Your Smile is Your Calling Card
Like it or not, your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, and if yours is full of missing, discolored, or damaged teeth, porcelain veneers or dental implants can offer you the help you need.
Just as a mouthful of pearly whites can help you make a dazzling introduction, teeth that are decayed, discolored, cracked, chipped, broken, or missing can leave the wrong first impression.
The good news is that modern dental technology offers a range of affordable, realistic, and permanent tooth replacement options for those experiencing severe tooth decay and loss. This article will discuss the pros and cons of two of the most common: dental implants vs. porcelain veneers.
Dental Implants vs. Veneers: Permanent Solutions to Permanent Problems
Did you know that approximately 35 million Americans are missing all their natural teeth? Once upon a time, removable dentures were the mainstay of tooth replacement, but nowadays increasing numbers of dental patients are seeking more durable, long-lasting alternatives.
Because dentures can be prone to cracking and breakage, and because only the most expensive models can be custom-fit to a patient’s mouth, many wearers find themselves stuck with ill-fitting and uncomfortable denture plates that affect their speech, chewing, and confidence.
In contrast, porcelain veneers bond directly to your natural teeth, preventing slippage and affording the wearer a more natural appearance. Dental implants are surgically embedded directly into the jawbone for even greater stability. And both give the wearer a more realistic appearance that’s indistinguishable from their natural teeth.
When comparing dental implants vs. veneers, it’s evident that both have advantages and limitations. However, depending on the circumstances, both can also help give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of.
Let’s take a more in-depth look at dental implants vs. veneers to find out what each has to offer.
Dental Implants: A Smile to Last a Lifetime
When choosing dental implants vs. veneers, it’s important to understand the function of each.
Dental implants can cure the wearer of cosmetic problems associated with missing or decaying teeth, but they also have several critical non-cosmetic functions including assisting with chewing and speech. Because they take the place of the wearer’s natural teeth and because they aren’t removable like dentures, they must be installed by a skilled dental surgeon after a thorough evaluation.
Dental implant technology was pioneered by a Swedish orthopedic surgeon named Per-Ingvar Brånemark. Since their invention in 1965, dental implants have gone on to become one of the most popular and sophisticated tooth replacement options available today.
The implant procedure works via a process called osseointegration, which allows the implants’ titanium screws to be permanently embedded into the wearer’s jawbone. This creates a stable foundation where an artificial tooth or a bridge can be applied. The risk that the body will reject the implant as foreign material is so minimal that the current success rate of dental implants hovers around 98%!