These days, more patients than ever before are turning toward cosmetic dentistry to unlock their best and brightest smiles, and one stand-out treatment that’s loved and sought after by many is veneers. Many patients have turned to them due to their incredible results coupled with their outstanding longevity. That said, for veneers to work as intended, a small amount of enamel needs to be removed beforehand. Here’s more information about why this enamel removal is necessary and how much is generally removed so that you can confidently commit to receiving veneers and vastly upgrading your smile!
How Much Enamel Needs to Be Removed?
Initially, it might sound a little alarming to hear that some enamel will need to be removed for you to receive veneers—after all, your enamel is responsible for protecting your pearly whites, and it cannot regenerate on its own. However, you should remember that your dentist will always take a very conservative approach and only remove what’s absolutely necessary when preparing your teeth for veneers. In most cases, this amount is around 0.5mm, which is roughly the thickness of your fingernail and ultimately not enough to negatively impact your tooth’s structure.
Why Is This Removal Necessary?
This enamel removal isn’t pointless by any means; to put it simply, it ensures the success of your veneers for several years to come. If your veneers were placed directly onto your teeth without any prep work, even though they’re the same color, they’d still look a little bulky and artificial. Since veneers are a cosmetic service meant to improve your smile’s appearance, it wouldn’t make much sense for the solution to appear unnatural.
Also, the removal of this enamel facilitates a stronger bond between the veneers and the tooth’s structure, meaning that your solution is far less likely to encounter any issues that might disrupt it. In some cases, patients are given temporary veneers to wear directly after this enamel is removed that serve as a “test drive” before the permanent ones are placed; these also protect the treated teeth.
In the grand scheme of things, having a small amount of enamel removed to ensure that your veneers will serve you well is a very reasonable and non-threatening price to pay. Given how they’ll improve your smile’s beauty and oral functionality tenfold, if you’re on the fence about the treatment, rest assured that having enamel removed beforehand is not something you should be worried about at all.
About the Practice
Under the leadership of Dr. Asra Javeed, the talented team at Smile Care Family Dentistry is excited to provide families in the Virginia Beach community with an outstanding level of dental care! The practice is pleased to offer a wide range of cosmetic services including veneers for those who are hoping to boost their smile’s beauty. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to schedule a visit for you or a loved one, feel free to contact the practice online or by phone for additional information or assistance: (757) 498-6420.