With so much attention given to the art of communication these days, it is difficult not to notice a person's smile. Most people spend a considerable amount of time on their appearance: how they dress, how they style their hair, along with the type of perfume they wear. However if your teeth are stained and discolored it can diminish your self-confidence regardless of how much you spent on your wardrobe.

Today on the market there are many products designed to whiten your teeth and some of them work very well. But when your teeth are severely discolored, home whitening treatments may not be enough; you need the professional services of a cosmetic dentist.

A dentist can perform several procedures to whiten your teeth including cleaning, polishing and bleaching. If you consume products such as coffee and tea on a regular basis, this procedure will have to be repeated every several months.

For this reason many people prefer porcelain dental veneers; these stain resistant ceramic shells are bonded to your teeth and can correct many imperfections in addition to stains or discoloration such as gaps between the teeth, crooked teeth, broken teeth and loss of tooth height.

If you are familiar with porcelain or fine china you may be concerned about the reasoning behind using porcelain for dental work. It is the translucent quality of porcelain that mimics the appearance of a natural tooth that makes it outstanding and when attached to the tooth with adhesive it is incredibly strong.

In addition to porcelains translucency, it is stain resistant; porcelain has the ability to withstand the strongest espresso coffee on a daily basis and retain its luster permanently. There are also dental veneers made of a composite material as well, but they do not have the same stain resistant quality as porcelain.

When you compare the weight of dental veneers to crowns, veneers are much lighter and therefore much more comfortable. Their popularity is supported in terms of price; dental veneers are one of the most economical and effective corrective procedures in cosmetic dentistry. The most impressive feature of porcelain veneers would certainly be their natural appearance which allows you to feel wonderfully confident each time you smile. Porcelain veneers can give new life to worn teeth and make tooth discoloration a thing of the past.

Improving your smile is much easier to do today than it was 50 years ago, when porcelain veneers were first invented the problem was that the adhesive was not strong enough to secure the porcelain veneer to the tooth and withstand the activity of eating and drinking without becoming dislodged. It was only after many years of research and development that the right formula for the adhesive was produced to be used with the porcelain veneer that is available today.

Although porcelain dental veneers are strong, they are not indestructible, and usually must be replaced after a decade of use. Because the porcelain veneer is attached to the tooth with a specific type of adhesive, it is almost impossible for a porcelain veneer to lose its grip on the tooth. In order to remove a porcelain veneer it must be done by your dentist.

Porcelain veneers are attractive and economical but there are other alternatives that should be considered depending on the condition of your teeth. Cosmetic dentistry has many different procedures and it is important to discuss with a cosmetic dentist which procedure will best suit your lifestyle and your budget. As with all procedures you need to consider your medical history to make sure that you have enough information to make your decision.