Everyone wants a perfect pair of white pearls when they smile. And while this does not occur naturally to some people, there are a lot of cosmetic dentistry procedures that can help you achieve an exceptional smile at any age. Since you are already looking into fixing your grin, you probably have heard about the two most effective approaches, veneers, and braces. Nobody likes having dental problems that can have a negative effect on their way of life.
Without any doubt, we can see these two approaches have proven to be highly effective. However, the question is, which one of these you should use in your particular case. What’s the most important thing to know is that there are countless possibilities when it comes to making your teeth perfect. This is exactly what we would like to talk about.
Both of these procedures can radically transform your smile. Each comes with its share of advantages and disadvantages, depending on the problem’s nature, and which will be decided on by the experts in this field.
Here are some tips to help you determine the best type of action towards fixing these issues.
What makes them different?
In the simplest way we can put it, braces are physical, whereas veneers are aesthetic. They are used for fixing cosmetic issues such as tiny gaps, discoloration, chips, and stains. These will be attached to the front side of your teeth, and they do not need a lot of maintenance. You only need to practice your usual oral hygiene.
At the same time, braces are used for fixing structural misalignment or underbite, crossbite, overbite, and some types of crowding. There are different variations of these problems, and your doctor will need to perform a proper examination before advising you. Without any doubt, we would like to say that the consultation with your doctor is an absolute must. If not, you can do something badly, which can have a pretty bad effect on your teeth.
Therefore, being patient and careful is the key to having a beautiful smile one day.
How do I tell when to use one of these?
Sometimes, the nature of dislocation of your teeth will tell which technique is ideal for you. Consulting with your dentist is an absolute must if you would like to find a solution for a problem you have. In fact, chances are that the doctor will already have a proposal for you, based on your teeth’s condition. There are a lot of different factors that can influence their decision and it would take a lot of time to name them all. As you know, pretty much every human has different conditions.
Other types of oral health problems may require both of these two approaches. To determine which one of these you should use, you and your doctor will need to consider the positive and negative sides of each and also put into consideration your desired results. Furthermore, the number of teeth that will need veneers will help you decide, especially on finances. So, it needs to be said that a proper examination is an absolute must before you can make the ultimate decision.
All about dental veneers
They are thin shells that fit over your teeth. They are designed so that they cover the front of your teeth and improve their look. Without a doubt, it can be said that using these is a more aesthetic version than choosing the other approach, as you can see for yourself. Often, they are made of porcelain, which reflects light.
Veneers are used to treat fixed or broken teeth, discoloration, irregularly formed teeth, and those with gaps in between. As you can see, these are used for much lighter cases than choosing the other therapy. Sometimes, using these is enough to fix the problem, while sometimes, it isn’t.
Ceramic veneers can easily be formed to fit your existing teeth exactly. They are easy to apply and will last for several years with proper care.
Pros
- Improves the shape, position, and color
- Doesn’t require too many dentist visits
- Veneers are stain-resistant
- Nature-looking results
Cons
- Sometimes, the procedure requires the removal of some booth enamel
All about braces
Braces are used to move teeth slowly over time. Their primary purpose is to fix misalignments of teeth and other similar abnormalities. Thankfully, they have proven highly effective in resolving even the worst of cases. You can check some of these by taking a look at some photos you can easily find online. The treatment period will depend on an individual’s needs, but it is usually stretched over 1 to 3 years in braces. In some light cases, we can see that some patients will not be required to wear them even for a year. Sadly, these cases are pretty uncommon.
It needs to be said that this therapy is a highly-personalized one and it requires a thorough examination before dentists can decide on what they can do to resolve the issue in question. During this time, visiting an expert who will monitor the whole process is an absolute must. In some severe cases, it could happen that the procedure will require the removal of some of your teeth before the therapy can apply in the best possible way. You will need to choose a dentist that has a lot of knowledge in this field. Otherwise, you cannot expect to achieve the results you hope for.
Braces come in different styles, shapes, and add-ons, which allows a person to customize their look.
Pros
- Non-invasive approach
- Teeth will remain intact if taken care of properly
- The correction of alignment issues
Cons
- The treatment period is long, and aftercare lasts quite a bit.
- If you don’t treat your teeth with proper care, there’s a chance of a bad outcome.
Conclusion
Dependent on the extent of your misalignment, your doctor will help you decide on what is best for you. If you want a cosmetic change, veneers can be a perfect alternative to braces. On the other hand, braces are ideal for severe dental structural problems. As we’ve mentioned, sometimes both of these will need to be applied.
We can see that there are people who are choosing one of these approaches purely for aesthetics, meaning, they don’t have any issues they need to fix. While we are not supporting this idea, we understand it. Anyway, understanding what you need to fix your dental problems is an absolute must. We hope that you will find our article useful and that it will have an influence on your future decision.
