Veneers vs. Dental Implants: What Should I Get?

Veneers and implants? Pretty similar, right? Nope! If you feel undecided between dental implants and porcelain veneers in San Jose, we’re about to make your life easier, because the situations requiring these treatments are completely different.

While dental veneers are great for fixing minor cosmetic issues with your smile, dental implants are used top completely replace a missing or severely damaged tooth. Let’s take a closer look an implants and veneers and why they might be right for you.

Your Cosmetic Options

Implants for Missing Teeth

Dental implants may be recommended by your dentist if you've had any tooth loss. Special posts will be implanted into the jawbone. Once the implant and bone have fused, the operation will be completed with a crown restoration.

The visible crowns will resemble your natural teeth in appearance. If you have visible teeth that are chipped, discolored, crooked, or worn down, you may want to think about getting veneers instead.

Veneers

Veneers may be a better option for you if you want a Hollywood smile. Veneers can fix several aesthetic issues, including misaligned teeth, gaps between teeth, and cracked or damaged tooth enamel.

Dental veneers are made of medical-grade ceramic and are custom-sculpted to resemble your natural teeth as closely as possible. The procedure is straightforward: the dentist applies an adhesive to each tooth before placing a veneer on top.

How Bad is the Damage?

If you have a badly damaged tooth, you should consider getting a dental implant to replace it entirely and avoid any further infections or issues in the future. For serious problems such as gum line broken teeth, a dental implant can be a solution.

Veneers, on the other hand, are best used to correct modest cosmetic dental issues including chipping, stains, and spacing.

How Long Does the Implant Process Take?

Your implant treatment plan will determine how long it takes to complete the process. Since the implant must fuse with the jawbone before the operation is complete, the time required will vary from person to person and circumstance.

Are Dental Implants Long Lasting?

Routine dental implant appointments help them last a lifetime. The titanium substance bonds to your jawbone and is impervious to decay and gum disease.

Veneers can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years. However, they are just as susceptible to damage as your natural teeth, and as a result, they too might chip or shatter. 

Looking to Get Veneers in San Jose?

Regardless of your choice for cosmetic dental treatment, it is still very important to see you dentist a couple times per year for an exam. Make a dental plan for yourself so that you can better manage your long-term expenses and stay on top of your oral health.

Routine checkups, usually every six months, may be covered for little to nothing with the proper insurance plan. If you want to get implants or quality veneers in San Jose, head on over to the Center for Advanced Dentistry. We offer some of the best dental services in all of San Jose. Call us today!