BeforeAlternatives to Orthodontics
The patient had been told by our office and others that she would benefit from orthodontics to straighten her front teeth. Her occlusion was functional and stable but she had cosmetic concerns. She had previously had some bonding that helped a little bit but she wanted a more uniform smile with as little drilling as possible.
AfterStraighten teeth with Veneers
Six porcelain veneers, bonding, and some shaping of other teeth made for a dramatic improvement in her smile. Smiling always came easy for this dental assistant (from another dental office) but now she smiles with confidence.
Choosing the best option: Veneers vs Braces
You have some gaps, or your teeth are crowded or a bit crooked. You have been thinking of improving your smile for a long time. What should you do, choosing veneers vs braces? Have you ever heard of instant orthodontics? Everybody wants to do things fast. Is fast the best choice for me? If you get veneers instead of braces, you can be done in a few appointments. Who wouldn’t want it done and over in this impatient world?
How Veneers Will Straighten Teeth
Veneers are a common alternative to orthodontics. They can be applied to the fronts of crooked teeth to make them look better and often perfectly straight. Porcelain veneers can be shaped and crafted to look like natural teeth and are made from durable materials.
Before all treatment, Dr. Fondriest thoroughly examines your teeth, while listening to your thoughts, issues, and concerns. He will offer a teeth alignment plan that most suitably addresses your problems. The best option might be with crowns, veneers or braces. The goal is to choose an option that will provide years of comfort, while being aesthetically pleasing.
When offered braces vs veneers, this patient chose not to have braces.
When teeth are too crooked for veneers
When your teeth are only slightly misaligned, veneers are an excellent choice. If your teeth are too crooked but their shape and color are otherwise fine, then braces will be better than veneers. This option saves your teeth from large amounts of drilling. Aligning them with veneers would be too invasive. Determining how much is too much misalignment is best made by an orthodontist or cosmetic dentist. Frequently, both braces and veneers are done for the same patient.
When are teeth veneers better?
Teeth veneers are a great choice when the teeth are only slightly crooked. They are perfect for changing tooth shapes or for covering stains or chips. Veneers can be done quickly. You can get a total transformation in 4-5 visits.
Veneers instead of wearing braces isn’t always the best
Doctors are frequently asked if they can have veneers instead of braces. Many patients want to avoid the lengthy process of having braces and just have veneers. Veneers are well known to be an excellent way to improve one’s smile. A well trained cosmetic expert can do no or minimal drilling to the teeth to cover over them with a thin sheath of porcelain to tweek the “Look”.
Unfortunately, the more out of alignment your teeth are, the more the dentist would have to drill into your teeth to align them. Ideally, when an orthodontist is enlisted to align the teeth, the cosmetic dentist won’t need to do as much drilling. The bottom line is that orthodontics is almost always the best way to align teeth. It is considered a non invasive / non destructive way of cosmetically improving a smile.
Doing Instant Orthodontics with Veneers
Traditionally, braces have provided individuals with straight teeth. But, with new technology, there are now alternatives to achieving perfectly aligned teeth, with minimal time, energy, and risk. Dr. James Fondriest can create straight teeth with veneers ensuring optimal long term oral health and wellness.
Tooth Alignment Treatment Alternatives
Instead of braces or retainers to achieve a straight smile, many individuals are turning to an instant orthodontics solution with veneers. Many times this can still be a relatively non-invasive treatment to straighten teeth. Many individuals lead busy lives and have neither the time or energy for orthodontics. Veneers can provide instant alignment, usually with one or two visits to the dentist.
What are the costs of veneers vs braces?
It will cost an average of $15,000 to place veneers on your front 6 teeth. Having orthodontic treatment averages $6,000. When it comes to cost, orthodontics is better. When it comes to time of treatment, the cosmetic dentistry is the choice.
Contact Us Today
If you would like to learn more about teeth alignment with braces or veneers, schedule a consultation with Dr. Fondriest by calling 847-234-0517. We look forward to creating a dazzling smile that will provide confidence, and years of longevity.