If you are looking for straighter teeth, you have a few options. You can opt for either braces or porcelain veneers, two different products which offer distinct pros and cons for your mouth. Both of these choices will straighten your teeth and offer permanent solutions to crooked smiles, and each have their own advantages and limitations. Here’s a brief guide to porcelain veneers and braces.
About Braces
Dental braces are tools used by dentists. They work by shifting teeth over a prolonged period of time. They’re used to straighten teeth and fix awkward or abnormal bites in patients. Each individual will spend a different amount of time in braces, but, on average, patients spend between one and three years in braces to truly fix their teeth’s misalignment.
Braces use either brackets which are attached to the front of teeth along with steel bands or clear aligners systems. Wires are used to guide tooth movement and small elastic bands are also attached to the brackets. Clear aligners are removable and are changed out with new ones every 1-2 weeks.
Pros and Cons of Braces
One of the great things about braces is that they’re non-invasive, meaning they leave teeth intact and can straighten your smile without too much active work from your doctor. Braces also help align your teeth, which can mitigate a number of negative consequences when you’re older, such as tension headaches, inflammation, earaches, and neck pain.
The nerves of teeth or closely entwined with the brain, so toothaches and other problems can often cause pain in the head. While braces are incredibly effective, some people may balk at the treatment time, which is anywhere from one to three years on average.
Retainers are also often used to ensure teeth don’t move after the braces come off. Retainers are usually worn for several months after the removal of braces.
About Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers, a tool which has gained immense popularity in the last several years, are thin, custom shells of toothy material designed to sit and cover the front of teeth and improve their appearance. Porcelain veneers in particular are designed to prevent stains and be as invisible and unnoticeable as possible, as they mimic the reflective light coming onto the teeth.
Porcelain veneers are often used when people wish to fix discolored teeth, broken teeth, worn down teeth, chipped teeth, or teeth which have irregular gaps in between them.
Pros and Cons of Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers can easily and quickly improve your teeth’s alignment and the position in which your teeth sit in your mouth. In addition, it takes only a few visits to your dentist to fit the veneer, which is often stain resistant and resistant to discoloration as well, meaning many people won’t even know you’re wearing a veneer.
Though porcelain veneers solve a litany of issues related to your teeth, they are permanent. Enamel must be removed to make room for the thick veneers, which means once you commit to a veneer, there’s no going back. Some veneers are bulkier than others as well, depending on how clustered your teeth are.
Is a Veneer Right for You?
Porcelain veneers can solve many of the same issues as braces while being invisible and resistant to both stains and discoloration, which is why many people are opting for them. If you choose a veneer, your dentist will remove minimal enamel and then make a mold of your teeth for best fit.
He or she will then send the impression to a lab which will make a custom-fit porcelain veneer for you to wear. Keep in mind that veneers are not always the best option and that you should consult with your dentist if you’re thinking about using a veneer.
Dr. Stephen Coates and his dental team in Long Beach are ready to help you decide which method may be best for you. If you’re ready to get started on your smile journey, give us a call at 562-434-6414 or request an appointment time here.
