Dental veneers are a great way to address physical and aesthetic issues of your teeth—as long as the treatment is done correctly.

Years of drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes or eating highly pigmented foods make your teeth unattractive, turning them dark and stained with a shade of yellow or brown.

Veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made and tooth-colored shells used to cover the front surfaces of your natural teeth—changing their color, shape, size, or length.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) said it re-creates the natural look of teeth and strengthens your tooth, making it an option to treat teeth that are stained, chipped or have gaps.

Meanwhile, the British Dental Health Foundation veneers can be used to close gaps between teeth or correct minimal misalignment, making it a less intrusive option than crowns or braces.

There are two materials used in making dental veneers—porcelain or resin. Of the two, porcelain veneers are more stain-resistant and better imitate the light-reflecting characteristics of natural teeth.

In getting a dental veneer, the typical process requires two to three appointments with the dentist—one for consultation, two for applying the pre-fabricated veneer, and three of the veneer are custom-made.

Depending on what they are made of, veneers usually last anywhere from 7 to 15 years, after which, it needs to be replaced.

In caring for veneers, there is no special care needed—just proper and regular oral hygiene habits like brushing and flossing.

All that said, veneers are permanent, irreversible, and pricey.

Applying veneer to your tooth requires removing a thin part of your enamel first before bonding the dental veneer to your tooth’s surface. The enamel is the hard, outer surface layer of your teeth which protects it from tooth decay.

They are considered permanent because the structure of your natural teeth needs to be changed in order to place veneers on your teeth.

With a thin part of enamel removed, this would mean increasing tooth sensitivity after going through the procedure.

You may also be recommended to avoid or minimize intake of stain-causing, highly acidic foods and beverages such as coffee, tea or red wine after getting veneers.

The cost of veneers ranges from $1,000 to $2,000 per tooth, depending on where you live and on the extent of the procedure. They are also generally not covered by insurance.

Not all are candidates to get veneers. It requires healthy teeth so those with decay or active gum disease can go and have veneers. Those with weakened teeth as a result of decay, fracture, large dental fillings or a small amount of enamel are also not eligible to go through the process.

So if you’re deciding to get veneers, it’s best if you carefully think about what you’re getting into.

Know the pros and cons of getting veneers with Dr. Clark. We specialize in restorative dentistry, and that includes veneers. We’ll walk you through the process and make sure you get the perfect smile you’ve always wanted.