Do you have concerns about your smile? Are you trying to decide whether porcelain veneers might be an option for your teeth? Veneers are a thin layer of porcelain that is placed over a tooth to give it a brand new appearance. While veneers can help solve many cosmetic issues, they aren't suitable for all problems. The following can help you decide whether veneers are the best option for you.

Broken teeth and decay

A small chip can be easily covered by a veneer, particularly if only the enamel layer is chipped. On the other hand, a badly broken tooth or one that needs extensive work to save it from decay may not be a suitable candidate for a veneer. In this case, a crown may be a better option. Much like a veneer, a crown is a thin layer of porcelain. The difference is that it covers the entire tooth, including the biting surface. This allows a crown to cover major breaks and provide a protective covering if extensive work has been done due to decay.

Misalignment

Mild misalignment issues can often be fixed with veneers. For example, if your teeth's biting edges aren't smoothed, your dentist can file down the longer teeth then place veneers to give your teeth a more uniform appearance. Veneers can also be used to cover small gaps between teeth since they will thicken your teeth slightly to fill in the spaces. If you have major misalignment issues, then you may need to wear orthodontics to at least bring the teeth mostly into alignment. Then, any remaining minor imperfections can be repaired with veneers.

Staining

Staining is a common reason for choosing veneers. If you have permanent stains on your teeth from things such as over-fluoridation as a child, then veneers may be the most effective way to cover the stains. If you have mild staining that can be fixed with regular whitening sessions, though, veneers are a more invasive option that you may want to reconsider. Once you have veneers, you must maintain them for life. This is because the dentist will file off some of your enamel so the veneers fit. If your issue is with easily-controlled, mild staining, then committing to veneers may not be the best option.

Veneers can work miracles on a smile, but it's important that you talk over veneers and the other options available with a company like Henderson Family Dentistry so that you can make the best choice for your specific needs.