Dental Implants vs. Veneers: Which Are Ideal for Me?

When you’re ready to address dental issues to enhance your smile, you have options. Two popular ones are dental implants and veneers. They’re different procedures, however. Which one might work best for you? 

With any dental decision, there’s no one-size-fits-all choice. At Greenwich Dentistry, we evaluate your oral health and learn your preferences to make recommendations that suit your needs. We offer general dentistry and specialized procedures like veneers and dental implants. 

Here are the differences between these two popular smile-enhancing options. 

Dental implants

These long-term, durable devices replace missing or severely damaged teeth. The process involves surgically implanting a titanium post into your jawbone. The post, once it fuses with your jawbone, anchors an artificial tooth or crown customized to match your other teeth. 

The advantages of dental implants include: 

Durability

The titanium implant becomes part of your jawbone; it’s sturdy and designed to last a lifetime.

Natural looking

Implants look and function like natural teeth for a great smile and easy chewing and speaking. 

Improved oral health

Implants preserve your mouth’s structure because they keep adjacent teeth from shifting. And they promote a healthy jaw by preventing bone loss in your jawbone, a risk with missing teeth. 

Confidence boost 

Dental implants restore your smile. There’s no need to worry about unsightly gaps or dentures that don’t stay in place. 

However, getting a dental implant requires a surgical procedure, has a higher initial cost than veneers, and takes several months to complete.

Veneers

Veneers are thin shells custom-made for the surfaces of your teeth. Typically made of porcelain, they can disguise discolored, chipped, or misaligned teeth.

There are several advantages of veneers:

Minimally invasive

Getting veneers doesn’t require surgery, and the procedure can be completed more quickly than with implants.

Stain-resistant 

Porcelain veneers are matched to your teeth’s natural color, and food, drinks, and smoking won’t stain them. With veneers, your smile remains bright. 

Versatility

Veneers can solve dental issues like gapped teeth, crooked teeth, and irregularly shaped teeth. They’re also good for stained teeth that haven’t responded to whitening.

However, although veneers are long-lasting, they have a lifespan of 10-15 years and are susceptible to chips or cracks over time.

Which option is best for you?

Choosing between dental implants and veneers depends on the problem you’re trying to fix.

Implants are a great choice if you’re looking for a permanent solution to replace missing teeth or improve functionality. Veneers are ideal if you want a dazzling smile without surgery. 

At Greenwich Dentistry in Cos Cob, Connecticut, we’re happy to discuss these and other cosmetic dentistry offerings. Call our office today to schedule your appointment.