3 Benefits of Veneers Over Tooth Whitening

When pursuing a brighter smile, many people begin their cosmetic dentistry journey with tooth whitening. In some ways, this makes sense. After all, tooth whitening is both inexpensive and pretty easy in terms of commitment.

But in many ways, getting dental veneers can provide more of the desired effects than whitening. Yes, it’s more expensive, but it offers more guaranteed results. The cosmetic dentistry experts at Whole Body Dental in Bellevue, Washington, explain three benefits of choosing veneers over whitening.

The difference between veneers and whitening

Tooth whitening removes stains from your teeth. When you choose professional tooth whitening, we apply a hydrogen peroxide gel to your teeth and “cure” it with a Zoom!® laser. The results can last for quite a while if you’re committed to avoiding things that stain your teeth, such as wine, coffee, or smoking.

Dental veneers, on the other hand, are a permanent solution. We have to file down your teeth to place veneers over them, which are thin shells usually made of porcelain.

Following is a list of advantages of choosing veneers over whitening.

More lasting results

Tooth whitening is a temporary solution. While you can brighten your teeth quite a bit by whitening them, you can still expect your teeth to gradually become stained again. Depending on your habits, the results might last only from a few months to a few years.

Veneers, on the other hand, provide permanent results. Although veneers can also become stained, they seem to be more resistant to them.

A broader range of shades

When you get your teeth whitened, you’re limited in the number of shades lighter you can go. In general, you can only go up to about 8 shades lighter.

However, when you choose veneers, you’re not limited at all by how white you can make your teeth. If you want a dazzlingly bright “Hollywood” smile, you can achieve it with veneers.

More effectively treats staining

Sometimes, your teeth are stained due to no fault of your own. Your teeth aren’t stained because of smoking or bad habits of consuming dark foods but because the dentin inside your tooth itself is stained. This may be caused by several factors, such as the use of certain antibiotics or even fluorosis (excess fluoride exposure.)

Because it’s the inside of your tooth that’s stained, tooth whitening generally won’t work. But veneers can fix your problems extremely well.

How to decide

When deciding whether to choose veneers or tooth whitening, you should be mindful of the fact that veneers are a permanent choice because we have to file away part of your tooth’s natural enamel. Although veneers can last for 15-20 years, they eventually need to be replaced. 

If you want to further discuss whether you should get your teeth whitened or if you should get veneers, you should make a consultation. Contact the providers at Whole Body Dental or request an appointment online.