How Porcelain Veneers And Whitening Can Be Combined For Senior's Teeth

No matter how old a person is, they can use porcelain veneers to improve the functionality and aesthetics of their teeth. And some senior patients have issues that porcelain veneers are designed to correct, such as staining, chips, and brittleness. When used with whitening, porcelain veneers can transform an aging smile into a youthful and attractive one.

If you are considering porcelain veneers, then here are just some of the ways that whitening and veneers can work together to restore your smile to its former glory.

Porcelain veneers can cover stained or chipped upper teeth

Senior patients are ideal candidates for porcelain veneers. As teeth age, they turn darker and yellow. This can be due to a lifetime of staining from foods and drinks, and tobacco for smokers. The enamel layer gradually weakens over a person's lifetime due to wear and tear. As a result, the yellow dentin layer beneath the enamel shows through and makes older teeth appear yellow. In addition, older teeth can have more wear and tear than younger teeth, with visible damage like chips and brittleness. Porcelain veneers can cover all of these imperfections in one go.
They can even restore the width and length of teeth that have shrunk over time.

Whitening can increase the effect of porcelain veneers

Sometimes, teeth are so discolored that the staining might show through porcelain veneers. Fortunately, dentists can combine whitening with porcelain veneers to achieve the most natural look possible. However, before placing the veneers, the dentist will whiten those teeth to remove as much staining as possible. Even if there is still some minor discoloration showing due to the dentin layer, the porcelain veneers will cover that as well.

Whitening the lower teeth also works well with veneers for seniors

Younger dental patients usually opt to place porcelain veneers on just their upper teeth. This is because they usually show when a person smiles, while the lower teeth are mostly hidden behind the bottom lip. However, as a person ages, lips can lose their elasticity, meaning the lower lip can begin to sag and reveal more of the lower teeth when a person smiles. Seniors can deal with this issue by whitening their lower teeth before they have porcelain veneers placed on their upper teeth. This will ensure that the shade of the porcelain veneers matches the shade of the lower teeth when a senior patient smiles.

Contact a dentist for more information about dental veneers.