Do you wish to get strikingly clean/white teeth that would look natural too, but aren’t sure whether to go for porcelain veneers or teeth whitening?
Cosmetic dental veneers are becoming very popular lately due to their super attractive results. From celebs to professionals to regular people, everyone seems to be interested in getting them given how remarkably beautiful they make your smile seem.
However, a common confusion is when people confuse porcelian veneers with teeth whitening or vice versa, as both treatments are cosmetic in nature and are marketed for more or less the same qualities.
This leads to people asking which treatment delivers better results, as they naturally want to invest once and wisely, so they want to make sure they invest in the right treatment (especially since there’s a significant difference between the two treatments’ costs).
Due to this cost disparity the debate of teeth whitening vs veneers is often reduced down to cost itself. Patients assume that veneers must be better since they’re expensive, but it’s a rather misunderstood simplification.
The reality is these treatments differ greatly in major aspects such as working mechanism, lasting, pros and cons, hence the cost difference.
Makes sense? Would you like to know which treatment is right for you? Read this blog to find out!
Understanding Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is not so much of a new invention in dentistry; it has been around for decades.
In fact teeth whitening as a concept has its roots in ancient civilization, though modern (safe) teeth whitening treatments, the ones that we’re referring to, were invented in the late 20th century with the discovery of carbamide peroxide gels for teeth whitening.
Being self-explanatory in their title, “teeth whitening” treatments are those that are primarily used to whiten teeth, i.e., their core purpose is to lighten the shade/color of teeth.
This is sought by patients who are troubled by their teeth being yellow or dull, which could happen due to a number of reasons like:
- Enamel thinning and exposure of dentin
- Staining from a diet rich in tannins, like coffee and tea
- Tobacco usage
- Aging
- Congenitally (by birth) yellowness
Depending on the underlying cause of discoloration, the affected teeth are either whitened directly or are first thoroughly cleaned via scaling (which removes external tooth debris like plaque and calculus, which heavily contributes to the discoloration) and then subjected to whitening.
Modern teeth whitening methods include:
- Laser whitening. Laser light is used to lighten teeth quickly and intensely (up to 8 shades in just one sitting).
- Whitening trays. These contain bleaching gel that helps whiten teeth gradually.
- Deep bleaching. This combines in office whitening + take-home trays, designed to treat deep stains.
Understanding Porcelain Veneers
Now let’s talk about porcelain veneers, the popular cosmetic treatment that’s surpassing all other treatments.
Let’s clarify at the very beginning that this isn’t just a teeth whitening treatment, it’s a complete smile transformation method that deals with a number of aesthetic problems like:
- Yellow, deeply stained or discolored teeth that don’t seem to get any better with regular scaling and/or whitening treatments
- Teeth that have minor cracks, craze lines or other structural flaws
- Unevenly shaped/sized or shortened teeth due to chipping
- Slightly misaligned teeth
All these diverse appearance-related problems are solved at once with porcelain veneers.
This wholesome treatment works by placing very thin (0.3mm-1.2mm, comparable to the thickness of a fingernail) porcelain shells over the affected teeth to ‘conceal’ their flawed appearance.
Only the front outer surface of teeth is covered with porcelain shells to give the teeth an illusion of a sparkly, white, clean appearance.
Porcelain is the best material to be used here as it’s a ceramic, so it’s safe for teeth. Also, it has a natural light-reflecting ability that makes it look like real enamel (with added whiteness and a smooth, clean surface).
The placement of porcelain shells is pretty straightforward and unproblematic if done by a professional:
- A tiny amount (roughly equal to the thickness of the shell) of natural enamel is removed from the front surface of teeth to make space for the shells.
- Veneer shells, which are prepared carefully and customized as per your desired shape/shade/size, are bonded over the filed teeth using special dental adhesives and cured with a curing light.
You can get porcelain shells placed on specific teeth or get all your teeth veneered for a polished and uniform look
Which Treatment Is More Efficient?
Many patients get confused between veneers and teeth whitening before visiting a cosmetic dentist.
They tend to wonder whether porcelain veneers or teeth whitening gives better results, but the question itself is misdirected.
What they should rather be asking is whether they need simple whitening of their teeth or a complete aesthetic transformation of their teeth that would perfect their teeth from every aspect.
In the former case, teeth whitening treatments are suitable, but bear in mind that professional teeth whitening may only last anywhere from 1-3 months.
Porcelain veneers, on the other hand, typically last for 15+ years, and in many cases they may last for 20 years or more, so it’s a much more viable investment for someone looking for a complete aesthetic uplift.
Having said that, porcelain veneers and teeth whitening have a significant difference in cost, which makes complete sense considering their different scope, longevity and benefits. So, both the cost as well as the long-term value of the treatment should be carefully factored in before you make the decision to get it.
Conclusion
Technically there’s no comparison of porcelain veneers and teeth whitening in efficiency as they cater to different problems and goals. Whitening is suitable for temporary lightening (of shade) of the teeth whereas porcelain veneers are best for long-term aesthetic transformation.
Got more questions? Schedule a FREE consultation with Cincinnati Smile Clinic, a premium dental practice located in Ohio, USA. Talk to our team of cosmetic experts and pave your way to a healthy and beautiful smile!
