Should I Choose Invisalign® or Veneers for a Straighter Smile?

If you are feeling self-conscious about your smile, Cosmetic Dental Associates can help you repair it with a smile makeover. Dr. Spiker Davis and Dr. Matt Guerre both help their patients in Houston, TX to find cosmetic dentistry treatments that dramatically improve a smile while improving their oral health at the same time. By choosing the most appropriate cosmetic dental procedure for your smile, you can achieve the beautiful smile you’ve been dreaming of. Ultimately, Invisalign® or veneers are two of the most popular procedures for a straighter smile.

Understanding Invisalign

Invisalign is a cosmetic dentistry procedure that uses a series of custom-made clear aligners to straighten a patient’s teeth by gradually moving them to their desired positions. This undetectable way to straighten the teeth is preferred over traditional metal braces for teens and adults in Houston, TX.

Each set is custom made for each patient’s teeth and their goals for their smile. These aligners are removable, which means there are no food restrictions and oral hygiene is much easier to achieve. Each clear aligner is worn for a one- to two-week period. Ultimately, Invisalign is a long-term dental health option that permanently straightens the teeth. It also can correct bite problems and close gaps between the teeth.

About Veneers

Veneers are thin porcelain sheets that adhere directly to the front of the teeth. The goal of this cosmetic dentistry procedure is to improve the appearance of the teeth by changing the appearance entirely, whether shape, size, length, or color. They are a permanent solution to chipped, cracked, crooked, gapped, misaligned, or misshapen teeth in Houston, TX, all of which Invisalign cannot correct. They also repair the smile quicker than other cosmetic dentistry procedures.

The process of receiving veneers requires a few dental visits to Dr. Davis or Dr. Guerre. The first step is to file down the front of the teeth being treated to make room for the veneer. Next, we will take impressions of the teeth. These impressions help to ensure that the veneers fit properly. This impression will be used to create the veneers. While waiting for the permanent veneers to be created, we give you temporary veneers to wear.

After your permanent veneers are ready, your temporary ones are removed and the permanent veneers are attached to the front of your teeth. Adjustments may be necessary to ensure a perfect fit. Porcelain veneers are designed to blend with the natural teeth and can last countless years with a proper oral hygiene routine.

Benefits of choosing veneers

There are many benefits of choosing porcelain veneers versus Invisalign:

1. Involves fewer dental visits: Treatment with porcelain veneers requires only two office visits to complete. Invisalign can last six to eighteen months to complete.

2. Enhances the teeth’s shape: Veneers can improve unevenly shaped teeth where Invisalign can only bring teeth into better alignment.

3. Corrects stains and discoloration: Veneers can fix discolored teeth. They are also stain-resistant and made to match the surrounding teeth for a beautiful, long-lasting smile.

4. Repairs cracks: Veneers can cover cracks, breaks, and chips.

5. No pain involved: They are a painless cosmetic dentistry treatment option with no pain or discomfort.

6. Provides cosmetic benefits to Houston, TX patients: Veneers can correct several cosmetic imperfections all at once and quickly.

7. Protects eroded teeth: The enamel that covers the teeth protects it, but enamel can erode. A veneer helps to restore eroded teeth and protect others from erosion, too.

Who is the best candidate for porcelain veneers?

Ideal candidates for porcelain veneers are anyone looking to feel more confident about their smile in Houston, TX. Instant orthodontics help to repair imperfections quickly. Custom porcelain veneers are recommended by Dr. Davis and Dr. Guerre to any patient who has healthy teeth and gums and has no history of bruxism or periodontal or gum disease. Any other dental issues such as tooth decay or root canal therapy can be addressed prior to veneer treatment.

Learn the differences of porcelain veneers vs. Invisalign with Cosmetic Dental Associates

When you’re considering cosmetic dentistry procedures such as Invisalign or veneers, our professionals at Cosmetic Dental Associates can help. Dr. Spiker Davis and Dr. Matt Guerre have provided smile makeovers for their patients in Houston, TX with both veneers and Invisalign respectively. Veneers offer a long-lasting and fast path to a whiter, straighter, and more beautiful smile. To learn more about these cosmetic dentistry procedures, call our office to schedule a smile makeover consultation.