The benefits of porcelain veneers are wide-ranging and potentially lifelong. You can expect an improved level of confidence as well as a younger and more beautiful smile. Before the advent and widespread use of porcelain veneers, minor dental imperfections required either serious orthodontic intervention or endured major damage to the natural tooth. However, with porcelain veneers, many minor dental imperfections can be minimized or entirely corrected with little to no damage to your natural teeth. Porcelain veneers can not only permanently whiten a smile, they can also be used to correct misaligned teeth, reduce dental sensitivity, strengthen weak or cracked teeth, build up worn down teeth, correct minor bite problems and make over misshapen teeth.
When placing porcelain veneers on your teeth, they can be color matched to virtually be indistinguishable from your existing teeth. If replacing your entire smile line, stained teeth can easily be covered with porcelain veneers that are several shades whiter, providing a near instant smile makeover. Porcelain veneers are a non-porous material, so they are much more resistant to staining than your natural teeth.
Porcelain veneers are extremely durable once bonded to your existing teeth. For this reason, they can be bonded to weak or cracked teeth to strengthen them and act as a splint. They also share a number of important characteristics with tooth enamel. Like your existing tooth enamel, porcelain veneers are translucent. Light penetrates the porcelain veneer and the enamel of your other teeth in a similar way. This results in a similar shine and luster on both the porcelain veneer and the natural tooth next to it, for natural and beautiful results.
Once applied, porcelain veneers function identically to your natural teeth. You can brush and floss them just as you do your other teeth. You can also eat the same foods and engage in the same activities you did before the application.