A well trained cosmetic dentist has a list of procedures to use to give you the smile you have always dreamed of. Many do not think of orthodontics as a cosmetic dentistry procedure. It is more than that, as it can not only change your smile but the function of your teeth as well as the way your face appears. Porcelain veneers can bring about a dramatic change but in a much shorter time period. Let’s discuss each and how they work for your smile.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are also referred to as “instant orthodontics”. The placement of porcelain veneers can correct small mis alignments in your teeth to bring them into better balance. Cosmetic dentistry is an art form and smiles can be recreated or they can be designed perfectly. Perfection is different for each patient. Some like having small gaps between their teeth or a tooth slightly out of alignment. Porcelain veneers work very well when cosmetic changes need to be made without the need for more invasive dental procedures. Porcelain veneers also work very well in conjunction with botox or a dermal filler like Juvederm. They can work hand in hand to improve your smile and overall appearance very quickly.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are wafer thin, custom fabricated shells of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve your smile. These porcelain shells are adhesively bonded to the front of the prepared teeth. Porcelain veneers have the ability to change the color, shape, size, or length of your teeth.

Porcelain veneers have the following characteristics:

–Translucent qualities — Like natural tooth enamel, porcelain veneers are translucent. This means they allow some light to pass through and reflect off the natural dental material. This gives the veneer a natural depth, providing for a deep, dazzling smile.

–Color matching — If you are replacing multiple teeth, then all your porcelain veneers can be a natural, bright color. When covering just one or two teeth, porcelain veneers can easily be matched to the surrounding natural teeth. This will provide a consistently natural, beautiful smile.

–Non-porous surface — Porcelain veneers are ceramic glass and are non-porous, preventing future stains from ruining your new smile.

Patients with severely misaligned teeth are not good candidates for porcelain veneers. This will cause issues with preparation of teeth for porcelain veneers. A well trained cosmetic dentist will make every attempt to be quite conservative when removing natural, healthy tooth structure. If the teeth are too far out of alignment from one another, it means more tooth natural tooth structure will need to be removed to accomodate the spacing. Removing too much tooth structure can lead to tooth sensitivity and even nerve exposure. This could require the possibility of root canal therapy in the future. For teeth that are severely misaligned, invisalign or traditional orthodontics would be the better treatment option to bring your smile into proper alignment.

A major advantage to porcelain veneers vs orthodontics is that they give you the ability to change the color of your teeth. Your dentist can give you a bright, white smile almost instantly.

Orthodontics Braces

Orthodontics generally comes in 2 forms…..invisalign and traditional orthodontic braces. Both will achieve the same goal but in severe mis alignment cases your dentist may recommend traditional orthodontic braces as your treatment may require more extensive movements.

It is important to note when orthodontics is the recommended treatment it can also be for functional reasons and not just cosmetic. A well trained dentist will note issues with the way your teeth fit together or issues where you have a dental overbite or dental underbite.

This crowding or bite issue can lead to increased risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease as well as increased difficulty in chewing and speech issues. Orthodontic braces can fix that creating a smile that is in harmony not only cosmetically but functionally as well. This will lead to being able to maintain dental hygiene easier which will lead to longer tooth life.

Sample Orthodontics Treatment Schedule

Your initial consultaion will generally be a no cost orthodontics evaluation. In addition to the thorough visual examination, x rays and photographs will be taken of your smile as well as your face. There may be an additional charge for these. These x rays and photographs will help the dentist and orthodontist map out your treatment safely and effectively. At your initial consultation you will discuss with dentist or orthodontist why you are there. They will examine you and look at the following factors to develop a personalized orthodontic treatment plan that is right for you and your smile.

-What is the orthodontic issue that brings you in?

-Multiple orthodontic options to correct the problem or problems.

-Customized treatment goals that you wish to achieve.

-Will any teeth need to be removed to accomplish these goals?

-Whether other dental services are required prior to orthodontic treatment to bring your dental health to optimal levels.

-A rough estimate on the length of your orthodontic treatment

-Estimated cost of orthodontics for adults care.

Orthodontic Treatment

As mentioned previously, teeth are moved with controlled directional forces over time. Orthodontists use clear aligners (invisalign) or braces to guide and move your teeth into their ideal positions. The tooth movement occurs as the underlying bone is broken down and then rebuilt. If the process goes too fast the bone does not recover properly. Timing is critical for long term health. Following orthodontic treatment, you can expect to wear a retainer to maintain the movements you have gained while undergoing active orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontics Vs Porcelain Veneers Conclusion

Luckily, in the choice of orthodontics vs porcelain veneers there is enough separation between the 2 dental procedures that a decision can be made quite easily. Porcelain veneers tend to be a cosmetic procedure only with limited orthodontic advantages while orthodontics can and usually comes with functional advantages as well. Talk to your dentist about the options available to you to give you the smile you always dreamed of. A well educated patient is the best kind of patient as they will make informed decisions and ask questions before proceeding into any major dental treatment. As always see your dentist regularly for dental examinations and professional cleanings.