A Comparison Between Dental Bleaching and Porcelain Veneers
Individuals who would like whiter teeth have several options, such as having their teeth bleached or getting composite resin or porcelain veneers. Some patients may not know which option is better for them due to having insufficient information about those alternatives. This article compares having your teeth bleached to having porcelain veneers applied. Use this information to select the most appropriate option for your needs.
Impact on Tooth Colour
Bleached teeth remain natural, except that they have been made whiter than they were before the cosmetic dentistry procedure. Consequently, those teeth will become stained at the normal rate of staining as a result of exposure to different foods and drinks, such as coffee. It is, therefore, often necessary for you to have those teeth bleached several times each year in order to maintain the colour that you want.
However, porcelain veneers retain their colour for their entire service life which can span more than a decade. You are, therefore, more likely to be satisfied with the colour of your teeth for a longer time if you opt for porcelain veneers.
Convenience and Time
You can have your teeth bleached at your dentist's office, or you can do it yourself while you are at home. Home kits usually entail wearing bleaching trays a few minutes per day for approximately two weeks. Bleaching at the dentist's office requires a few hours of your time.
In contrast, a lengthy process is followed before you can have porcelain veneers installed. For example, your teeth may be reduced to create space for the veneers. The cosmetic dentist then has to take impressions of your teeth so that the veneers can be fabricated. In the meantime, temporary veneers are provided while you wait. This process may appear to be time-consuming and inconvenient. However, the veneers are better since you only go through that process once approximately every 15 years. The multiple visits associated with dental bleaching turn out to be more time consuming and inconveniencing long-term.
The Cost
Dental bleaching is generally affordable if you only consider what you pay during each session. Having porcelain veneers installed appears to be very expensive when you compare its cost to the cost of a single bleaching session. However, the repeat bleaching sessions make the total cost add up faster than the cost of porcelain veneers.
As you can see, different cosmetic dental treatments have their pros and cons. Weigh all those implications carefully before you make a selection. Remember to defer to the advice of your cosmetic dentist because some factors, such as your overall dental health, may make one procedure more or less appropriate for you.
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