Veneers can transform your teeth by altering their size, shape, and color. Veneers are a great way to get white teeth when bleaching doesn't get the results you want. Veneers come in many different shades. One of the most important decisions you'll make is choosing the color for your veneers because the color can't be changed once they are applied. Here are some tips for choosing a color you'll be happy with.

If You're Having Just One Veneer Applied

If you're having only one veneer to fix a chipped or short tooth, then you'll want a color that matches your other teeth so the veneer blends in and looks natural. In this case, your dentist will use a color chart to find a color that closely matches your teeth. Natural teeth aren't blinding white, so the veneer will probably have a slightly yellow appearance. If you want whiter teeth, the time to have them whitened is before the veneer is applied. Undergo laser whitening to get your teeth to the desired shade and then let the dentist pick out a matching veneer color for you.

If You're Getting Veneers To Whiten Your Teeth

If your teeth are stained or if you don't want to keep up with whitening treatments long-term, then having whiter veneers placed on all your front teeth could be the answer. Then, your teeth will be white permanently. You can choose from different shades of bleached-white veneers. You can choose the shade that you're most comfortable with so your teeth are white, but not fake-looking.

One way to avoid fake-looking veneers is to choose ones made with translucent porcelain. This might not be an option if your natural teeth are very dark because the darker color might show through. In that case, opaque veneers would probably be better. However, if they are a good match for you, translucent veneers can give your teeth a sheen that makes them appear more natural.

The color of your veneers is up to you, but your dentist will offer advice based on experience that can help guide you to toward a good choice. Another thing your dentist can help you decide is if you want veneers on just your top teeth or your bottom ones too. This may depend on the color difference between your bottom teeth and your chosen veneer color as well as how much of your bottom teeth show when you smile.

Even lightening your teeth a few shades can transform your appearance and make your smile brighter. You don't necessarily need blinding white veneers to improve your smile, but if you want the whitest teeth possible, then you can find a veneer color that will do it. Contact a dental office, like Royal Oak Dental, for more help.