I want to improve my smile. I am dealing with discolored teeth, mostly because of my age, as well as some crooked teeth. Before I go looking into dentists I wanted to know what ALL my options are. I find I get more straight forward information if I seem to know what I am talking about.
Ahmed P.
Dear Ahmed,
You have a couple of good options.
Option One: Invisalign and Teeth Whitening
If you are just looking to deal with the problems you mentioned, one option is to get Invisalign combined with teeth whitening. Invisalign uses clear aligners to straighten your teeth instead of the metal wires and brackets. Not only is the Invisalign much more comfortable, but it is also completely invisible (even at a conversational distance) and it works faster than traditional braces as well.
Because the aligners are fit to your bite, they can also double as teeth whitening trays. This allows you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time. All you have to do is ask your dentist to provide you with the gel and you can use it in your aligners just like you would with teeth whitening trays.
Option Two: Porcelain Veneers
A second option you have is to have porcelain veneers made. This is a bit more pricey and is considered a complete smile makeover. It’s the go-to procedure for celebrities who want that Hollywood smile. While the whitening and Invisalign will straighten and whiten your teeth, porcelain veneers can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth.
In addition to the cost difference, one other thing to consider when deciding between your two options is the dentist. Just about any dentist can do teeth whitening and Invisalign. If you want porcelain veneers though, you need to be a bit choosier with who you use. This takes skills that are not taught in dental school so the dentist will have needed to have invested in post doctoral training. You will want to look at their smile gallery to see what type of results they get. If they do not have a smile gallery, they are not serious about cosmetic work. Look for someone else.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.