Minor dental alignment issues such as gaps, crowding, and mild underbites and overbites can be quite distracting from the more beautiful features of a patient’s smile, and they can make teeth more vulnerable to injury and infection. While these issues can typically be treated with Invisalign clear aligners, some patients may be able to address their misalignments more quickly with veneers. Here’s a brief guide to the different ways in which Invisalign and veneers can help you achieve a straighter smile.
How Can Veneers Straighten My Grin?
Veneers are probably most well-known as a cosmetic treatment used to treat mild to extensive dental defects such as chips, cracks, stains, and misshapenness, but you may not be aware of how these remarkable devices can address minor dental misalignments. By removing a small amount of enamel and placing lifelike ceramic shells over the treated teeth, your cosmetic dentist may be able to reshape your pearly whites to make them straighter and easier to clean.
Veneers can typically be placed in two appointments scheduled about two weeks apart. However, using veneers to straighten teeth is typically only suitable if the alignment issue is mild. Severe malocclusions will probably be treated more effectively with Invisalign.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign is a modern alternative to traditional braces that straightens teeth using a customized sequence of removable and virtually invisible aligner trays. These devices are designed to address a wide range of mild to moderate malocclusions such as gaps, crowding, underbites, overbites, open bites, and crossbites, and the patient must wear each set for at least twenty hours daily before switching to the next pair in the sequence.
Invisalign clear aligners work by fitting snugly over the teeth and exerting the consistent pressure necessary to gradually shift them into healthier positions. The patient will have to commit to a vigorous oral hygiene regimen that includes brushing and flossing after each meal and snack and cleaning their aligners daily to prevent dental stains and infections. Invisalign usually takes six to eighteen months to straighten a smile if the patient complies with their treatment instructions.
Veneers and Invisalign can both be great ways to achieve a straighter and more beautiful smile. Consulting with your dentist can help you find out if you qualify for either of these treatments.
About the Practice
Dental Group of Jefferson offers the most excellent oral healthcare available to the local community. Led by Drs. Casey Hammond and Stephanie Pichler, the staff ensures that each patient receives outstanding customer service as well as high-quality treatment. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry such as veneers as well as Invisalign services. To learn how your dental misalignment can be treated, contact the office online or dial (440) 576-7040.