If your teeth are stained and yellowed, there are plenty of ways to deal with this problem and enjoy a whiter, brighter smile once again. One solution your dentist may recommend is porcelain veneers. These dental appliances are thin layers of porcelain that are cemented over the fronts of your teeth. They cover your yellowed teeth so that when people look at you, they only see the bright, white veneer.

Porcelain veneers are an excellent whitening solution for many—but are they a great solution for you? Consider these pros and cons, and then you can decide for yourself.

Pro: Veneers can be any color you want.

When you use other whitening methods, such as in-office whitening or whitening toothpaste, you are stuck with whatever results you get. Your teeth may end up bright white, or they may only get a few shades whiter. It all depends on what caused your stain and how effective the chosen treatment was. With veneers, on the other hand, you can choose the shade of white that you want. You can go with the shockingly white teeth that celebrities often have, or you can opt for a more natural shade if that is what you find more appealing.

Con: Veneers take a little while to get.

The process of having veneers put on is pretty simple, but it does take place over at least two appointments. First, your dentist needs to measure your teeth and cast a mold of them. Then, they send this information off to a company that makes the veneers. The veneers will come into your dentist's office a week or two later, and at that point, you can have them applied. If you want whiter teeth in a single appointment, such as for a wedding or other special event, veneers are not the ideal choice. An in-office laser whitening treatment may work better in this case.

Pro: Veneers are long-lasting.

Many other whitening treatments that focus on changing the actual color of your teeth are just temporary. The teeth will slowly become stained and yellowed again as time goes on. So, you will need another treatment, and costs can really add up over time. Veneers, on the other hand, last a really long time—often 10 years or more if you take care of them. 

Con: Veneers can chip if you're not careful.

Getting veneers does not mean you have to eat soft baby food for the rest of your life, but you can chip the veneers if you are not careful. You will need to avoid very hard foods like nuts and seeds, and you won't want to open packages with your teeth, either. Dentists usually recommend that patients with veneers wear a mouth guard when playing sports so they don't chip a veneer. Yes, your dentist can replace a chipped veneer, but this can be a costly endeavor if you're not prepared for it.

Pro: Veneers can camouflage other problems, too.

If yellowing and staining are not your only issue, veneers are a good choice because they also camouflage other dental abnormalities, like chipped teeth, gaps between teeth, and slightly crooked teeth. You only have to undergo one procedure to take care of all of these problems at once. If you were to instead opt for in-office whitening, you would have to also get a crown or dental bonding to deal with other appearance issues.

To learn more about veneers, reach out to a cosmetic dentist at a dental office like Pembroke  Pines Dental in your area. They can evaluate your smile and let you know what to expect if you do choose to get veneers.