How Veneers Work to Give You a Brighter Smile

Your smile has the power to cheer up another person, exude self-confidence, and even relieve your own stress! But if you don’t love your smile, you might not be inclined to share it with the world. If yellow, stained teeth are holding back your smile, you’re not alone. Removing stains and brightening teeth are common aesthetic goals, and it’s one we take seriously here at Bucktown Dental in Chicago, Illinois.

Michelle Schwartz, DDS, Melissa Daza, DDS, and our Bucktown Wicker Park Dental team offer a variety of cosmetic treatments, including veneers, designed to brighten your smile. 

Here’s a look at how veneers give you a brighter smile.

Veneers 101

Veneers are thin porcelain shells that attach directly to the surface of your natural teeth. Veneers can enhance the size, shape, and color of your teeth. Despite covering all of your teeth, they blend in seamlessly with your natural teeth. That’s because porcelain is translucent and mimics the natural shine of enamel.

Veneers are a permanent cosmetic treatment, and once you have veneers, you’ll always need them. You receive your veneers in two appointments:

First appointment

During your first appointment, our team removes a thin layer of enamel, which makes room for your veneers. Once your teeth are prepared, we take impressions, or molds, of your teeth. These impressions will be used to create your veneers. At this time, you receive temporary veneers until your permanent ones are ready.

Second appointment

Once your veneers are ready, it’s time to seat, or place, the veneers. Our team applies a special adhesive to firmly secure your veneers to your natural teeth. 

Turning a dull smile into a dazzling one

Now that we’ve covered what veneers are and how the process works, let’s explore how veneers enhance the color of your teeth. During your consultation, before your veneers are even made, you will have a chance to discuss your ideal tooth shade with our team. Porcelain shells are customized to each patient, and that means you can select the shade of your veneers. 

Not only can you choose the shade of your veneers, but your veneers are now highly stain resistant. Although porcelain looks like tooth enamel, it’s not porous the same way that your enamel is. Keep in mind that the porosity of enamel is what enables food and drinks (like tea and coffee) to seep through and cause staining. Because porcelain is not that porous, it means that your new veneers are, for the most part, resistant to staining caused by food or beverages. With proper at-home oral care and routine cleanings, your veneers can last for decades.

Veneers or teeth whitening: which is right for you?

Teeth whitening treatments can also lift stains and brighten your smile, so how can you determine which treatment is right for you? Veneers can eliminate the most stubborn stains, including stains that are immune to whitening treatments. 

Veneers eliminate unsightly stains, but they can also address multiple cosmetic issues. Veneers can also:

• Hide small gaps
• Hide minor imperfections
• Eliminate a gummy smile
• Change the size or shape of your teeth

In other words, you might consider veneers if you have multiple areas you’d like to correct at once.

Although veneers can enhance many components of your smile, they aren’t right for everyone. That doesn’t mean you’re out of options. If veneers aren’t for you, Our team recommends other cosmetic services, such as Invisalign®, or whitening treatments that can help you reach your goals. 

To find out if veneers are right for you, schedule your consultation today. You can reach us at 773-252-2303 or via our online scheduling system.