Porcelain Veneers vs. Tooth Bleaching
Calgary, Alberta
Most people desire a whiter, brighter smile. If your teeth are stained, discoloured, or show signs of aging, you have three main choices: at-home tooth whitening, power bleaching or porcelain veneers.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are bonded to the front surface of your tooth. These restorations can straighten, reshape, and whiten your smile in just a few dentist visits. Porcelain veneers can also close unattractive gaps in your smile and correct teeth that are cracked, chipped or appear worn.
Power Bleaching
In-office power bleaching is an effective way that the dental team at the Aesthetic Dental Studio can brighten your smile. With this procedure, a solution of concentrated hydrogen peroxide gel is placed on your teeth and activated with a light. This whitening procedure provides dramatic whitening results; up to nine shades brighter in as little as two dentist visits.
Tooth Whitening
You can also choose at-home tooth whitening and brighten your teeth in the comfort and privacy of your home. With this option, you will be given customized bleaching trays and a highly-concentrated peroxide gel that will be left on your teeth for about an hour. This option is more cost effective, but it often takes longer to achieve results and the whitening is not as dramatic as with power bleaching.
Which is Right for Me?
When deciding which procedure is right for you, you should first consult the advice of dentist Dr. Gordon Chee. He will examine your teeth, assess the type and extent of staining and determine whether your gums are healthy enough to endure the bleaching process.
You should also weigh the pros and cons of each procedure. Porcelain veneers are a more invasive treatment, which is irreversible and more costly than tooth bleaching. However, veneers practically guarantee a perfect smile that lasts for years. The results of bleaching are often less consistent and unpredictable.
Conversely, tooth whitening does not require any tooth preparation, or shaving down of your natural teeth so that the veneers can be attached. Whitening procedures will not affect any dental work already in place. With veneers, some patients have experienced variations of whiteness from tooth to tooth, which is permanent.
Also decide how much time you want to spend at the dentist’s office. Veneers are placed in several visits, while you can opt for at-home tooth whitening.
If you are interested in whitening your teeth live in the Calgary, Alberta area and are looking for a qualified, professional cosmetic dentist, please contact our dental practice for more information. Dentist Dr. Chee and his dental team can help you achieve the smile of your dreams. Please call today to schedule an appointment.
