I wanted to get a smile makeover for my teeth. They’re stained and have a chip. I’m told porcelain veneers is the way to go, but they’re too expensive. I’ve seen press-on veneers. They’re only about $1000.00. Will that be a good option? They seem to look nice on the site. I just don’t want to spend that much money if it’s a waste.
Mindy F.
Dear Mindy,
It depends on what you mean by good option. If you want to know if they’ll look as natural and beautiful, the answer is no. They’d be useful for something like a photo shoot. But, in everyday life where you have conversations and people see you close up.
They just press over your natural teeth, the same way snap on smile does. They’re going to look bulky and won’t look nearly as natural as porcelain veneers your dentist makes.
The ones from your dentist are custom crafted into tiny wafers of porcelain, which naturally mimic teeth. You’ll find the others made from a composite resin, which is good for small repairs, but not to completely mimic an arch of teeth. Additionally, because they go over your teeth, they’ll look bulky.
Alternatives to Porcelain Veneers
If cost is the reason you’re wanting an alternative, I’ve got some good news for you. The types of repairs you need won’t require porcelain veneers to have a beautiful makeover. Yes, porcelain veneers are the top of the line in makeovers. But, that changes everything about your smile: shape, color, size, and character.
You mentioned staining and a chip. Those can be easily updated with teeth whitening and dental bonding. In fact, many patients find teeth whitening alone takes years off their appearance. The dental bonding is to repair the chip. A cosmetic dentist can sculpt material onto the chipped tooth to make up the missing portion. It will blend in perfectly.
Just be certain you have your teeth whitened before you do the bonding. You’ll want your dentist to match the bonding to your new whiter color.
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