Do you have stained, chipped, or cracked teeth? If minor dental imperfections are stopping you from smiling wide or laughing fully, there’s no shame in looking to cosmetic dentistry for solutions. One solution you may want to consider is getting veneers.
Veneers are wafer-thin shells that our cosmetic dentists can apply to the fronts of your teeth, transforming your smile without having to use teeth whitening products, braces, or aligners. At Family Dentistry, we offer two different veneers procedures: porcelain veneers and .
Pros and Cons of Porcelain Veneers
Pros:
- Whiter, brighter smile
- Stain resistant
- Long lasting (10–15 years)
Porcelain veneers are made of — you guessed it — porcelain, an excellent material to use in cosmetic dentistry. Porcelain is white, bright, and nonporous, which makes porcelain veneers more resistant to staining than your natural teeth. They’re a great option if your teeth are heavily stained.
Porcelain veneers can also last a long time, as long as they’re well maintained. All you have to do is care for them like you would your normal teeth, and you can expect them to last anywhere from 10 to 15 years.
Cons:
- Spreads procedure out over multiple appointments
- Sacrifices healthy tooth enamel
- Fairly permanent (removal not recommended)
The process to get porcelain veneers will take two appointments. During your first appointment, our cosmetic dentists will remove a thin layer of your from the fronts of your teeth. This enables your teeth to receive the veneers without them feeling awkward or bulky.
Because we’ll have to remove tooth enamel, getting porcelain veneers is typically an irreversible process. Your tooth enamel protects your teeth, and once it’s removed, it won’t grow back. Your veneers will protect your teeth instead. You’ll be able to get new veneers if your old ones get stained or need to be replaced, but we wouldn’t recommend you simply remove your veneers without replacing them if you ever decide you don’t like them anymore.
At the end of that first appointment, our cosmetic dentists will apply temporary veneers to your teeth to protect them until your permanent ones arrive. You’ll have to come back for a second appointment to receive your permanent veneers.
Pros and Cons of Lumineers
Pros:
- Whiter smile
- Preserves your natural teeth
- Simpler procedure
- Longer lasting (up to 20 years)
- Not as permanent (removal allowed)
Lumineers are even thinner than traditional porcelain veneers, but they still result in a whiter smile. Better yet, they can be applied without sacrificing any of your healthy tooth enamel.
The procedure to get Lumineers still occurs over two appointments, but it’s overall a much simpler process. During your first visit, our dentists will simply take impressions of your teeth. You won’t lose any of your tooth enamel, which means you won’t have to wear temporary veneers while your permanent ones are being made. Then, during your second appointment, we will simply apply the Lumineers to your teeth.
Lumineers are also said to last longer than porcelain veneers. Just take care of them like you would your normal teeth, and you can expect them to last up to 20 years before they need to be replaced. Since they don’t sacrifice your enamel, you can remove Lumineers for any reason without risking decay or other dental problems for your teeth.
Cons:
- Not as bright of a smile
If your teeth are severely discolored or stained, Lumineers may not be right for you. Lumineers are slightly more transparent than traditional porcelain veneers, making it harder for them to fully disguise any discoloration. If you’re looking for a brighter smile, Lumineers may not be the best option.
Get Porcelain Veneers or Lumineers at Family Dentistry
Our Wyoming, MI, cosmetic dentists can help you decide whether porcelain veneers or Lumineers are right for you. Call Family Dentistry at (616) 534-5602 today, or contact us online to request an appointment.