Veneers Vs. Invisalign: Which Is Best For Your Situation?
If you have slightly crooked teeth, you have a lot of options. Those with minor imperfections in their bite usually don't have to invest in actual braces. Instead, they can usually either get veneers or Invisalign. Both of these treatments are designed to fix minor issues with alignment, but they operate in very different ways.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Veneers
Veneers are like a coating for your teeth. They can correct size, shape, color, and alignment. There are many advantages to veneers: they protect your teeth from further damage, they look sparkling and perfect, they're fairly easy to maintain, and they can give you an entirely different smile. But there are also some downsides. Veneers are very expensive compared to many other options, and they can't correct significant alignment issues. They don't move your teeth -- they just place a cap over your teeth. So your teeth aren't aligned properly, they simply appear to be aligned properly.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Invisalign
Invisalign is a set of transparent molds that fit over your teeth and move them over time. If your bite is improperly aligned, Invisalign will slowly shift your teeth into place, leaving you with a perfect smile. The advantage to Invisalign is that it's virtually invisible when used (compared to regular braces) and it has very few side effects. Ideally, at the end of your Invisalign set, you'll be left with teeth that appear as though they were always perfect. The disadvantage to Invisalign is that it can only correct alignment issues. Unlike veneers, it can't correct any problems with color or size.
Choosing Between the Two Options
Before you decide whether you want veneers or Invisalign, it may be worth a check-in with your insurance company. Dental insurance may cover a larger portion of one procedure over the other, taking out many of the cost considerations. In general, Invisalign is more likely to be covered by dental insurance because veneers are usually considered to be purely cosmetic. If your current alignment is causing physical health issues, Invisalign may be considered a necessary treatment rather than a cosmetic one.
A cosmetic dentist like David Jackson, DDS will be able to give you more information regarding whether your teeth are better suited to one product or the other. In general, if you have other cosmetic issues with your teeth -- such as staining or irregular sizes -- veneers are the best answer. If your teeth are otherwise in good condition, Invisalign is best.
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