Veneers Or Teeth Whitening: Which Is The Right Choice For Enhancing Your Smile?

By Author: Terry Rakowsky
Total Articles: 54
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It’s no secret that a beautiful smile can go a long way toward helping you make a positive first impression at job interviews and important social events. If there’s any part of your grin that leaves you feeling embarrassed, you’ll likely want to consider correcting it with cosmetic dentistry. Veneers and teeth whitening are two particularly common treatments that people use to enhance their teeth – but which one is right for you? Here’s what you need to consider.
What is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening can be used to brighten discolored or stained enamel. Many dentists offer take-home whitening procedures. This treatment involves a powerful gel that can penetrate your enamel to break up intrinsic stains that would be unaffected by store-bought whitening options.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Teeth Whitening?
With take-home professional kits from the dentist, you may see improvement within just a few days, but treatment should continue for a full two weeks for optimal results. Additionally, whitening procedures are noninvasive, and they’re typically cheaper compared to other ...
... options.
On the other hand, teeth whitening is limited to improving the color of the teeth; it can’t be used to address other issues such as chips or cracks. Also, the whitening process works better on some types of discoloration than others. For example, teeth that are gray or brown typically don’t respond to whitening as well as yellowed teeth do.
What are Veneers?
Veneers are thin shells made out of porcelain or another tooth-colored material. Your dentist can place veneers to hide stains, minor dental damage, misshapen teeth, and other cosmetic imperfections. Some patients only need to cover one tooth with a veneer, but if you want to make corrections to your entire smile, you might need a veneer for each visible tooth.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Veneers?
One of the biggest selling points of veneers is their versatility; they allow you to make several corrections at once with a single treatment. They’re also quite durable compared to other cosmetic procedures. Not only are they stain-resistant, but they can last up to 15 years with the right maintenance.
However, it should be noted that the process of getting veneers does involve removing a small amount of enamel. This means that the teeth in question will always need to be covered with a veneer or a crown from that point forward. Additionally, veneers tend to be more costly than other cosmetic treatments, although the final price can vary depending on how many veneers are needed.
So Should You Choose Teeth Whitening or Veneers?
When it comes to choosing between teeth whitening and veneers, the most important factor to consider is what kind of changes you want to make. If you only want to brighten your smile, teeth whitening is likely your best choice. Veneers, on the other hand, can be ideal for making a wide variety of improvements.
Of course, if for any reason you’re not sure which type of cosmetic dentistry is right for your smile, you can always schedule a consultation with your dentist. They’ll consider the changes you want to make and walk you through the options available to create a smile makeover plan that you can be confident in.