Dental work can be complicated. There are numerous procedures for visual and functional purposes. The sheer number of appliances, processes, and surgeries can be overwhelming. Unless you have a background in dentistry or spend a lot of time in a dental office, you may be unfamiliar with some standard dental procedures. Whether your dentist recommends a procedure to you or a loved one, it is excellent to prepare.
Dental veneers and implants are popular procedures you may hear from your dentist. Unfortunately, it is common to confuse the two, so let’s dive into their descriptions.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are a cosmetic option to improve your smile. Made of either porcelain or cosmetic resin, veneers mimic the look and feel of your natural teeth to create a new, dazzling smile. Veneers are for patients looking to change their smile due to discoloration, crooked teeth, or improper tooth spacing.
Veneers require a healthy base, so oral health is crucial to being a good candidate. For example, you need to treat tooth decay or gum disease before getting veneers. In addition, if you are a smoker, you may want to reconsider dental veneers.
Unlike dental implants, veneers are a minimally invasive procedure that takes just a few appointments.
How Do They Work?
Once your dentist has confirmed you are a good candidate for veneers, they will present you with several options of style and whiteness. After that, it is up to you to decide. Depending on the type of veneer, your dentist may create your veneers by using layers of resin or get your custom porcelain veneer from a lab.
Your dentist will file down a small portion of the enamel during your procedure. This will help the veneer bond to your tooth and ensure flush placement. Incredibly, veneers will look and feel just like your natural teeth. They require the same type of care as well. It is necessary to brush and floss your teeth as recommended.
Veneers are not permanent fixtures, so you must replace them every 5-10 years.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are prosthetic tooth roots that replace missing or damaged teeth. It is a restorative procedure that requires surgery for placement. The root structure is placed into the jawbone to provide a strong base for the crown.
Unlike veneers, dental implants can last a lifetime barring no complications.
How Do They Work?
Receiving a dental implant is an intricate process that begins with a treatment plan. Once the treatment plan is made, your dentist will implant the prosthetic titanium tooth root into the jawbone. It is necessary for the new root to completely heal before moving on to the next step. The jawbone and the soft tissues must fully heal to create a strong foundation. This process can take up to 12 weeks.
After the implant has healed, a dentist will secure the abutment–or post–to the prosthetic root and then attach a crown. Due to the invasive nature of the procedure, you can only receive one implant at a time.