A Teenager's Guide to Braces

Thanks to the ever-evolving world of cosmetic dentistry, there are more and more procedures you can undergo to obtain a more beautiful and healthy smile. If you have a few cosmetic concerns with your front teeth, you may be considering porcelain veneers because of how they can transform your smile. However, veneers may not be the right choice for everyone, so check out these four pros and cons of getting porcelain veneers.

Pro: They Make Front Teeth Look Amazing

The number one reason to get porcelain veneers is because they make your teeth look amazing. To start, the material used to craft the porcelain veneer looks and feels like natural tooth tissue. Plus, it can be shaded to give you a whiter, brighter smile. In addition, porcelain veneers fix many other cosmetic concerns, such as cracking and chips. If you have small cracks in the tooth enamel or chips from trauma, the porcelain veneers cover them, making the teeth look nearly flawless. They can also make mild to moderately crooked teeth look straight. They only work on front teeth, however, so if your back teeth are discolored, cracked, etc. you may need other procedures.

Pro: Less Tooth Structure Is Removed

Porcelain dental crowns are an alternative option that make your teeth look incredible fast. Like porcelain veneers, they can fix many problems at once without much wait. However, Regardless of which option you choose, tooth tissue must be removed. The problem with front teeth, however, is they are thin, and the more tissue that is removed, the greater the risk of trauma to the tooth, which may lead to an infection. With porcelain veneers, less tissue is removed than with dental crowns, reducing the risk of future problems

Con: They Are not Cheap

Porcelain veneers are not a cheap cosmetic procedure. On average, you can expect to pay about $500 to $1,100 per tooth, and because the procedure is typically considered cosmetic, it isn't usually covered by insurance. To determine if the price is worth it, consider what you don't like about your teeth. For example, if your teeth are only a little crooked, it may be more cost effective to get invisible braces for a short time. However, if your teeth are crooked, cracked and discolored, you may actually save money by getting veneers.

Con: They Don't Strengthen Teeth

If you have weak teeth, porcelain veneers may not be an option. This is because they don't actually strengthen teeth. In fact, if your teeth are already weak from large fillings, cracks, etc., veneers may actually make your teeth worse. This is also why they cannot be placed on back teeth. Back teeth undergo a lot of pressure during chewing, which veneers can't withstand. If your teeth are weak, your dentist may recommend porcelain crowns instead, which actually strengthen weak teeth.

Cosmetic dentistry is becoming more and more accessible and affordable, so stop putting off treatment another moment. Porcelain veneers may be exactly what you need to fix your smile once and for all. For more information about porcelain veneers or other cosmetic dentistry procedures, contact a cosmetic dentist in your area today.