Veneers vs. Teeth Whitening

Veneers vs. Teeth Whitening

Everybody wants a bright smile. People go for cosmetic dentistry in order to get a bright smile. A study by AACD stated that 86% of patients in America seek cosmetic dentistry to simply boost their self-esteem. When we eat acidic food, consume tobacco containing products, and become irresponsible about our oral health, our teeth become dull and yellow, losing their sparkle.

There are different methods of restoring your smile, such as teeth whitening, dental bridge, veneers and front tooth crown. Two of them will be discussed in this article; Teeth whitening and Veneers. We will talk about teeth whitening procedures, dental veneers, the best dental veneers to use, and which one is the best option.

Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening has become an important part of cosmetic dentistry. The main purpose of teeth whitening is to give your teeth a bright and clean look. People go for teeth whitening very often, mostly to give their front teeth a presentable look. But did you know that 57% of dentists in Turkey refuse to recommend teeth whitening procedures to their patients? Let’s see why people choose teeth whitening and what are its pros and cons:

  1. Why teeth whitening

Coffee and wine stains that you see on your teeth can be removed by teeth whitening procedures. Teeth whitening is preferred by people who are in search of a quick way to enhance their smile and look presentable.

One of the biggest reasons for teeth whitening procedures being more in trend is its cost effectiveness. Teeth whitening is an affordable treatment option that can be used if you have a short budget.

  •  Pros

There are many benefits of teeth whitening. Here are the most common and important ones:

  1. Quick results: Teeth whitening gives quick results. It brightens up your smile in no time.
    1. Non-invasive: It does not affect the shape or structure of your teeth and does not harm them in any way.
    1. Cost effective: One of the most affordable options out there.
    1. No discomfort: The bleaching agent used does not cause any discomfort or irritation.
    1. Easy to use: Teeth whitening kits are available in the market that can be used to whiten teeth at home.
  2. Cons
    1. Short-term results: Teeth whitening is not permanent and the stains show up again after a while. The whitening results may vary and sometimes may not even work on you. Whether the results last long or not, depends upon your dietary habits and oral hygiene maintenance.
    1. Limited effects:  Teeth whitening cannot be used for all kinds of stains, but only for stains that are caused by food or beverages. Any kind of cosmetic imperfection cannot be treated by whitening.
    1. Does not affect intrinsic stains: Intrinsic stains are those that are found within the teeth and cannot be removed by whitening.
  3. Procedure

The whitening procedures are of two types, in-office and at home. We will discuss the in-office procedure.

  • In the first step your dentist will take a look at your teeth and address any cavity related issues before whitening.
  • After the cleaning of teeth, the whitening process will start. 
  • But before going into the whitening process, your dentist might look for decayed teeth, specially decayed front teeth. He or she may suggest a front tooth crown for this purpose.
  • If you have gaps between your teeth, you may also need a dental bridge before going for teeth whitening. A dental bridge will cover the gaps and enhance your smile.
  • A whitening gel will be painted on your teeth and left for a few minutes.
  • It is then removed and applied again. The process is completed in a few sessions.

Veneers

Veneers are like shells made of porcelain especially for your teeth. They are thin layers that are bonded to your teeth’s upper surface. The best dental veneers will give your teeth a complete makeover. Here are different types of veneers and their pros and cons.

  • Types of veneers

There are two types of veneers; composite and porcelain. Let’s figure out which ones are the best dental veneers.

  • Composite: They are a little cheaper than the porcelain veneers and do not last as long. They are not the best dental veneers, but they will give you the brightest, natural looking smile that you have been looking for.
    • Porcelain: Porcelain veneers are a little expensive but will give you long lasting results. Porcelain veneers, in spite of being expensive , are the best dental veneers you could get.
  • Pros

The benefits of veneers are:

  • Long-lasting results: they offer long lasting results, 10-15 years of white teeth.
    • Natural look: No one would know that you are using veneers. They give your teeth a completely natural look.
    • Resistance against stains: Stain resistant, meaning you can drink as much coffee as you want.
  • Cons
    • Invasive: Your enamel might have to be removed a little to fix the veneers properly to your teeth.
    • Costly: They are more expensive than teeth whitening. 

Veneers vs teeth whitening: Finding the best option

The tooth issue determines which treatment is best for the patient. Teeth Whitening and Veneers both brighten teeth and offer a long-lasting solution. However, teeth whitening is effective for starters. It improves the teeth’s color and removes the hard stains as well. As an alternative, use the best dental veneers to correct the shape, size, alignment, color, and spacing of teeth.

For veneers, dentists recommend a front tooth crown before the teeth whitening procedure. Its results last longer but surely save money for the long term. Look for the best options to achieve the teeth whitening goals and the budget before booking the appointment.

Conclusion

Veneers and teeth whitening have a lot in common but many things such as cost and longevity have differentiated between the two. Even though teeth whitening is cost effective and quick, due to its temporary effectiveness, most people tend to use dental veneers.

Are you also worried about your yellow colored teeth? Don’t worry, contact Lycian Dental Clinic today and get the best dental veneers or teeth whitening treatment for your teeth. Whether you want a dental bridge, teeth whitening, or dental veneers, our experienced doctors will help you out.