Do you have a cracked or chipped tooth that you’re troubleshooting? Or maybe you have a missing tooth? You may wonder if you need to really fix it, or you may want to get it fixed right away and wonder which option makes more sense? When comparing dentures vs veneers, you will find that each serves a different purpose.
Do You Really Need to Treat One Chipped, Cracked or Missing Tooth?
First, if you just have a cracked or chipped tooth, your dentist will recommend whether it needs to be repaired. Basically, if it puts your tooth or neighboring teeth at risk for decay and tooth loss, he or she will probably recommend getting it repaired.
So if you have a missing tooth, your dentist will recommend getting it replaced in most circumstances. Sure, you can get by without a tooth and still eat most things. But this gap will leave your teeth more exposed and room to move around while allowing more food particles to get trapped. Ultimately this will likely lead to more tooth decay and tooth loss.
Loss of teeth can cause other problems, too:
- Your jawbone can shift, leaving you with a speech impediment or a change your facial structure.
- You may be unable to eat healthy whole foods to ward off sickness and obesity.
- You may become more susceptible to gum disease, heart disease, diabetes and other serious illnesses.
- You may lose confidence and even become antisocial.
One chipped tooth, cracked tooth or missing tooth is far easier to fix than a mouthful of problem teeth. So in dentures vs veneers, which is the best treatment for you?
Explore Tooth Replacement Options
Dentures vs Veneers > Do They Repair or Replace Your Teeth?
Nearly 50 million Americans wear dentures or partials, according to Elders in Action: Tips to make dentures or partials feel more natural. With dentures, a removable partial or full set of teeth fills in any gaps between your natural teeth.
Dentures
Partial dentures consist of replacement teeth attached to a removable, gum-colored plastic base and make a good treatment option for people missing only some of their teeth.
But full dentures are more cost-effective. For a conventional full denture, you may need to have remaining teeth removed and allow the tissues to heal first, which can take several months.
If you get an immediate full denture, the device may be used as soon as any remaining teeth are removed. So you won’t be without teeth for any amount of time, but you will need to visit the dentist several months later for a refitting, as the bone supporting your teeth will reshape while healing.
Veneers
With a veneer, on the other hand, a thin layer of tooth-colored ceramic or composite resin is placed over your tooth to improve its shape, size or color. These restorations usually do not require any removal of your tooth structure and are ideal for covering chips, breaks or stains, or filling minor gaps between your teeth.
Indirect veneers, or veneers that are made in a dental laboratory and then installed, typically require two visits but tend to last longer (around 10 years). Direct veneers are applied directly to your tooth surface but may not last as long.
Your Friendly Team of North Carolina Professionals
So when troubleshooting your cracked, chipped or missing tooth, let a professional provider like MyOrthodontist help decide whether dentures vs veneers serve your problem best. We want to make your smile its brightest quickly, but also so it will last for the long-term!
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