Dental implants vs veneers, a contest in the minds of many patients. You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered whether dental implants or veneers can correct a dental problem. In this day and age where technology in the medical field – especially dentistry – is advancing so rapidly, you can be confused about which dental procedures can treat or improve which conditions. These procedures are also very versatile, so they can be used to treat many different dental problems. Find out how to choose between implants and veneers in this article. Veneers versus implants will be discussed, along with their pros and cons.
1. What is the difference between implants and veneers?
In order to decide whether you need implants or veneers, you need to first properly identify your dental problem. You’ll need to see your dentist for a definitive opinion, but there are ways you can find out about it before your first visit.
1) They are used to treat different dental problems
Dental implants are used to replace teeth. So, if your tooth is missing or badly damaged, you may need dental implants to replace it. You will also need dental implants if you have bone loss or receding gums. Dental implants are completely different from veneers or crowns in this respect because instead of building on top of existing real teeth, they completely replace the entire tooth. Dental veneers are used to repair cosmetic problems such as stained teeth, gaps in teeth, chipped teeth, etc.
Therefore, veneers do not replace the entire tooth but only improve the appearance of the tooth. You can choose the shape, size, and color of your veneers according to your specific cosmetic needs as they are custom-made for you in the dental laboratory.
2) Do I have to have implants or veneers?
Won’t. Because they deal with different problems, getting one doesn’t mean you can’t get the other. In some cases this may not be logical, for example, if you have veneers on your teeth and then have implants it means your veneers will disappear. But you can put veneers over your implants to further improve the appearance of your crown. Remember that veneers and implants work together to produce the best results in a wide range of dental treatments.
2. How do dental implants and veneers compare?
Here is some information on dental implants and veneers to help you choose the best one for you:
- Veneers are much faster than implants
- Veneers can address many cosmetic concerns caused by years of wear, while implants are more functional
- Implants usually do not chip or break like veneers
- Implants tend to last a long time
- Veneers are cheaper than dental implants
- Unlike veneers, dental implants provide a brand-new tooth to replace a missing tooth
- Implants are more secure and stable
- Unlike Veneers, Implants Can Improve Bite Problems
- You can get veneers in a few weeks and implants in a few months
3. How do I choose between veneers and implants?
Now that you know exactly what each dental procedure does and what they require, you can have a clearer idea of which dental procedure is right for you. But sometimes, if you have multiple concerns, you still don’t know which option is best for you. To help you choose, here are some additional tips.
1) Keep your current oral health in mind
Dental veneers need your teeth and gums to be very healthy to get veneers. This prevents infection and ensures your veneers last as long as possible. However, if you have damaged, fragile or missing teeth, dental implants are the best option between the two. In addition, dental implants can solve several problems at once: they will give you a new tooth, improve your bite, better appearance and tooth structure.
2) Cost and Lifetime
Although many people consider dental implants to be an expensive dental treatment option. They’re actually one of the best investments you can make when you factor in longevity and yield. Dental implants can last up to 50 years. They are very durable and will stay securely in your mouth for many years to come. As opposed to dental implants, veneers only last 10-15 years if cared for properly. They’re a good decorative option and relatively inexpensive, but may not be the best choice in the long run if you want to solve many problems, including non-decorative ones.
3) Occlusion problems
When you lose a tooth, your bite may become misaligned due to receding gums. Dental implants will replace missing teeth and improve bite problems. Of course, when you have an underbite, overbite, or underbite, you will need further orthodontic treatment to address the bite. However, veneers can only correct the surface-level appearance of any occlusal problems (such as gaps between teeth), but not any occlusal alignment problems.
4. Conclusion
You need to identify the dental problem you wish to address before you can compare dental implants vs veneers and decide which procedure is right for you. Dental veneers, such as porcelain veneers, are a good option if you simply want to improve the appearance of your teeth by changing their color, and shape, or repair minor spacing problems with minimally invasive procedures. However, if your tooth is damaged or missing, it will need to be completely replaced. Both for health and cosmetic reasons.
After dental implants, you can also have veneers placed over the crown, which can further improve your smile. No matter which one you choose, remember to do your research to choose a qualified dentist and take their professional advice. You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered whether dental implants or veneers can correct a dental problem. In this day and age where technology in the medical field – especially dentistry – advances quite rapidly, you may not be sure which dental procedures can treat or improve which conditions. These procedures are also very versatile, so they can address many different dental problems.