People have been enhancing the appearance of their teeth for quite some time—in fact, even though cosmetic dental treatments like veneers might seem like a relatively modern invention, they’ve actually seen quite a bit of use and have come in many shapes and sizes over the last century! But thanks to continuous advancements in dental technology, they are now better and more beautiful than ever before. Here’s a brief overview of the history of veneers and how they’ve evolved to expertly serve smiles everywhere.
The Origins of Dental Veneers
Californian dentist Charles Pincus developed the first version of dental veneers back in 1928, with the purpose of temporarily changing an actor’s smile for a film shoot. An acrylic material was adhered to the front surfaces of the teeth to enhance their appearance, and after the scenes were filmed, the veneers were removed. Eventually, the demand for cosmetic dentistry began booming and others besides movie stars wanted to improve their smiles, and veneers found their space in dentistry as a beautiful, albeit temporary, aesthetic solution.
Soon the swap to better materials like porcelain was made, and the etching technique that ensures better longevity was developed. By the time the 1980s rolled around, veneers had become established as an accessible and desirable cosmetic dental treatment, which has continued throughout the present day.
How Modern Veneers Enhance the Appearance of Teeth
Porcelain is a part of everyday dentistry, and it’s the ideal choice for veneers due to its integrity coupled with its beauty. It’s biocompatible, insoluble, durable and remarkably aesthetic. Your gums can tolerate it well, and it reflects light the same way that enamel does. The material can be customized to blend in with your natural smile seamlessly in terms of size, shape, and color, meaning that your veneers will very closely resemble real teeth! They’re a great option for hiding cracks and chips, filling in gaps between teeth, addressing areas of discoloration, and assisting with other types of visual issues.
On top of all this, the modernization of the etching process has made it so that veneers can last somewhere between 10 and 20 years with proper care. Although they will need to be replaced when compromised, lost or damaged (since the underlying teeth will always need to wear veneers once they’ve been treated for them), there are virtually no doubts that a smile is better off in terms of look and feel once veneers have entered the picture.
About the Practice
At Dr. Costa & Dr. Waxman Family Dentistry, we understand that your smile is often the first thing that strangers notice about you, which is why we go above and beyond to offer a wide range of cosmetic services like veneers to help you achieve the smile of your dreams! If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to schedule a visit for you or a loved one, feel free to contact our Worcester office online or give us a call today for further assistance! Telephone: (508) 715-6166.