If you’re considering porcelain veneers, chances are that you’ve heard some of the myths people spread about porcelain veneers. Let us share the truth with you.

Porcelain Veneers Break Right Away

The myth that porcelain veneers are fragile comes from the fact that the word “porcelain” is often used to refer to fragile ceramics. The truth is that “porcelain” only refers to the color of the ceramic, white, not to its composition.

Porcelain veneers are made of advanced ceramics that are far more durable than anything you have in your china cabinet. As a result, most porcelain veneers last 10-20 years. In clinical studies, about 19 out of 20 veneers are still intact and in place after 10 years and five out of six are in place after twenty years.

They Won’t Look Good for Long

Porcelain veneers are very stain resistant. Compared to your natural teeth, they will continue looking great as long as they don’t get chipped and don’t get their glossy coating worn off.

They’re High Maintenance

Speaking of the glossy coating, many people worry that they will have to go out of their way to take special care of porcelain veneers. Not true. Caring for porcelain veneers is easy. Just brush and floss normally, don’t use your teeth the way they’re not supposed to be used (like as a bottle opener), and visit the dentist regularly.

They’re Painful to Get or Wear

People will try to tell you that getting porcelain veneers is painful because we remove some of your natural tooth material so the veneers will fit properly, but this isn’t true. We don’t remove very much of your tooth material, so most people would do fine without anesthesia, but we use it just in case, so there’s no risk of discomfort.

And when it comes to sensitivity, the veneers take the place of your natural tooth material and have very similar insulating properties, so as long as you care for your teeth and gums, you shouldn’t experience sensitivity.

I’ll Have to Give Up Most Foods

This goes along with the notion that veneers are fragile. You should avoid a few very hard, crunchy foods, and don’t bite into things that aren’t food (like ice cubes).

Everyone Will Know I Have Them

When porcelain veneers are done properly, they look completely natural and no one will be able to tell that you have them. There are people you see every day who have porcelain veneers and you don’t know it. The only people whose veneers are obvious are the ones that are done poorly or are made of cheap material.

My Smile Will Look Like Everyone Else’s

Again, this is a mark of poor craftsmanship or cheap veneers. We can fully customize your smile so that it will look completely individual–it will be uniquely yours. You can have a smile that’s perfect, or one that has slight imperfections that give it the look you desire. It can even be made to look like your smile did when you were younger, if you want.

If you’re looking for the truth about porcelain veneers, please call (843) 706-2999 for a consultation with a Hilton Head cosmetic dentist at Beyond Exceptional Dentistry.