While your Manhattan cosmetic dentist will ultimately be the person who helps you identify the best cosmetic treatment for your smile makeover, it helps to know the viability of all options depending on your aesthetic concerns. Porcelain veneers are one of the most popular smile makeover procedures for their sheer transformative effects and ability to correct multiple complaints at once – but is another treatment better for your unique needs?
Porcelain Veneers vs. Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is an excellent way to brighten your smile. Relying on your New York City cosmetic dentist to carry out this one-hour procedure ensures that you will have a smile that has been whitened evenly and without any of the negative side effects that are known to accompany over-the-counter treatments.
However, if porcelain veneers are also on your mind, you are likely dealing with other aesthetic complaints besides tooth stains. Do you have chipped teeth? Are your teeth short? Do you have a gummy smile? While teeth whitening makes your tooth enamel brighter, porcelain veneers not only give you whiter teeth, they give you flawless teeth.
The versatility of veneers means you can rely on this popular cosmetic dentistry treatment to correct many problems at once. While teeth whitening gets the job done for which it is intended, veneers whiten teeth and then some.
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Porcelain Veneers vs. Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns differ greatly in tooth preparation. To make room for porcelain veneers, the enamel on the front of the tooth needs to be removed. It is also possible to choose a less-invasive type of veneer, known as Lumineers, which requires only a light sanding of tooth enamel. This conservative preparation is in direct contrast to porcelain crowns which involve a more dramatic removal of tooth enamel so the crown can fit.
A crown is usually needed when a tooth has been damaged beyond a repair with dental bonding. Crowns are also used as anchors for porcelain bridges, and they are used to cover a tooth that has undergone a root canal. Prep for a crown requires removing tooth enamel from around the entire circumference of the tooth. If your oral health issues are purely aesthetic, veneers can cover your teeth and successfully hide any surface complaints, while improving the size, shape, color, and length of teeth without a great deal of changes to the natural enamel.
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Porcelain Veneers vs. Invisalign
Severe tooth misalignment usually indicates the need for orthodontic treatment, like Invisalign. An innovative and effective method of orthodontia, Invisalign is difficult to detect but it does take time to wait for your teeth to move into the right places. When you don’t want to wait for tooth alignment or the misalignment is not incredibly severe, porcelain veneers can often get the job done.
Porcelain veneers can shield a great number of cosmetic complaints, and they can hide minor tooth misalignment. However, when your jaw and teeth are out of place, and you don’t just have a crooked tooth or two, it’s necessary to move them back where they belong to preserve not only your oral health but prevent against cavities and ward off pain. Once your teeth are in alignment, a tooth whitening treatment can get your smile into flawless shape.
Ultimately, your Manhattan cosmetic dentist will present you with all the options available for your dental concerns so, together, you can make the right decision about how to upgrade your smile. Contact New York City cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael J. Wei in Midtown Manhattan to make your consultation appointment.
