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Are You Looking For an Alternative to Dental Veneers?

Having a smile that you disapprove of or simply don’t like can be extremely damaging to your self-image and self-esteem. There should never be a moment where you’re uncomfortable in your own skin, but sometimes life throws a curveball that we aren’t prepared for.

For those struggling with crooked, stained, or chipped teeth, a trip to the dentist has likely left you feeling even more confused and nervous. There are a variety of different ways to get the smile you desire, but finding the best one can present a problem in its own right.

Chances are you were presented with the option of veneers to fix your tooth or teeth, but this can be a scary and serious dental surgery that many might want to avoid.

What Are Veneers?

Dental veneers are a possible option to give patients the smile they desire through surgery. The veneers are a thin layer of material that cover the front of the tooth or teeth. In addition to solving chipped, stained, or crooked teeth, they can also help cover gaps and spaces between your teeth.

Veneers come in two different materials -- porcelain and composite resin. Each come with different benefits, which will be decided with the help of your dentist.

Porcelain veneers are very durable and have a similar look to a standard tooth. They won’t stain very easily and don’t require as much tooth enamel removal than crowns do. Composite resin veneers usually require even less tooth enamel to be removed, are cheaper than porcelain veneers, and require less visits to the dentist.

Are There Better Alternatives?

Sometimes, your dentist might suggest avoiding dental veneers for several different medical reasons. This shouldn’t cause much worry because there are a variety of different ways to solve the many issues we experience with our teeth.

Let’s take a look at some other procedures that could help shape or color your teeth the way you want it.

• Teeth Whitening - If you areunhappy with the color of your teeth -- or even just one tooth -- a professional teeth whitening can be all you need. Over time, our teeth lose their color and brightness due to the various foods, drinks, and other products we consume like tobacco. With teeth whitening, you will see a difference after just one visit.
• Crowns - A porcelain crown can help fix cracked or broken teeth by essentially placing a cap on top of your tooth that resembles a standard one.
• Dental Bonding - This is one of the more affordable alternatives to anyone considering veneers. This involves your dentist bonding a composite resin to your tooth to fix cracked, chipped, or discolored teeth.

There are plenty of reasons why you might be unhappy with your smile, but that’s just more reason to take a visit to the dentist! Not only can they help figure out what you need done to give you the smile you desire, but they can guide you in the right direction so you can keep that beautiful smile forever.