Part of the dental veneer process involves removing a tiny sliver of enamel from your teeth. If you’re concerned about this, that’s perfectly understandable. After all, “enamel” is the outermost layer of your tooth’s structure, and it plays a huge role in protecting your pearly whites from bacteria and sensitivity. Under normal circumstances, the goal is to prevent your enamel from thinning!
Rest assured, your cosmetic dentist in Commack will only remove what’s necessary for your treatment, and once your veneers are placed, your teeth will still be well-protected. In fact, you might find that your oral health has actually improved.
Why is Enamel Removed for Dental Veneers?
Remember that dental veneers are placed directly on top of the teeth you want to enhance. Even though they’re extremely thin (as in, they’re no thicker than the average contact lens), your teeth would still appear bulky if no enamel was removed. So, one reason this is done is to create a more natural, realistic look for your smile.
Another reason is that enamel is a little too smooth. This makes it difficult for the special adhesive to properly bind a veneer to dental enamel. By removing this surface layer, your cosmetic dentist creates a rougher texture that responds much better to the adhesive.
How Much is A “Tiny Sliver”?
As noted above, dental veneers are extremely thin. To be precise, they’re no more than .5 millimeters thick (.02 inches)! In order to make room for these dental cosmetics, your dentist only has to remove .5 millimeters of enamel. That’s thinner than your credit card.
Will This Impact My Oral Health?
Ultimately, removing this tiny sliver of enamel in order to make room for veneers won’t negatively impact your oral health. Make no mistake, if you weren’t essentially replacing this protective layer with a veneer, you’d likely experience more sensitivity to hot and cold foods and physical pressure. However, your customized veneers will act like a new shield for your teeth, taking up the role of your removed enamel. Patients who already have compromised enamel will even report feeling less sensitivity!
While having your enamel shaved down should normally be cause for concern, there’s no reason to worry too much if you plan on having veneers placed on top of your teeth. Your cosmetic dentist will be very careful to only remove what’s necessary to create your stunning new smile, and in the end, your pearly whites will be just as well-protected as they were before your treatment. You can safely receive your veneers with confidence!
About the Author
Dr. Publio Silfa is a proud third-generation dentist who’s dedicated to keeping up with emergency trends in his field, including those in cosmetic dentistry. Veneers have come a long way since he began his dental journey in 2003, and Dr. Silfa is happy to provide patients with a safe and effective way to perfect their smiles. If you’re interested in these dental cosmetics and would like to schedule a consultation, contact Dr. Silfa’s office at (631) 646-1555 or submit your request online through Zocdoc.
