Veneers vs Bleaching
There have been many dental aesthetic treatments developed over the years. People with temporarily or permanently damaged teeth seek cosmetic dentistry’s help. These Aesthetic issues include chipped, broken, or stained teeth.
The solutions to these issues have their own pros and cons. Each of these treatments vary depending on their quality, cost, and durability. Two such treatments are veneer placements, and bleaching (whitening). What is the main difference between the two? Which of these methods is more suited to you? We explore these answers in the paragraphs below.
Difference in Applications
Teeth whitening treatment is mostly done to cover any discoloration. People with stained teeth due to their habits choose this method. It involves the cleaning and application of a bleaching agent to the teeth. The bleaching agent is a peroxide based compound (Hydrogen or Carbamide). The only solution it achieves is the whitening of teeth.
Compared to bleaching, veneers have a wider variety of applications. Apart from discolored teeth, they can also be applied for chipped or broken teeth. They are porcelain ceramic shells and are tooth shaped. Veneers are placed on the surface of the tooth, and completely cover the tooth underneath. They provide a new shape to the dental structure after their application.
Enhancing the Appearance
When it comes to the perfect smile, whitening alone does nothing to improve it. It is the shape of the teeth that is more important in altering the dental look. Whitening only improves the color of the teeth, but the dental shape remains the same. Veneers are designed keeping in view the enhancement of the patient’s smile.
Veneer placement is a longer process, but only because it involves more detail. These details help mimic, or even enhance the properties of the patient’s teeth. Veneers are designed and made based on the dental impression of the patient. This procedure not only whitens teeth, it also perfects the smile of the patient. Veneers look perfect but realistic as they imitate the reflectivity of the teeth. All these attributes make veneers the better choice.
Longevity
Compared to bleaching, veneer placement lasts much longer. Even the best quality of bleaching can fade away within a couple of months. Sometimes it needs to be repeated several times a year to maintain the whitened look.
Veneers are a more permanent aesthetic solution for teeth. They can last up to 15 years, after which they need replacement. Veneers are quite sturdy and there is hardly any risk of them losing their shape. They also remain stain-free, maintaining the enhanced look throughout their span.
Reversibility
It is often argued that veneers are not reversible and have to be kept on permanently. Significant amount of enamel is removed from the teeth to cater for their thickness. However, this issue is resolved if their newer variants, Lumineers, are placed. Lumineer placement is non-invasive and reversible. So if you are uncertain, you can choose Lumineers to achieve the enhanced dental look.
Conclusions
Veneers are a more permanent solution than teeth whitening. They not only improve your appearance, they are also long lasting. So if you want to avoid frequent trips to the dentist, veneers are the perfect choice for you.