Get ready for a smile showdown! In one corner, we have trustable dental implants. Be prepared to take on any dental challenge with their durable and strong quality. In the other corner, the aesthetic beauties, dental veneers! A cosmetic dental face-off for a beautiful smile: implants vs veneers!
So, which side are you on: implants or veneers? Well, if you’re not quite sure, it’s time to explore the world of veneers and implants. So grab your dental problems and fasten your seatbelts! Because we take you on a journey in the world of restorative dental solutions to see the differences between veneers and implants.
Gloves are off: veneers vs implants!
When it comes to restoring your missing and damaged teeth, veneers and implants are the two most popular options in dentistry. Dental veneers are thin covers that are placed on the outer surface of your natural teeth. And they’re usually made of porcelain or composite resin. The implant’s purpose, however, is to replace missing teeth. For this, artificial tooth roots are surgically placed in your jawbone. Then, the procedure is completed by placing prosthetic teeth on these artificial tooth roots. This makes chewing just as easy as it used to be with your natural teeth.
These two dental procedures are truly groundbreaking in the dental world. So, each option has its own special advantages. By understanding the differences between implants vs veneers, you can make the right choice as to which option best suits your particular needs. Let’s take a closer look at what’s the differences between veneers and implants.
Procedure itself
Veneers and implants have different approaches to improving dental aesthetics and functionality. Veneers make surface–level improvements with a focus on cosmetics, while implants offer a more comprehensive solution to replace missing teeth. If you want implants, you’ll have to go through quite a several steps, while dental veneer process will be completed in a much shorter time.
First, your jawbone may need an extra procedure because implants need a solid foundation. After the implant is placed, you’ll need a recovery period for it to fuse with your jawbone. Then, the abutment is attached to the implant. Finally, you’ll have a natural-looking tooth after the custom-made crown is placed on top of the abutment. So, as you can see the whole process takes a respectable amount of time and energy. But for veneers, the dentist simply needs to prepare your teeth by removing a small amount of enamel. Of course, your teeth need to be measured for permanent veneers, so you have to use temporary ones for a while. And at the final appointment, permanent veneers will be bonded using a dental adhesive. Quickie!
What we’re saying is that if an invasive procedure isn’t your cup of tea, you should welcome the idea of veneers rather than implants.
Promoting health
In our journey where we compare the two sides, let’s first consider our health. In both options, of course, our overall health is as important as the beauty of our pearly whites. So, we should give this round to implants, as they support and promote our dental health more than veneers. Dental implants are the star of restorative procedures while veneers are more like dazzling divas of the dental world. Implants are placed in your jawbone and act as the reliable roots of your natural missing teeth, keeping adjacent teeth in their place, preventing bone loss, and keeping your jaw structure rock solid. While veneers are thin shell-like coverings that are attached to the front of your existing teeth, primarily used for cosmetic purposes. But, this unfortunately doesn’t solve any underlying dental concerns like implants do. So, if you want to improve your smile while promoting long-term oral health, implants would be a better option for you!
Aesthetic improvements
Now it’s time to talk about aesthetic benefits a little. In fact, both dental implants and veneers offer quite remarkable transformations. Still, they take different approaches to achieve the perfect smile.
Dental implants provide a complete tooth replacement that will make you feel like you still have your natural teeth while with dental veneers, dental imperfections such as chipped teeth, stains, or misalignment can be magically hidden. Yes, implants feel realistic, but the procedure is a bit invasive , unlike veneers. It is possible to achieve this look without having any of your teeth pulled with them! Getting veneers is also much faster than getting implants, you can get an instant smile makeover with them. So, if your teeth just need help with aesthetics, veneers are for you.
Don’t worry if your teeth aren’t suitable for veneers though. Both options have the power to boost your confidence and give you a smile ready to grab all the attention.
Ease of use
Now, in terms of use, what’s better veneers or implants? So, implants and veneers are both easy to maintain with regular brushing, flossing, and routine dental visits, just like natural teeth, they need no special care beyond regular oral hygiene practices whatsoever. But there’s a twist, with proper hygiene practices, implants can last a lifetime while veneers can be subject to wear and tear over time and have a much shorter lifespan. That makes implants a great solution for those looking for a long-term option because with veneers occasional replacement and repair may be necessary.
Also, let’s not forget to mention that both of them won’t decay in your mouth. However, gum diseases can still affect the health of the surrounding tissues in the long run. And thanks to regular dental visits, the dentist can check the health of your implants and veneers and see if they need retouching.
Sustainable solution
Dental implants are a lifetime investment while veneers are not that sustainable in the long run. So, we should give implants their credit. Veneers have a lifespan of around 10-15 years, which is nothing compared to implants that will stay with you for your whole life. Also, implants are environment-friendly solutions while veneers might need repair or replacement every now and then. Constant retouches will create waste and contribution to the depletion of resources, but with the implant’s stability, the need for frequent touch-ups reduces, minimizing waste and excessive resource consumption. This means your environmental footprint is much less!
So, if sustainability is a priority for you, it’d be more logical for you to make your choice in favor of implants.
Treatment journey
To begin with, dental implants have a multi-step treatment process whereas for veneers, the journey will be much shorter and easy. In both, you’ll begin your dental treatment journey with a general check-up. However, because a solid foundation is necessary for the implant, pre-treatments such as bone grafting might be one of the stops you will visit on an implant journey. But, the only “pre-treatment” that’ll be necessary when getting veneers is the dentist preparing your teeth by removing a small amount of enamel to make room for the veneers.
After the pre-treatments, it is now time for your implants and veneers to come into play. One thing about the veneers though, you’ll have to wait a while after the impression of your teeth is sent to a dental laboratory for the making of your permanent veneers. Don’t worry because temporary ones will be placed until you get your real ones. With implants, after the post is placed, you’ll enter a healing phase for a few months. When you fully recover from it, an abutment is attached to the post, and the custom-made crown is placed on top of it. Your journey now will be completed.
So, to put it simply, while dental implants can take several months to complete, including the healing time, veneers can usually be done within a few weeks. That’s why your personal needs are influential in your decision-making. For example, if you need a quick solution, you should choose veneers instead of implants.
Price breakdown
Let’s be clear, implants are generally more expensive than veneers. Whether it’s their complexity, the surgery itself, and some procedures you’ll need to have before, these will all add to the overall cost. On average, implants cost between $3,000 and $5,000 per individual implant while the average cost for veneers ranges from $800 to $2,000. Of course, implant pre-treatments such as bone grafting or tooth extraction are going to be additional. The reason why the cost of veneers is more affordable than implants is that they require much fewer procedures. You’ll be paying for consultation, materials, dental impressions, and placement. You can brainstorm with your dentist to make a decision between implants vs veneers. Just don’t forget to consider your needs and budget when choosing the ideal option.
Revealing your better option: implants vs veneers!
Here’s where the rubber meets the road. We’ve come to the end of our journey and came a long way. So, whose side are you on: dental implants or veneers? You should weigh the pros and cons of each option according to your needs to make this decision. We don’t want to demoralize you in any way, but, to undergo any of these procedures, you have to be a candidate first.
| Implants | Veneers | |
| Aesthetics | ✓ | |
| Tooth restoration | ✓ | |
| Longevity | ✓ | |
| Quick solution | ✓ | |
| Non-invasive | ✓ | |
| Sustainability | ✓ | |
| Promoting health | ✓ |
In other words, for example, you can’t get veneers if you don’t have your natural teeth, so you’d have to get implants instead. Likely, you don’t have to get implants done if your teeth are already healthy but just have a few imperfections. Otherwise, your poor tooth will have to go through a painful extraction process for no reason at all. And plus, veneers are just much easier and quicker to get when it comes to aesthetics.
Well, there’s one last factor about choosing between implants and veneers; their cost. Although veneers can cost more than implants, there are lots of dental insurance and payment plans available that will relieve your wallet. Still, you are the one to decide; are you going to sweep all your oral issues under the carpet or are you going to smile as wide as you can with confidence?
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