If you have an interest in cosmetic dentistry, you may have come across terms such as veneers and dentures. Both of them share a common factor in that they are procedures and devices that are used to correct anomalies in teeth and improve your smile. In many cases, people may use these terms interchangeably but this is wrong. Dentures are very different from veneers. In this article, we look at veneers vs. dentures and make a comparison of the two.
What Are Veneers?
Veneers are made from a variety of materials such as porcelain or composite materials. They are typically placed over a tooth to mask anomalies such as chipped teeth. Veneers may also be used to whiten teeth, especially in cases of extreme discoloration. Veneers are relatively simple to put in place and the procedure normally takes two or so appointments to get done. Veneers are not just relatively easy to get, they are also stain proof meaning that your teeth are likely to remain sparkling white for a long time. Modern technology can even match the color of the veneers to that of the rest of the teeth.
Veneers have some drawbacks in that they require any underlying problems with the target tooth to be fixed before they can be used. Compared with dentures, veneers are relatively more costly.
What Are Dentures?
Dentures are dental prosthetic devices that are used to replace missing teeth. They come in different kinds and can be used to replace all the teeth or just some of the teeth. Dentures are also relatively easy to put in place and are removable. There are some benefits to using dentures such as the fact that they are easy to clean and so offer better oral health outcomes. The other benefit of dentures is cost. They are relatively cheaper to have than veneers. Dentures can also be put in place despite the patient having some dental health issues although it is likely that your dentist will want to fix those as soon as possible.
The problem with dentures is that they are less permanent than veneers and will require replacement at some point. Unlike veneers that only cover a tooth, dentures replace missing teeth, meaning that the patient may take some time to speak or chew properly.
Which One to Take
As with most cosmetic dentistry procedures, your doctor will probably guide you on what is most suitable. Veneers are great for fixing small problems such as gaps in the teeth. The fact that they can be matched to the exact color of your teeth makes them ideal for cosmetic dentistry. While dentures can replace missing teeth, you may find dental implants a smarter and more permanent solution to this problem. However, implants will require dental problems such as loss of jaw bone mass to be fixed before you can get an implant. There is also the issue of money as implants cost more than dentures. All said, cosmetic dental procedures always start with a road map that is developed by the dentist and the patient. At this point, a discussion of what works best for you, based on all these factors that we have mentioned, would be discussed.