Your child’s social experiences lay the foundation for the rest of their life. Ideally, you want them to learn that they can approach social and professional situations with a level of confidence that matches their internal attributes. Sadly, if their teeth are severely damaged, they may not have the opportunity to learn the confidence they need to approach adult situations. So, do children need veneers?
Do Children Need Veneers?
The truth is that kids can be mean. Does your child have misshapen, damaged, or badly stained teeth? Then there is a good chance that other children will mention it and use it as a way to ostracize your child. In these cases, it may be worth it to give your child veneers. By giving them back their smile, you can ensure that they will interact more easily with their peers as they age.
Situations Where Veneers May Be Necessary
Veneers are not used to correct minor defects. Small chips and areas of discoloration are more frequently treated using dental bonding and professional whitening. However, there are some cases that are too severe for these measures. Here are some of the most common issues that may require veneers.
Blunt Force Trauma to the Face:
If your child experiences a direct injury to the face that results in multiple broken teeth, they may require veneers to restore their smile. Dental bonding can be used if the breaks are relatively small, but that isn’t always the case.
Teeth Grinding:
If your child grinds their teeth, then they will grind them down over time. When the condition is caught early, there are nighttime mouth guards that your children’s dentist in Cerritos will be able to provide. However, if you are unaware of the condition, your child’s teeth will noticeably shorten over time.
In these cases, veneers may be the only way to restore your child’s smile. They will still need a mouth guard to prevent grinding while they sleep, but at least they’ll have a beautiful smile during the day.
Severe and Widespread Discoloration:
If your child consumes a lot of staining liquids, then there’s a strong possibility that their teeth will become severely discolored over time. Eventually it will get to a point where professional whitening just won’t cut it.
Luckily, your cosmetic dentist in Cerritos will be able to help you catch up on your child’s dental hygiene. First they seal any cavities or other issues. Then they can place veneers over your child’s teeth in order to give them a fresh start. Just keep in mind that veneers can stain and they are unresponsive to whitening treatments. Your child will need to be mindful of their oral hygiene for the rest of their life if the veneers will last as long as possible.
The Right Age for Children to Get Veneers
There is no perfect age for a child to get veneers. But there are a few factors you can consider to make the right decision for your child. For example, you should not have veneers placed on your child’s teeth until all of their adult teeth have come in. Depending on the available space, your dentist may also suggest preemptively pulling their wisdom teeth.
On a similar note, you will want to have a serious conversation with your dentist. They can help you know whether your child will need orthodontic work done before having veneers placed. In many cases, veneers can adjust for minor issues, but you should keep this in mind.
Last, but definitely not least, you need to consider whether or not your child is responsible enough to care for their veneers. With appropriate care, veneers can last twenty years or more, but they need all the same care as your child’s natural teeth. Until your child shows reliable dental hygiene habits, you may not want to make the initial investment. To be sure, you can always set a challenge for your child to take pristine care of their teeth for a month.
