Teeth Whitening versus Porcelain Veneers

There’s no denying that a beautiful bright smile is a valuable asset. However, a great smile is usually more than a matter of shade alone. The most dazzling smiles are usually due to a harmonious combination of shade, shape, size and position of the teeth and surrounding soft tissues.

If you are one of the lucky ones, and discolouration is your only concern, dentist-supervised teeth whitening alone may be a simple, safe, cost-effective and ‘conservative’ approach to enhancing your smile.

However, if the shade, shape, size and position of your teeth are all less than desirable, then veneers may be your best cosmetic option.

Veneers can be made from one of two types of material: composite or porcelain. Composite veneers are made of a plastic material that is bonded to the teeth and shaped by the dentist in the mouth to create the desired appearance. Composite veneers are cost-effective but they do stain, need more maintenance (e.g. smoothing and polishing, or repairs) and have a shorter lifespan than porcelain veneers.

Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin ceramic facings bonded to the outside surfaces of your teeth to modify their colour, shape, size and length as required. Unlike composite veneers, porcelain veneers do necessitate modification of your natural teeth. However, they don’t stain readily, are very strong, have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years and require very little or no maintenance. Possibly one of the greatest advantages of porcelain veneers is their natural appearance, enabling them to blend in with the rest of the teeth. When done well, they should markedly enhance the features and beauty of your smile while being virtually undetectable.