Dental Veneers Or Teeth Whitening?
When it comes to having whiter teeth, these are the two most popular options. Which one is best for you?
The most popular cosmetic dental procedure that we carry out at our Burton dental practice is, without a doubt, the teeth whitening procedure. This probably isn’t surprising, after all, who doesn’t want to have a whiter and brighter smile. The treatment itself is fast acting, affordable and non-invasive, a combination of factors that make it most people’s first choice.
While this might be the most popular and obvious choice for attaining a whiter smile, it isn’t the only one. Porcelain dental veneers are becoming a popular option too, although these require more of a commitment due to them being a permanent solution, unlike teeth whitening.
In today’s blog, we will take a look at these options and who they might be most ideally suited to.
Tooth whitening treatments
There is perhaps more attention paid to the colour of our teeth these days, possibly due to the influence of TV celebrities and the like. Among these, a white bright smile is the new normal. Understandably then, younger people especially want to emulate this, with more mature people also increasingly understanding that this can be done and that signs of ageing such as yellowing teeth don’t have to be permanent.
In most cases, the first option for people is to have a tooth whitening procedure. The one that we provide at SG Dental and Implant Centre is a fast acting one that you can carry out in the comfort of your own home, with customised whitening trays and gel, along with professional guidance throughout. This works well for a lot of people and a dull smile can be boosted by several shades and will last a significant length of time before the treatment needs to be repeated. Some people, of course, choose just to have the treatment once for a special occasion such as a wedding.
While almost anybody can have this treatment, it is most effective on teeth that are mildly to moderately stained or discoloured. Teeth that are more heavily stained, such as with a smoker or ex-smoker, or who have ‘flaws’ in their teeth such as cracks or chipped teeth will only get partial benefits. To truly improve the smile in this case, porcelain teeth veneers are likely to be a more effective solution.
Porcelain veneers
While a teeth whitening procedure is non-invasive and will eventually revert to the old colour after some time, this isn’t the case with veneers. In most cases, veneers will require an invasive procedure in order to be fitted. In effect, these are similar to false fingernails except that they require the removal of a fine layer of enamel from the front of the teeth. Impressions are then taken and new veneers are made at a dental laboratory and are then attached to the front of your teeth using a special dental adhesive and then trimmed and polished to leave you with a natural but whiter smile.
The advantage of this treatment is that it is permanent, with the veneers needing to be replaced approximately every ten years or so. They are also excellent for restoring the appearance of damaged teeth such as those that are chipped. The porcelain used is non porous and will not stain easily so a long lasting white smile is a positive outcome of this treatment.
The ‘downsides’ of this treatment is that it is more expensive than a teeth whitening procedure and is also permanent. Once this has been done, the natural enamel on your teeth will not grow back. For some people, the decision is clear cut and this is the only way to restore a white smile. For others, this is not so obvious.
Our Burton cosmetic dentists have many years of experience and are happy to guide you through your options. In many cases where patients are unsure, they may be advised to try the teeth whitening procedure first. Sometimes the whiteness achieved will be enough for them, other times they may need to consider the veneer option instead.
Many factors will need to be taken into consideration including the condition of your teeth and also your lifestyle choices. For example, it makes little sense to whiten the teeth of someone, using the whitening procedure, who has every intention of smoking heavily afterwards. There are many variables and once we have built up an overall picture, we will be able to offer our professional advice, although, of course, the final decision is yours.
If you would like to have your teeth whitened and would like to find out how we can help you to achieve this, why not give the SG Dental and Implant Centre a call on 01283 845345 and arrange an initial consultation to see one of our experienced and friendly cosmetic dental team? We look forward to helping you achieve a new and whiter smile.