To Veneer… or Not to Veneer?

Without a doubt, the effects of social media have changed the way we look at aesthetics.  With the advent of social influencers, photo filters, and the constant appeals for “shares” and “likes”, the demand for beauty is at an all time high.  In dental care, this relates to the ever desirable cosmetic smile. 

The real question in the quest
for the perfect smile is
what alternatives best suit your needs.

Ultimately, when determining the desire for a perfect smile, it is important to remember that restorative work like veneers, even though have a fantastic outcome, do require preparing the teeth and removing small amounts of tooth structure. However, in many situations, a good smile can be achieved with either tooth whitening, Invisalign treatment, or both. The picture to the top left is an example where whitening made such a difference that restorative care was not needed.

Other times, it is usually recommended to consider veneer restorations for situation that can not be achieved with orthodontics or whitening.  In these restorative case situations, it is also important to consider the number of teeth that may or may not require treatment.  In the picture in the middle above, the patient experienced significant discoloration from antibiotics during tooth development. Based on the smile design, only the upper anterior six teeth required restorative work as the patients smile did not extend to the back dentition.  

In the picture on the right, because of worn and misshapen teeth, treating more of the dentition provided adequate results.

No matter the goal for your smile, the good news is that there are always multiple options, and with advances in dental technology and techniques, the treatment is more comfortable and predictable.  Have confidence in knowing you can discuss your goals with your dentist so they can give you the smile of you deserve.  Happy smiling!

author avatar
Dr. Matt Artho

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