Side by side
Invisalign vs Veneers
Veneers are sometimes sold as instant orthodontics. For the right case that is fair. For the wrong one it means grinding down healthy teeth to hide a problem aligners would have fixed.
Invisalign vs Porcelain Veneers
| Invisalign | Porcelain Veneers | |
|---|---|---|
| What it changes | Where the teeth sit | The shape, shade and apparent position of the front surfaces |
| Tooth structure removed | None | A thin layer of enamel, more if teeth are badly out of line |
| Time to result | Four to eighteen months | A few weeks |
| Fixes the bite | Yes | No |
| Changes color and shape | No, though whitening pairs well afterwards | Yes |
| Reversible | Yes | No, the prepared teeth will always need covering |
| Long-term upkeep | A retainer at night | Replacement somewhere around ten to fifteen years |
| Best for | Crowding, spacing and bite problems in otherwise healthy teeth | Worn, chipped or discolored teeth that are close to the right position |
Our take
If your teeth are healthy and the problem is position, straighten them. If they are worn, chipped or stained and only slightly out of line, veneers can solve both at once. Many of the best results we see use both: a short aligner series to set the teeth up, then fewer and thinner veneers than would otherwise have been needed.
Invisalign
Invisalign moves teeth with a series of clear removable aligners. Adults choose it because nobody has to know it is happening.
Consider it if:
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Gaps you want closed
- A bite that has shifted since childhood orthodontics
Veneers
A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain bonded to the front of a tooth. It changes shape, shade and alignment in one step without moving the tooth.
Consider it if:
- Front teeth that are chipped, worn or uneven in length
- Stains that whitening has not touched, including tetracycline banding
- Small gaps between the front teeth
Smile Makeover
A smile makeover is a planned combination of treatments, designed together, that changes how your whole smile looks rather than fixing one tooth at a time.
Consider it if:
- Several cosmetic complaints rather than one
- Old crowns or fillings that no longer match the teeth around them
- Teeth worn short, chipped or uneven along the edges
How we help you decide
We take records, show you what we are looking at on screen, and give you a recommendation with the reasoning attached. Both options above get quoted where both are clinically reasonable, so you are comparing real numbers for your own mouth rather than averages from an article.
If one of them is clearly wrong for your situation, we will say so and explain why. Second opinions are welcome, and we give them straight.
Questions we get asked
How long does Invisalign take?
Simple cases finish in four to six months. Comprehensive cases usually run twelve to eighteen.
Can people tell I am wearing them?
At conversational distance, generally not. They are noticeable in close-up photographs and you take them out to eat.
How long do veneers last?
Ten to fifteen years is a fair expectation with good hygiene and a night guard. Some go considerably longer.
Do you have to file down my teeth?
Some enamel reduction is usual, though it is measured in fractions of a millimeter. Certain cases can be done with almost no preparation at all.
How long does a smile makeover take?
Anywhere from a few weeks for whitening and veneers to around a year if orthodontics comes first. We give you the timeline at the consultation.
Will it look fake?
Not if it is designed properly. The brief we hear most is better without looking done, and the trial smile is how we make sure of that before anything is permanent.
Not sure which?
Honest dentistry, since 1987.
We will tell you what needs doing now, what can wait, and what we would leave alone.
- Over 50,000 patients treated since 1987
- Comprehensive new patient exam including oral cancer screening
- Three doctors and a long-tenured team
- Most major dental plans accepted
Been told you need a lot of work somewhere else? Second opinions are welcome and we give them straight.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
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