If you have a stained or discolored smile, your first thought may be to ask your dentist for a professional teeth whitening treatment. However, it should be noted that veneers are also often a viable option for brightening your grin. Which cosmetic treatment is the best choice for achieving the dazzling results that you want? Here’s what you need to know before you make any commitments.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Your dentist can give you an at-home whitening kit that comes with personalized oral trays and a bleaching gel with professional-grade ingredients. All you need to do is fill the trays with the gel and wear them for the requisite amount of time each day. After a couple of weeks of using the whitening kit, many patients notice that their smiles are several shades brighter.
How Do Veneers Work?
Veneers are thin shells that can be used to cover stubborn dental stains as well as a variety of other cosmetic imperfections. A single veneer can completely cover the front side of a tooth, hiding any number of flaws from view. To make sure the results look as natural as possible, your dentist will customize the veneer so that it blends in with the rest of your smile.
Teeth Whitening or Veneers: Which is the Right Choice for You?
Teeth whitening tends to cost less than veneers, and it can be performed without having to remove any enamel from the teeth in question. As such, teeth whitening can often be an excellent choice if you want to improve the overall color of your smile.
That being said, teeth whitening works better on certain kinds of discoloration than others. It’s generally recommended for stains left by foods or beverages. Meanwhile, some discolored spots may not respond to a whitening treatment. In these cases, veneers can be a better option since they completely cover the problem.
On top of that, teeth whitening can only be used to make one type of cosmetic improvement. In contrast, veneers can address a variety of other flaws, including cracks in your enamel and misshapen teeth. You therefore may want to consider veneers if getting rid of dental stains is just one of multiple cosmetic goals that you want to achieve.
The best way to determine whether teeth whitening or veneers are the right fit for you is to speak to your dentist. Once they have examined your teeth and figured out the underlying cause for your discoloration, they can help you determine which cosmetic treatment best fits your needs.
About the Author
Dr. John E. Petty is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, and he has served twice as the General Chairman of the Annual Session of the Tennessee Dental Association. His Tullahoma practice, Petty Dental, offers teeth whitening, veneers, and a number of other treatments that can enhance the appearance of your smile. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Petty, visit his website or call (931) 454-9499.