Who’s a Candidate for Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are an excellent solution to various cosmetic dentistry concerns for many patients. Veneers can make your teeth look straighter, whiter, and more appealing than you ever thought possible. However, not every patient is a candidate for porcelain veneers.

Here are some qualities that our dentists look for in excellent veneer patients.

Many Cosmetic Issues

If you desire whiter and straighter teeth, both of these concerns can be corrected with veneers. Additionally, if a tooth is unable to be bleached because it’s dead and suffers from tetracycline staining, veneers may be their only option. Veneers can also be used to help mild misalignment of crooked teeth, fix gaps, chipped teeth, and unevenly sized teeth. In summary, if you have multiple cosmetic problems with your teeth, veneers can help improve your smile.

Healthy Teeth

If you have tooth decay, cracked teeth, gingivitis or gum disease, you are most likely not a good candidate for veneers. We cannot put veneers on unhealthy teeth since it will make your tooth conditions worse. We can do conservative all porcelain crown restorations which look the same as porcelain veneers once the decay and gingivitis or periodontal disease is treated.

You Don’t Grind or Clench Your Teeth

If you clench or grind your teeth, you are not an ideal candidate. Veneers can be broken or chipped more easily compared to your teeth since veneers are not as strong as natural teeth. However, patients who wear a night guard that grind their teeth may be able to have veneers. We can evaluate what would be the best cosmetic, conservative and functionally strong option for you.

Ideal Tooth Enamel

Porcelain veneers bond to the enamel on your tooth. If you have insufficient enamel on your teeth, veneers will have nothing to adhere to, and it is probably not the best solution for you.

Alignment

We perform Invisalign orthodontics first in order to correct severely misaligned teeth. In these cases, just doing porcelain veneers without Invisalign may cause complications. When you bite with misaligned teeth, the position of your jaw may put excessive pressure on the veneers, which could possibly cause them to crack or break.

Patient’s Desire for a Beautiful Smile

Obviously, the best candidates for veneers are patients who want to improve their smile. Veneers don’t involve countless dentist visits or procedures, so it is a more convenient alternative to other treatments. Veneers are one of the fastest and easiest ways to achieve your straight and white smile.

Give One of Our Offices a Call

If you are unhappy with a few cosmetic concerns regarding your smile, veneers might be the best smile makeover you’ve been waiting for! Our dentists in Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, and Comstock Park, MI, can help you learn more about porcelain veneers and determine your candidacy. Call one of our MI Smiles Dental locations today to schedule an appointment.