Porcelain Veneers vs. Invisible Braces

Who does not want to have that million-dollar smile? Alas! Not everyone is so lucky. Majority of us have imperfect teeth and it can be quite embarrassing at times when you really are in a job that calls for smiling at every other minute. But there is a brighter side even if you don’t have that picture perfect smile. You can sport one with advancements in dental technology. Treatments involving porcelain veneers and invisible braces are god sent to treat those dental irregularities.

So what are porcelain veneers
Porcelain Veneers are custom-made porcelain sheets that are adhered to the teeth strongly to have a permanent hold. These veneers are used to improve the aesthetics of your teeth be it damaged tooth, discoloured tooth or to help the mal-alignment of teeth as well. While the porcelain material is basically brittle but when it is moulded onto your teeth it gains strength and durability.

Merits and demerits of porcelain veneers
The two important advantages of veneers as compared to other dental bonding:

Porcelain veneers give a long lasting genuine look.
The porcelain veneers are translucent in nature and are strongly bonded to the enamel and imitate a light-reflecting property of the tooth enamel that enables your teeth to have a more natural look.

Besides, porcelain is basically ceramic and this makes it stain-resistant even if you are a habitual tea, tobacco or coffee consumer.

The disadvantages of porcelain veneers are that if the bonding is damaged or broken, it cannot be repaired and the only option is replacement, and the process is irreversible. The treatment cannot be performed on people with decayed tooth or have unhealthy gums. And, it is not advisable for people with hot temper: as they tend to grind their teeth quite often. Finally, porcelain veneers will not strengthen your teeth.

What are invisible braces
Invisalign or invisible braces are great innovations to rectify misaligned teeth and also help cover gaps between the teeth. The braces go remarkably unnoticed as they are transparent and are placed behind the teeth. You need to use them for 22 hours a day and the time limit may differ depending on the complexity of the problem. They are made to perfection that helps your teeth to align straight with a stipulated time.

Merits and demerits of invisible braces
One of the main advantages is that the Invisible braces are removable, while you are brushing and eating. This makes the whole process convenient and easy to manage. The invisible quality makes it more popular, anybody can hardly make out that you are wearing braces! Most of the dentists and orthodontists offer free consultation for Invisalign and also give you details about the treatment and cost.

People who are less than 14 years of age cannot go for this treatment. Since the braces are removable the patient needs to be very careful in using it for a regular 22 hours a day. And not all tooth alignment cases be rectified with invisible braces, they may need the traditional metal braces.

Porcelain veneers or invisible braces?
When you look at both the options of porcelain veneers and invisible braces, you may choose the one that best suits your needs. In case you have over crowding of teeth invisible braces (invisaligns) are not for you and if you have badly discoloured teeth porcelain veneers are for you (not recommended for prolonged usage as well as for long lasting results). There are also fears that the gaps between veneers might well lead to cavities later. Furthermore, it is an orthodontic treatment that is needed first and then teeth whitening with porcelain veneers can be contemplated.