Do you have teeth that are discolored, cracked, chipped, or otherwise not pleasant to look at? It may be possible to fix this situation in a way that does not involve the extraction of any teeth. Porcelain dental veneers can cover up some of these cosmetic imperfections and allow you to smile with confidence again. Here's why you might want to reach out to your dentist to discuss porcelain veneers.

Say Cheese

If years of drinking too much coffee or tea has left your teeth badly stained, you might not enjoy smiling during photos. Perhaps the problem is even worse and your teeth have multiple chips or cracks that can be seen as soon as you open your mouth. 

A porcelain veneer is a thin layer or shell that goes on top of the front of your teeth. In other words, it covers up the part of your tooth that people are going to see when you smile for the camera. You can have natural and healthy-looking teeth again and no one will know they are actually veneers unless you tell them.

Stain Resistant

Did drinking too much coffee or wine get you into this mess? Well, the good news with porcelain veneers is that you don't actually need to kick your favorite habit. Porcelain veneers are very stain-resistant, so once they are installed, you don't have to worry about your next cup of joe causing the same problem all over again. Your smile will continue to look great even after you finish off that bottle of wine.

Long-Term Durability

Porcelain veneers are obviously a significant investment, but it's an investment that will pay off over time. Porcelain is a very durable, high-end material to use for veneers, and with proper care like regular brushing, your veneers should last for many years before needing to be replaced.

Keep More of Your Natural Teeth

An alternative to porcelain veneers might be dental crowns, which are caps that go over your entire tooth and not just the front side. But in order to get that cap on, the dentist might have to deliberately drill down some of your remaining natural tooth in order to ensure a perfect fit. Because veneers only go on to the front of your teeth, there's no need to remove more of your natural tooth in order to get it on.

Contact a local dentist about porcelain veneers to discuss fixing your smile.