How many veneers do I need? That's a common question we get asked here at Healthy Smiles. As one of the best dentists for veneers in Staten Island, we pride ourselves on delivering both amazing results and the knowledge that our patients need to make an informed decision. That's why we're talking about how many veneers a patient needs and why.
The answer to that question is always case-specific. That's why we always take pictures and do a digital mock-up of every patient to get a clear view of their smile and how it looks from the front and the sides. It's not always about just the teeth that can be seen when someone is standing directly in front of an individual. There are other factors to consider.
Many people opt for the "front six" approach. With this approach, veneers are placed on the incisors and canines, the front six teeth that we most commonly see when we are facing an individual. On the surface, this seems like a good approach, but we have to remember angles.
We call the three-quarter view of a smile the "cocktail shot". When someone sees a smile from this angle, they not only see the front six teeth, but they also see some of the premolar area, as well. When veneers are simply placed on the front six, the cocktail smile will reveal the difference in the teeth. When considering this angle for veneers, we move into doing ten teeth rather than six. This ensures that the teeth look uniform from both the front and the side.
Another important factor to consider when we try to answer our patients question "how many veneers do I need" is if they are trying to change the color of their smile. If the goal is to correct severely stained teeth that can't be whitened sufficiently with other methods, then placing veneers on all or almost all of the teeth is recommended so that the teeth always look the same no matter the angle or how wide the person opens their mouth.
Another factor in considering the number of veneers a patient needs is if they need correction rather than color change or a complete smile overhaul. If only a few teeth need their shape or positioning corrected, we can apply veneers to just a few teeth and color match them to the existing teeth as closely as possible.
We like to say you need as many as you need. Meaning that we recommend the application of as many veneers is needed to correct each individual patient's issue - no more and no less. One of the reasons we have a reputation as one of the best dentists for veneers in Staten Island is because we give our patients the unvarnished - or un-veneered, in this case - truth.
If you need small corrections, you may only need a few veneers. If your smile is severely discolored, you may need veneers on every tooth. It can be as few or as many as the correction requires. There's no set number. That's important to remember because approaching the problem with a hard and fast number in mind can lead to correction that isn't as good as it could be.
If you're wondering "how many veneers do I need" or if you have any other questions about veneers, feel free to call us and schedule a consultation. We'd love to help you.
