A veneer is an excellent way to hide unattractive dental imperfections, but not everyone is a good candidate for this procedure. Dental Implants San Diego is one of the most affordable places to find affordable veneers. There are many reasons why patients might not be able to get veneers. Some of these reasons include bruxism (teeth grinding), or not having enough enamel to support the veneers, while other reasons might be their hesitation about getting veneers.
Several alternatives to veneers exist, and most of them can give a more pleasing appearance to one or more teeth immediately or over a period following a single dental visit. It is possible to create your perfect smile without having to use veneers by using a variety of alternatives:
- Bonding in dentistry
- Contouring cosmetically
- Crowns for dental implants
- Whitening of the teeth
- Treatment with orthodontics
Bonding in dentistry
Dental bonding is an ideal solution whether you have chips, cracks, discoloration, or minor gaps or misalignments in your teeth. This quick, non-invasive procedure can be used to conceal these imperfections. After sculpting, shaping, filing, and polishing the veneer until it almost looks like the surrounding teeth, your dentist will apply a custom-shaded composite resin to the affected tooth or teeth and sculpt, shape, file, and polish until it’s virtually indistinguishable from the surrounding teeth.
There are a couple of disadvantages associated with dental bonding as opposed to some of the other options, which can be taken into account when considering you as an option for improving the appearance of your teeth. In addition, composite resin does not exhibit the same natural reflective properties of porcelain that you would get from a dental filling and does stain over time. But overall, dental bonding can produce the same smile-beautifying results as dental veneers.
Contouring cosmetically
You may only need to make minimal changes to your teeth if there are tiny imperfections. The cosmetic contouring of the teeth is one of the most straightforward techniques that can be used to instantly improve the appearance of your teeth if they have sharp edges or minor chips. When you undergo the procedure, your dentist will use a fine sandpaper disc or a specialized filing burr to gently reshape the tooth or square up uneven teeth using a specialized filing burr. However, cosmetic contouring should not be used as the only form of reshaping, as extensive filing can reduce tooth enamel and increase sensitivity as the teeth are reshaped.
Crowns for dental implants
A dental crown is one of the most effective solutions for treating severe teeth damage or discoloration, inconsistent sizing, or other unattractive features that cannot be treated by veneers alone. They have the same feel and function as regular teeth because they are customized to match the shade and shape of the surrounding teeth.
Since the porcelain caps are designed to match the shade and shape of the surrounding teeth, many people consider them identical to their natural teeth. There is a noticeable difference between crowns and veneers in invasiveness, as your dentist must remove a large portion of the tooth’s structure to place the crown. Still, they are considered one of the most robust and durable methods of restoring a smile.
Whitening of the teeth
Getting your smile to look as bright and white as possible with dentist-supervised teeth whitening treatments can be effective for those concerned about discoloration or stains on their teeth. The treatments have no impact on the natural structure of the teeth.
Compared to treatments sold in stores, in-office and take-home whitening treatments are far superior to treatments sold in stores since they can chemically break apart stains in the enamel at a molecular level, allowing your teeth to lighten by an average of eight shades over time. Whitening can remove surface stains caused by coffee, red wine, sodas, and tobacco. However, veneers may be more suitable if you have deeper discolorations due to trauma, silver fillings, or decayed or deteriorated teeth.
Using orthodontics instead of veneers
Several methods can correct moderate to severe misalignments and crooked teeth with orthodontics. There are various types of braces available today, such as traditional braces that have been around for quite a while or newer systems such as Invisalign that work by gradually moving your teeth over time. You can choose from clear brackets for a low-profile look or traditional braces that use brackets and wires adjusted by a dentist every month.
Essentially, Invisalign is a removable tray that is swapped out every one to two weeks and offers the advantages of allowing you to eat anything you wish, and the trays are easy to clean. Even accelerated systems can straighten your teeth in just a few months instead of years, so you can finally smile again.
Veneers Alternatives at San Diego Smile Center
The experts at San Diego Smile Center can help you choose the best restoration treatment for your smile based on your budget and goals if you don’t qualify for traditional dental veneers but still want to improve the appearance of your smile. We may be able to help you with your legal needs if you call us at (858) 566-0842 to schedule an appointment.