09 Sep Can Protruding Front Teeth be Fixed with Veneers?

Can Protruding Front Teeth be Fixed with Veneers? (Ultimate Guide to Dental Veneers in Singapore)

Many people feel insecure about their teeth and want to explore different methods to improve their smile. There are many possible solutions one can consider in Singapore, one of which is dental veneers. This article will delve into what veneers are and what they can do, as well as whether front teeth veneers can help correct protruding front teeth, which is a common concern for people in Singapore.

 

What Are Veneers?

Veneers or dental veneers are customised ceramic or porcelain shells that cover the front side of your teeth (ADA, 2020). Veneers can be used to correct discoloured, damaged, or crooked teeth by achieving near-perfect appearance and alignment. They can be customised to the colour, shape and size that best suits the patient. This customisation seeks to make the veneers look as natural as possible after being fitted, by achieving the colour pigment and texture similar to that of healthy human teeth.

While veneers may seem like an all-encompassing solution for all of your dental-related worries, it is essential for you to do thorough research and have discussions with your dentist about the problems you wish to correct before deciding to proceed with installing veneers.

 

What Can Veneers Do?

Teeth can easily become discoloured due to food stains or become damaged due to an accident. These are problems that could be fixed with veneers to give your teeth a more pleasant appearance. Not only can dental veneers help solve these problems, but they may also make your teeth look even better than they did originally.

 

Can my Protruding Teeth be Fixed with Front Teeth Veneers?

An overjet, also known as protruding teeth or bucked teeth, is when the front upper teeth are pushed outward and over the front bottom teeth. It is a common condition which many seek to correct, not just because of its “bunny-like” appearance but also because those with the condition may also have issues chewing food properly. In some severe cases, patients may be unable to properly close their mouths due to their overjet teeth.

While more common solutions to an overjet would include braces or orthodontics, some may be wondering if front teeth veneers may also be a viable solution to consider.

In a nutshell, not every case of overjet may be easily corrected with veneers as veneers would be more suitable for teeth that are already arranged well. This is because your dentist would need to perform some preparations on your teeth before getting veneers fitted, and less preparation would be needed for teeth that are aligned.

 

Besides general alignment, it is also easier to be fitted with front teeth veneers when there are fewer and/or smaller gaps between your teeth, so that the outcome would look natural. Also, as veneers would change how your mouth looks quite dramatically, your dentist may also need to assess how your side profile may look like before proceeding with the treatment.

As such, whether front teeth veneers are suitable to correct your overjet or protruding teeth would vary widely from case to case, based on factors such as the severity of the overjet. In the next few sections, we will explore more about how veneers work.

 

How Do Veneers Work?

Veneers do not last forever, but they can last for decades with proper care and attention. Before the fitting of veneers, the dentist would need to trim the teeth by partially grinding your teeth enamel before fixing the veneers onto the leftover structure of your teeth. While this process could be simple for some and anaesthesia is not required, it might be more uncomfortable for some more complicated cases and hence would require some local anaesthesia.

Due to the nature of this procedure which requires the dentist to permanently alter the structure of your natural teeth, it is vital for you to be extremely sure of your decision to install veneers before proceeding with the treatment. Thus, always be sure to have an in-depth discussion with your dentist and doctor before making any major decision.

 

If you only wish to correct one or two teeth that have been damaged, it is possible for you to get one or two teeth veneers. However, many choose to fit a set of up to 8 teeth veneers at once to minimise any asymmetry after the fitting.

After getting fitted with veneers, you would need to be careful not to try to bite into hard objects or food such as shells or hard plastic. Damaged veneers would require fixing at the dentist’s, which may cost more.

As veneers are very resistant to staining, they can ensure that your teeth look clean and white without the regular whitening required of natural teeth to look perfect. Veneers can also easily cover the flaws in your natural teeth and will not be worn down by acidic foods or acid reflux.

 

Cost of  Veneers in Singapore

Typical cost of a fitting would depend on the type and material chosen for your veneers, as well as the number of teeth you are fitting them on. For example, porcelain veneers are pricier and will cost about $1000 to $2000+ per tooth. This is because porcelain is aesthetically-pleasing and are very durable, thus you would be able to eat or bite into harder foods with porcelain veneers.

On the other hand, resin veneers are cheaper and relatively easier to install on your teeth ($200 to $300 per tooth). The downside of using resin is that they are weaker and thus more susceptible to damage due to harder foods. Moreover, resin also stains more easily than porcelain does, and hence can stain more quickly over time.

 

How Should I Decide Whether to Get Veneers?

In general, veneers are usually most suitable to treat stained, discoloured or damaged teeth. Whether they can be used on crooked or protruding teeth would largely depend on the severity of the case. Veneers should also only be considered for older patients who have fully erupted teeth. 

Please be sure to find an experienced dentist who is familiar with veneers and the process of customising and fitting them. With an experienced dentist, you can get the full picture and consider all the pros and cons of veneers and whether there are any other more suitable options for you to correct your smile.