Braces or veneers, which of these 2 cosmetic dentistry procedures can give you a beautiful smile? Here are some of the things you need to consider before you make a decision.
Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are made of thin porcelain and customized to recreate the natural shape and color of the teeth of the wearer. They are considered to be the pinnacle of aesthetic cosmetic dentistry and are less intrusive compared to crowns or braces. Veneers are used on teeth discolored by root canal treatment or stains from medicines and large resin fillings, worn down, chipped or broken teeth, and misaligned or irregularly shaped teeth. They can also be used to close gaps between teeth.
How Our Office Does Veneers
It only takes as little as 2 appointments to set veneers in place. The first meeting is for making an impression of the tooth and removing tooth enamel to provide space for the veneers. The second appointment is for setting the porcelain veneers in place.
Here at Dr. Frey’s office, we perform what we call a “trial smile” on our patients. Temporary veneers are created and placed on your teeth, perfectly replicating what your permanent veneers would look like. This allows you to adjust to the shape and size of your new teeth and allows us to make adjustments and tweak your smile before it becomes permanent.
Advantages of Veneers
The primary advantage of veneers over expensive orthodontic treatments is that it only takes a short time to apply. In addition, veneers are stain resistant, so patients can expect the same brilliance in their smiles for years to come.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics is a field in dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and correction of malpositioned teeth and jaws. Orthodontics makes use of fixed appliances such as braces, and removable appliances such as aligners and lip and cheek bumpers. Orthodontic procedures can be used to correct conditions such as overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite, misplaced midline, spacing problems like gaps, and crowding.
Considerations for Getting Orthodontic Treatments
One of the main draws of orthodontics is that it offers long-term satisfaction. After removing one’s braces, for example, one will only have to wear a retainer every now and then – a small price to pay for the lifetime benefits of having correctly aligned teeth and jaw. At the same time, the biggest disadvantage of orthodontic treatments is the time it usually takes to correct the dental condition. Braces can be worn anytime from 1 to 3 years and require numerous visits to the dentist. Some people also feel that braces can look a bit goofy. Braces are also more expensive than a single tooth veneer application.
The best way to find out which of these 2 procedures can give you the result you are looking for is to consult with your dentist or orthodontist.
Set an appointment with Dr. Frey to discuss your options for a perfect white smile today by calling our Beverly Hills dental office at (310) 276-4537.
