Teeth Whitening vs. Dental Veneers

Besides the amount of money you have in your bank account, how can you know what is best for you?

Laser whitening procedure,

Of course, the best traditional ( and correct ) answer is to pay your dentist a visit; if you do, make sure you go to a specialist, i.e., Cosmetic dentists or Prosthodontists, so you can have the best diagnosis and treatment plan. But what if you want to have a little guide for yourself? Here is it!

Cost? Here, whitening is winning! The average cost of in-office whitening ranges from $500 to $1,000 in the US. Veneers, on the other hand, could cost between $925 and $2,500 per tooth, yup, per tooth. So now we know what is more wallet-friendly.

Conservation? And here I am talking about the conservation of the tooth structure. Whitening is basically the application of a chemical agent to your teeth. While for veneers, the most common procedure is that the Cosmetic Dentist abrades a very thin layer of your teeth, this layer is then later replaced by the veneer itself. This might be triggering for some patients, as they don’t want their tooth structure compromised.

Longevity? Veneers are generally more long-lasting than whitening. Veneers can last 10–15 years, while whitening may only last 1–2 years with the best care.

Lifestyle? If you are an active and busy person, veneers might not be for you, as they require special care, maintenance, and regular recalls to your dentist. It’s also important to think about your habits if you are a regular coffee drinker, smoker, or someone who just loves Indian or Mexican food. All of these habits have the ability to stain teeth, which would decrease the longevity of whitening for you.

On the other hand, veneers are basically thin ceramic shells that don’t stain.

Discoloration? It can be best assessed by the Dentist. But let’s say you have the normal yellowish staining of teeth that most of us suffer; you mostly have here the privilege of choosing from both.

Your Dentist might just recommend whitening (depending on the discoloration factor only) for the sake of conservation that we talked about earlier. However, if you have heavily resistant stains, veneers might be your only option.

Disfigurement? This is where veneers excel; in addition to changing the color, teeth that are misaligned, chipped, or broken can be returned to their normal shape with veneers. Also, if you have small-sized anterior teeth or a diastema (a space between your upper frontal central teeth).

When the Dentist abrades the teeth and then designs the veneers, he or she does that according to a plan (approved by the patient) that will result in correct re-alignment of the teeth, producing the wow effect we all notice. Also, the patients themselves usually have a say in what shape and contour they want for their new teeth, making it a really enjoyable experience.

Of course, I have to say that some cases might be severe in that the teeth can only be aligned using braces and/or other procedures. Teeth whitening, on the other hand, is limited to the change in color; yes, it can be life-changing, but you just have to know what to expect.

Actress Emma Watson with veneers (before and after), Seventeen Magazine

Risks? The most famous risk associated with bleaching or whitening is sensitivity; it’s usually temporary but can be extremely uncomfortable, and patients may take pain medications. Don’t worry; this differs from one person to another, and also, everyday dental manufacturing companies are trying their best to produce new whitening kits that have fewer elements that can cause sensitivity.

Gum irritation could also occur if there is accidental exposure of the gums to the whitening agent, but this is also temporary and extremely avoidable.

When it comes to veneers, well-made and designed veneers with proper care should not have any risks or side effects. If the abrasion of the teeth is faulty, pulp exposure may occur (pulp is the tissue inside your teeth that makes the teeth vital), or if the design is improper, sensitivity could occur, as could gum irritation, and unfortunately, there are reported cases of tooth decay.

The Dentist needs to perform a very thorough diagnosis too, as if you are a clencher, that means veneers may not be the best for you, and your bite, in that case, may cause cracks in the veneers. But again, do not worry; all you have to do is find a well-known, reputable and experienced cosmetic dentist so that you will not have to worry about all that.

In my opinion, this sums it up. I would like to again stress how important it is that you take your dentist’s opinion, do some research yourself, and explore your options to make the best decision. You might be surprised to find other solutions that suit you better.