I am 23 years old, would porcelain veneers be a viable option to correct my smile or should I have braces?
Hi Dr Hughes,
I’m 23 years old. I wore a brace when i was younger, and still wear my retainer but am not quite happy with my teeth.
Am I too young to get 10 upper porcelain veneers? I’ve heard very mixed opinions about this. On one hand, if my teeth are quite straight then not too much grinding should need to be done but, if veneers last about 15 years in total then they will need to be replaced 3 or 4 times in my lifetime. Is this possible?
What are your opinions on this?
Thanks
Hi In a lot of cases porcelain veneers do require reduction of your teeth, in some cases this needs to significant to achieve the results that you’d wish for. As you are quite young then the potential risks and complications from doing this need to be considered very carefully. In some cases great results can be achieved with very minimal preparation or even sometime none at all.
If you commit now to porcelain veneers then you will have to have them replaced throughout your life. There is no way to give you any accurate prediction of longevity but on average they could need replaced as much as every 10 years , or maybe even more often. This is sometimes one at a time or can be the entire set.
If your teeth are in good condition and you like their shape and size then often the best way to get them straight again is by orthodontic correction, maybe with some tooth whitening or some minor enamel adjustment of bonding as well. If this could achieve the results you wish for then it is the healthiest and most conservative option
The best thing for you to do now would be to see an experienced cosmetic dentist who can also advise on an orthodontic solution so that you can weigh up your options and choose what you think is best for you
I hope that helps you
Mark
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