The gaps in your smile may not be harming your oral health, but they can still have a big impact on you. You may feel self-conscious about them and hide them away in photos, but what can you do about them? While orthodontics are often used to give you a straight grin, veneers may be a great alternative. Keep reading to learn how this cosmetic treatment may be right for your spacing issues.
What Are Dental Veneers?
In short, these are thin porcelain shells that are bonded to the front of your teeth. They can cover a wide range of imperfections, such as stains, cracks, chips, and even minor gaps. Using high-quality materials, your results will also look and feel like natural tooth enamel. You can even enjoy your renewed smile for over a decade with proper care.
Before they are placed, your dentist will first need to remove a thin layer of enamel. This will ensure that the shells don’t look or feel bulky. Instead, you will get to show off a renewed grin and feel better about it.
Can Veneers Fix Gaps in My Smile?
As it was briefly mentioned above, veneers can close small gaps between your teeth. The entire process takes two appointments, giving them the name of “instant orthodontics.” The first step is preparation, and your dentist will then take impressions of your smile. They send this to a dental lab, which will craft each shell according to your goals. Once they are done, you will come back to your provider to have them placed.
Instead of needing to wear braces or another orthodontic treatment for a year or two, you will just need to wait a couple of weeks. However, your dental alignment is an important thing to consider. If it’s healthy and you have minor gaps, then veneers may be the perfect option. If you have wide spaces between your teeth or other misalignment issues, then it may not be best for you.
When Would It Be Better to Get an Orthodontic Treatment?
Veneers are a cosmetic dental treatment. They are designed to enhance your smile, so they won’t physically shift it. If the gaps you have are caused by a bite issue, then talking to your dentist about next steps with orthodontics may be right for getting you a straighter and healthier set of teeth.
In the end, these porcelain shells can be a great solution for your grin. They can fix the flaw that bothers you and let you feel more confident about showing it off.
About the Author
Dr. Megan McInnis earned her dental degree from the Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry. She understands how a less-than-perfect set of teeth can leave you feeling a bit down, so she offers a variety of cosmetic dental treatments, such as veneers, as a safe and effective solution. If you want to learn whether these porcelain shells are right for the gaps between your teeth, schedule an appointment or call her office at (503) 761-1414.