You want a straight smile. The only question is: What’s the best way to make it happen? With the many innovations available in cosmetic dentistry, you have several options. The two most popular choices for achieving a straight smile are Invisalign and porcelain veneers, but they are very different options – so how do you decide which is right for you?
What’s the Time Commitment?
Porcelain veneers typically take two visits to your Fort Lauderdale cosmetic dentist to complete. Your teeth need be prepared for the treatment, the veneers need to be customized and created by the dental lab, and then the finished porcelain shields will be bonded to your teeth for a permanent and instantaneous smile makeover. All you need to do is budget two to three dental visits into your schedule.
Invisalign is a different type of commitment. You must wear the trays 20 to 22 hours a day. Treatment can last for an average of one year but this number will vary based on how complicated your case is and how much your teeth need to move. It’s necessary to take good care of the trays and see your Invisalign provider regularly – about every six to eight weeks – for a check-up and to collect new aligners. And, of course, at the end of treatment, some patients like to get a professional teeth whitening treatment for a complete smile makeover.
What’s Your Budget?
Cost, of course, is a major consideration for any cosmetic dentistry procedure. Typically, dental insurance does not cover aesthetic enhancements, but it may cover orthodontic treatment, depending on your level of coverage.
You can expect that most of your payments will be out of pocket for both Invisalign and porcelain veneers, though there are always dental financing options that make both treatments affordable. Invisalign cost can be anywhere between $3,000 and $7,000, but this number will vary based on how complex your case is. Veneer cost can be comparable to Invisalign, or it could be more than double the price tag, depending on the type of material used to craft the veneers and how many you receive.
How Is Your Oral Health?
No matter what kind of smile makeover you want to pursue, your oral health must be in good condition. That means no cavities, no gum disease, no major issues. For any cosmetic dentistry to proceed, all problems need to be addressed first, especially in the case of veneers, which will cover teeth permanently. If the veneers are not placed on a solid foundation, they will not have longevity.
For Invisalign, you need your teeth to be healthy too, but one of the goals of this procedure is to make teeth straight and strong so they can naturally be healthier. Invisalign fixes alignment, can minimize jaw problems, and can stop worn enamel and cracked teeth. Your teeth will be beautiful and tough.
Final Considerations
When it comes to correcting cosmetic issues, porcelain veneers are an excellent choice if you want to hide stains, discoloration, gaps, short teeth, oddly shaped teeth, and more. If you want to correct an overbite, underbite, misalignment, or overcrowding, Invisalign wins the day.
For many people, appearance is the deciding factor between veneers and orthodontics – but Invisalign is not just any kind of orthodontics. It’s invisible. No one will notice the smooth, clear aligners on your teeth. You can correct your smile discreetly and permanently without dental work interrupting your daily life.
Learn more about porcelain veneers and Invisalign and find out what’s right for you. Schedule a consultation at Premier Smile Center in Fort Lauderdale and certified Invisalign provider Dr. Charmaine Johnson.
Everything I have had done at Premier Smile Center has been top-notch. The treatment I received was thorough, precise and extremely professional. I never felt like just another patient because they took the time to listen to my concerns. They addressed my issues and we agreed on the treatment plan together.
The staff is very friendly, warm and extremely knowledgeable. I felt relaxed and comfortable knowing I chose the right place to get the dental work I needed. Dr. Johnson is very humane and very knowledgeable, and she does amazing work. I like the friendliness and honesty of the whole practice. I was not confident with my smile, in fact I was very self conscious and rarely smiled. Premier Smile Center has changed all that. My smile is one of the things I like the most.