Whether you’re planning a trip or a get-together with a large group of people, it can be difficult to know how many supplies you’ll need. You don’t want to overestimate and waste money on extras, but you’d also like to make sure you have enough to have a good time. The same predicament can come up with veneers. How many veneers do you need? It depends on several factors, which are explained in greater detail below.
How Many Flawed Teeth Do You Have?
Imperfections in your teeth can range from extremely subtle and small to huge and noticeable. Veneers are typically used for healthy teeth that are still mostly intact, but they need to be covered with something more attractive.
For example, small or oddly shaped teeth can have a veneer to make them look better in the arch. In this situation, perhaps just one or two veneers may be recommended. If, however, you have stubborn discoloration on all your teeth because of medication like tetracycline, which typically doesn’t respond to traditional professional whitening, veneers on all your teeth—or just the eight most visible teeth—might be your best option.
What Types of Flaws Do You Want to Fix?
Although many patients choose these porcelain coverings in large part for chipped teeth, veneers can hide a variety of imperfections, including small size, odd shape, gaps, minor misalignment, yellow or dull color, and damage to a tooth. However, this durable solution isn’t the only one available; cosmetic bonding (made from the same material as tooth-colored fillings) or teeth whitening may be more effective in terms of time or money than veneers. Before your dentist recommends treatment, they will ask about your goals, which will help guide your treatment plan.
Would Your Natural Teeth Look Strange Next to Veneers?
Sometimes, even if you have fairly normal-looking teeth around the ones being treated by veneers, once your imperfect teeth are treated with veneers, your real teeth can seem odd or off from being near perfection, enhancing some of your smile but not all of it!
In this situation, it may be smarter to consider applying veneers to more than just the ones that have obvious aesthetic issues to achieve the overall look you want: a perfectly uniform smile.
In the end, the surest method of answering this question for giving you an ideal smile is to meet with your dentist in person. After an examination and discussion with you, they can review your options, answer your questions, and give an idea of what to expect from treatment.
About the Author
Dr. Gabby Dizon is not your average dentist. She is a Fellow with the American College of Dentists and with the Pierre Fauchard Award, and she has been named D Magazine’s Big D Best Dentist of the Year for three years! When it comes to patients, she doesn’t approach any two smiles exactly the same because each one is unique. As a result, every treatment plan should be customized to the person. If you’d like to meet with Dr. Dizon for a cosmetic consultation, we would be happy to book you an appointment. Just call our Dallas office at 214-646-6202 or visit our Contact Us page here.