dental checkups.

Preparing for your veneers

At OneSource Dental of South Tampa, getting veneers begins with a personalized consultation with Dr. Horton. During this appointment, she discusses your smile goals and determines if veneers are the ideal solution for you.

Next, she works with you to create a custom smile plan, taking into account a number of factors, such as the shapes, sizes, and color of your teeth. With this information in hand, she can customize your veneers so they will blend in seamlessly with your other teeth.

Getting your veneers

To prepare your teeth for veneers, Dr. Horton removes a minimal amount of enamel from the surfaces of the targeted teeth to make room for the veneers. Then she takes detailed impressions, so your veneers can be created. In the meantime, she may fit you with temporary veneers to protect your teeth.

She then sends your impressions to a dental laboratory, where skilled technicians craft your custom veneers. Once your veneers are ready, you come in for your final visit, and Dr. Horton bonds your new veneers to your teeth and makes any needed adjustments.

Maintaining your veneers

After placing your veneers, Dr. Horton guides you on how to care for and maintain your new smile. For example, she’ll likely recommend that you practice good oral hygiene, avoid hard foods, which could damage your veneers, and schedule regular dental checkups.

If you’re unhappy with your smile and want to see if veneers could help you, Dr. Horton can give you a thorough evaluation and discuss your options. To learn more, call 813-879-9299 or book an appointment online with OneSource Dental of South Tampa today.