Veneer teeth shaving is a cosmetic dentistry treatment that can improve the quality of your smile. It involves removing a small amount of enamel from the tooth’s surface to facilitate the bonding of veneers.
If you have teeth with stains, chips, misalignment, or uneven spacing, then you might need veneers.
Your dentist will examine you and decide whether you need filed teeth before veneers.
Read on to get insightful information on the veneers’ process of shaving and when you need veneers shaved teeth.
Overview of the Dental Veneers Procedure
Of all the dental procedures currently in practice, dental veneers are one of the safest and most effective for cosmetic purposes. When it comes to how much veneers cost, they all vary depending on their material. Having your teeth prepped for veneers means some part of your teeth surface must be removed and replaced with porcelain or composite veneers.
Here’s a quick dental veneer procedure summary:
- On your first dental examination, the dentist will determine if you are fit for the veneer procedure. You can see before and after results by taking intraoral photos and dental x-rays.
- Tooth preparation involves removing some of tooth enamel to create room for the veneer. An anesthetic is administered to get you numb and comfortable during the procedure.
- Picking veneer color: The veneer color depends on your adjacent teeth, and it is readily available on a shade guide.
- Veneer customization: The impression and shade you choose are sent to a laboratory to create a custom porcelain veneer that fits precisely to your teeth.
- The dentist will fit you with a temporary veneer until your permanent veneers are ready. Typically, temporary veneers last for 7-10 days.
- Your dentist will adjust your veneers at your next appointment to place them correctly. The dentist will also examine your bite.
- Upon adjustment, the veneer is permanently bonded to the front surface of the teeth.
Prepping The Teeth for Dental Veneers
Veneer teeth shading material can be made from porcelain or composite, depending on your individual needs and desires.
Veneers are popular with people who want their teeth to appear straighter and more uniform. It is important to note that the amount of room each person has to shift their teeth varies. For example, if you have a lot of tooth crowding or spacing issues, you may need to get your natural teeth shaved down before veneers can be applied.
If this is something you would like to explore further, talk with your dentist about how you can start the process.
There are different types of veneers you can choose from depending on your specifications.
- Remodel the tooth surface to be nearly as thick as the veneer they will add.
- You can decide with your dentist whether or not to numb the area before trimming the enamel.
- Your dentist will then create an impression of your tooth. The model is sent to a dental laboratory for fabrication. The veneers get returned to the patient within 2-4 weeks of the laboratory order.
- Until the permanent veneers arrive, the patient uses temporary porcelain veneers.
Are Teeth Shaved Down for Veneers?
Teeth shaving is a standard procedure that dentists and orthodontists use to make room for new dental work. It is not compulsory, but your dentist may recommend shaved teeth for veneers depending on the severity of your needs.
Filed teeth before veneers are necessary when:
- The patient has a lot of tooth structure that needs removing, like a chipped or fractured tooth.
- The patient has a significant overbite and wants an even smile with their new veneers. If this is the case, the dentist shaves down some of the anterior teeth as well as posterior teeth to create room for the veneers.
If not looking to get your teeth shaved for veneers, you can check out snap-on veneers reviews to explore other options available.
What are The Disadvantages of Veneers?
You should first understand the pros and cons of veneers before considering getting the procedure.
The cosmetic procedure can improve your smile by aligning a variety of problems, including tooth discoloration, chips, and gaps.
However, there are some disadvantages to getting veneers. While they can significantly improve your smile, they’re more expensive than other cosmetic dental procedures and can cause sensitivity if not cared for properly after application.
Here’s a closer look at some of the pros and cons of veneers:
- Covers up teeth that don’t respond to teeth bleaching treatment
- Make teeth look straighter without braces
- Make all of your teeth look even in shape and size
- Get a more beautiful smile instantly
- There are permanent and reversible veneer options to choose from
- Low maintenance
- Minimally- or non-invasive dental procedure
- Stain-resistant
- Expensive
- Not typically covered by insurance
- Can break or pop off your teeth
- Depending on the type, some veneers mean irreversibly altering your teeth
- You may not qualify if your bite is in bad alignment or if your teeth have decay or structural damage
Before and After Veneer Teeth Shaving
Veneers process shaving is a delicate procedure that should get tailored to the needs of each patient. Although it offers no guarantees, it is occasionally used as part of an overall treatment plan for those who are unhappy with the size or shape of their teeth.
And for most patients, veneer teeth shaving offers more than just a cosmetic improvement they report newfound confidence and ease when smiling and speaking, which is priceless. Besides, once you know how to whiten veneers, you can enjoy them for a much longer period.
Here are a few before and after images to give you more insight into what to expect after getting your teeth shaved for veneers:
Are Veneers Right for You?
Veneers can be the best shot if you are after improving the look of teeth with severe tooth damage, discoloration, gaps between teeth, or crooked teeth. However, there are situations in which veneers aren’t right for you.
For example, if you want to improve the quality of your teeth, it might be best to stick to in-office options such as whitening treatments.
To help you make the right decision, you can look at our bonding vs veneers pictures.
You should consider veneers if:
- Your teeth have cosmetic shortcomings that whitening treatment alone cannot solve
- Your teeth are structurally sound (If not, you may want to consider crowns instead of veneers)
- You want to get a brighter and radiant smile
Get Your Perfect Smile
In the end, deciding whether you want to shave your teeth for veneers is a personal decision. From the text, it is evident that veneer process shaving has its pros and cons.
Before making your next step, you’ll have to carefully weigh the risks and alternatives to see if the veneers are right for you.
FAQ
Because they are attached to your teeth, veneers are very thin, about half a millimeter thick. A layer of enamel equal to the thickness of the veneer must be ground away from the teeth to prepare them for veneers.
You don’t have to remove parts of your tooth for some veneers. No-preparation (no-prep) veneers are remarkably thin, so they can fit right over your tooth enamel.
Odontoplasty doesn’t hurt. Dentists only remove small amounts of enamel from your teeth and do not touch the pulp or the root of your teeth. You will unlikely even need an anesthetic to remove just a tiny amount of enamel.
Depending on factors such as where you live, and the dentist’s experience, dental or orthodontic procedures vary in price. An average minor tooth reshaping costs about $50 to $300.
It’s not difficult to get your teeth filed down. However, it is very invasive and can cause complications if not done correctly. Before any tooth shaving veneer procedure, you should always inquire about your dentist’s skills and experience.
You can have your teeth shaved. However, it’s not for everyone, and some potential risks are involved.
Sources
- Measurement of enamel thickness in relation to reduction for etched laminate veneers. (1992). Retrieved 22 June 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1343012/
- An in vitro assessment of the strength of porcelain veneers dependent on tooth preparation. (2000). Retrieved 22 June 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11251771/
- Recontouring teeth and closing diastemas with direct composite buildups: A 5-year follow-up. (2013). Retrieved 22 June 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030057121300211X?via%3Dihub
- Impact fracture characteristics of intact and crowned human central incisors. (1993). Retrieved 22 June 2022, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2842.1993.tb01518.x
