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Dental veneers have been a staple of our cosmetic dentistry toolkit for a long time, and a good reason. Veneers are a popular method to enhance your smile and significantly boost your appearance. Veneers are great for patients who have chipped, broken, misshapen, discoloured or otherwise damaged teeth and those who want to take their smile up a few notches.
Generally, veneers are placed over the upper front-facing teeth, which are most visible when you speak or smile. The other teeth aren’t as important as they are usually hidden and out of sight, so there isn’t much use in adding veneers to them in most cases. Knowing how to choose the best veneers isn’t easy, but with some assistance from your cosmetic dentist, you’ll make the right decision.
Dental veneers can be a great option if you have:
- Chipped or broken teeth
- Misshapen or misaligned teeth
- Discoloured or stained teeth
- Gapped teeth
- Small teeth
- Worn teeth
How to choose the best veneers
There are a few commonalities when considering how to choose the best veneers.
Take into account the shape of your face, the colour of the veneer that will suit your skin tone, and how much you want to change your appearance. For example, choose square veneers for an oval-shaped face, longer and larger veneers for a round-shaped face, and rounded veneers for a square-shaped face. Also, choose a neutral white for a natural-looking smile. Lastly, consult your dentist and use their expertise to guide you.
Dental veneers are typically made out of porcelain or some composite resin, with the porcelain variety being the most popular. In most cases, porcelain will provide the most vibrant and natural appearance, but only if you choose correctly. That means choosing the right style, shape and colour to suit your face. We never recommend getting veneers that will drastically change your look; rather, choose an option that augments your style and doesn’t shout too loudly when you open your mouth. That’s because you don’t want everyone to take one look at your smile and immediately know you’ve had veneers installed. Not that veneers are a bad thing – they most definitely aren’t – it’s just that we believe natural looking is the best way to go when it comes to your teeth and smile.
To help you choose the best veneers for your face shape and style, we provide consultations with our dentists to help provide options and narrow down your choices so you end up with amazing-looking teeth you’ll love to show off.
Keep reading for what you need to know when it comes time to choose your dental veneers:
Choose the right shade of white for your smile
It’s not as easy as you’d think to choose the correct colour veneers because they can be made in any shade of white you can imagine. You can’t simply say you want “white” veneers because, believe it or not, there are hundreds of shades to pick from. Your dentist will show you a chart of popular shades and ones that they feel will look best on your smile. The general rule of thumb is to choose a veneer shade that best resembles bright, healthy and, most importantly, natural teeth.
This is how you choose the right veneer shade:
- Make sure your teeth aren’t whiter than the whites of your eyes.
- For patients with fair skin, choose a whiter option, as you don’t need to worry about high contrast as much.
- For those with a darker complexion, consider toning down the shade a couple of levels and avoid bleached options for a natural and beautiful look.
- Ask about a layered veneer option that, just as it sounds, layers the colour of the veneer to increase the natural look.
Different shades of veneers
You can see some of the many veneer colour options below:
What about the shape of veneers?
After deciding the shade you want your veneers to be, it’s time to determine the right shape to match your face.
Here are a few tips for your consideration:
Look at the shape of your face and choose your veneers accordingly. Like the shade, the veneer’s shape should compliment your face and not look unnatural. Patients with rounder faces should usually opt for longer and thinner veneers, while those with longer, slimmer faces should consider wider, shorter options.
It has also been mentioned that squarish-shaped veneers can provide a more masculine smile, while rounder and softer-edged veneers help achieve a more feminine smile.
As we age, our teeth become worn and get shorter. This is one of the main reasons many patients come to us for veneers: they help restore teeth to full length and give a youthful appearance. Cosmetic dentistry to the rescue!
Adding larger veneers can also help reduce wrinkles around the mouth and cheeks while giving fuller-looking lips as the larger teeth prop up the skin of the face.
Take a quick look at this pic for some of the most popular veneer shape options:
Youthful style veneers: The most popular option
When it comes to the most popular porcelain veneer style, the hands-down winner is… the youthful style veneer shape! That shouldn’t be surprising because who wouldn’t want a smile that screams youthful radiance and confidence? It’s also one of all the different veneer styles that combine elements in just the right way to look radian but natural simultaneously.
Different veneer shapes
The images above illustrate the finer details and styles most commonly used in cosmetic dentistry. On a more basic level, dental porcelain veneers generally fall into four main categories:
1. Square veneers
Square-shaped veneers have a more angular and boxy appearance. They can provide a bold and strong look to your smile. Individuals who desire a more masculine or assertive aesthetic often choose this shape.
2. Round veneers
Round-shaped veneers have softly curved edges, creating a more gentle and natural look. They can enhance a softer and more feminine smile.
3. Oval veneers
Oval-shaped veneers combine the qualities of square and round shapes. They have slightly rounded corners and create a balanced, harmonious look. Oval-shaped veneers are often chosen to achieve a versatile and timeless smile.
4. Triangle veneers
Triangle-shaped veneers have a pointed or tapered edge, resembling an inverted triangle. This shape can give an illusion of a wider smile or emphasize specific teeth.
5. Natural Contour veneers
Natural contour veneers mimic the shape and contour of natural teeth. They are individually customized to match the patient’s existing teeth or the desired appearance, resulting in a seamless and natural-looking smile.
Your desired smile goals and aesthetic preferences will dictate which of the different veneer shapes suits you best. You should discuss it with your dentist and use their expertise to guide you in the right direction. Selecting the most appropriate veneer shape based on your facial features, tooth proportions, and overall smile design is key to success.
If you’re interested in seeing if veneers are an option for your smile, then contact our office nearest you, and we’ll be happy to help you choose the perfect shade, shape and style of veneer for you.
What are feminine teeth as a style?
The concept of a feminine smile refers to dental characteristics that are commonly associated with a feminine or softer appearance. While individual preferences for dental aesthetics can vary, certain traits are often considered to contribute to a more feminine smile.
Some of these characteristics include:
Smaller Tooth Size – Teeth that are proportionally smaller in size are often associated with a feminine smile. They tend to create a delicate and dainty look.
Rounded Tooth Shape – Teeth with gently rounded edges and contours contribute to a softer and more feminine appearance. These rounded shapes can create a more youthful and friendly smile.
Smooth Tooth Contours – Teeth with smooth and flowing contours without pronounced irregularities or sharp angles are often perceived as more feminine. This creates a sense of elegance and grace.
Light to Medium Tooth Shade – Teeth with a lighter to medium shade are generally associated with a more feminine smile. Bright and vibrant teeth can enhance the overall aesthetics and radiance of the smile.
Balanced Tooth Proportions – Symmetry and balanced proportions among the teeth contribute to an aesthetically pleasing smile. Properly aligned and harmoniously arranged teeth are commonly associated with a feminine dental appearance.
Can veneers help with a masculine smile?
When speaking about masculine teeth, the generally accepted vision is of a bolder, bigger and stronger-looking smile. While there is actually no such thing as masculine or feminine teeth, a certain type of veneer can help accentuate a person’s features to bring out a certain look.
Some characteristics of a perceived masculine smile may include:
Larger Tooth Size – Teeth proportionally larger in size can contribute to a more masculine appearance. They can convey strength and dominance in a smile.
Square Tooth Shape: Teeth with straight, square, or squared-off edges can create a more angular and masculine look. This shape can provide a bold and strong appearance to the smile.
Bold Tooth Contours – Teeth with more pronounced contours, including sharper ridges and lines, can contribute to a masculine dental appearance. These bold contours can add a sense of ruggedness and assertiveness to the smile.
Medium to Dark Tooth Shade – Teeth with a medium to dark shade are often associated with a more masculine smile. These shades can create a sense of maturity and depth in dental aesthetics.
Straight Tooth Alignment – Well-aligned teeth with minimal irregularities or crowding are often considered more masculine. Straight tooth alignment can enhance the symmetry and overall strength of the smile.
If you’re interested in seeing if veneers are an option for your smile, then contact our office nearest you, and we’ll be happy to help you choose the perfect shade, shape and style of veneer for you.
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Have more questions?
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