Invisalign Vs. Veneers: Choosing The Right Option

Last updated February 15, 2024

Woman in glasses smiling brightly

Feeling self-conscious about your smile can take quite a toll on your self-esteem.

Luckily, a consultation with Harbour Pointe Family Dentistry is all you need. It will fix your smile and boost your confidence.

Our dentist may suggest Invisalign®This link leads to Invisalign page or veneersThis link leads to Veneers page to fix gaps, spacing issues, or other similar problems.

Which one is right for you depends on your situation. Let’s discuss it!

Invisalign in Mukilteo, WA

Invisalign debuted more than two decades ago. Since it entered the market, more than 15 million people have used it to straighten their teeth. This includes over 4 million teens.

For this treatment, you wear clear aligners over your teeth. They gently press and move them into the desired position.

With Invisalign, your dentist will take digital images to create impressions of your teeth.

Our dentist, Dr. JohnsonThis link leads to Doctor’s page works with patients to create a plan. The images and impressions are then sent to the manufacturer.

You’ll receive the aligners in a few weeks, sometimes up to four.

Typically, you’ll wear each pair of aligners for two weeks for at least 20 to 22 hours each day.

Treatment is usually completed in 12 to 18 months, and you have a straight smile.

Some of the reasons our Mukilteo dentist may recommend Invisalign include:

Gaps or spacing issues
An overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite
Overlapping or overcrowding

Pros of Invisalign

Compare Invisalign vs. veneers. It’s helpful to know the advantages of Invisalign.

Nearly invisible

First, clear aligners are nearly invisible. They let you get straight teeth, no matter your age, without metal braces.

As a result, nobody will even know you’re correcting your smile unless you inform them.

Removable trays

You can eat, drink, brush, and floss without watching what you eat.

You can also do this without forgoing oral health with Invisalign.

The ability to remove the trays for these activities is a unique benefit. In fact, you’re supposed to remove them during these activities.

Let’s say you still think the aligners are noticeable.

When you have a special event to attend, you can remove them.

Just keep your aligners in for the recommended amount of time that day.

No food restrictions

You take out the aligners to eat and drink. So, you can eat and drink normally during your treatment.

But, if you have veneers, dentists say you should avoid hard foods. Also, avoid any drinks or foods that stain.

Improved comfort

Compared to braces, Invisalign aligners are more comfortable.

Patients rephat the only discomfort is the brief adjustment period between aligner changes.

Safe materials

Invisalign trays are a BPA-free, dental-grade plastic. So they’re safe no matter how long you wear them.

Quick treatment

Most people see full results from Invisalign in 12 to 18 months, some even less than that.

Cons of Invisalign

Let’s look at some of the downsides of Invisalign vs. veneers. For example:

Getting used to the aligners

Invisalign is usually comfortable. You may find the trays a bit awkward or uncomfortable until you adjust.

Don’t be surprised if it takes you a few days to get used to the feeling of the aligners.

You might notice changes in your speech, such as the onset of a lisp. This problem will go away over the course of a few weeks.

Wearing the aligners as directed

You must follow your dentist’s daily recommendations for Invisalign to work.

If you avoid wearing them or forget to put them in regularly, your results won’t be as rapid.

Also, if your teeth don’t shift as expected due to non-compliance, your next aligners won’t fit.

Cleaning your teeth more frequently

You must keep your teeth clean. whenever you undergo Invisalign This means brushing them after you eat or drink anything besides water.

You may find it difficult to keep a toothbrush on you and escape to the bathroom at work or when out.

Veneers in Mukilteo

Veneers are thin tooth covers that change your smile’s appearance, including shape and color.

Our dentist can use them to close or reduce gaps or spaces in your smile.

This process usually takes a few visits. One visit is for taking impressions of your teeth or doing 3D imaging.

Your teeth will go through prep before you receive the veOOur dentist will place temporary veneers to protect you during this timer teeth during this time.

Pros of veneers

The benefits of veneers include:

Solving multiple dental issues

Veneers are useful for various dental issues, making them incredibly versatile.

You can use them if you have multiple issues with a tooth, such as discoloration and a space between the neighboring tooth.

For example, discoloration and a space between the neighboring tooth.

Offering a long lifespan

We consider them a permanent tooth repair solution. But, their average lifespan is 15 years. This varies based on the type you have.

Protecting eroded teeth

If you have enamel erosion, veneers can protect the tooth and prevent further wear.

Improving confidence

The before and after difference in veneers can provide quite a confidence boost.

Cons of veneers

Porcelain veneers have various benefits, but some disadvantages as well, including:

They are only a cosmetic treatment:

Invisalign fixes both the look and health of your teeth. Veneers only cover looks.

For example, they won’t correct any spacing problems.

Their color remains the same:

Over time, the color of your teeth changes, often because of your diet.

Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant. They won’t change color like your natural teeth.

Though this won’t matter if you have veneers on all your front teeth, it could be noticeable if you only have them on a few.

They do not last forever

While both methods require the use of retainers, veneers have a limited lifecycle.

You’ll need to have them replaced at some point during your life.

They can chip or crack:

Veneers are made of durable materials, especially porcelain. But, it’s possible to chip or crack them.

This is especially true if you chew ice, bite your nails, or grind your teeth.

They are irreversible:

For most types of veneers, our dentist will file a small portion of the tooth’s surface.

The enamel doesn’t regenerate. So, if you remove one set of veneers, you need another to keep protecting your teeth.

Veneers can only be used to correct certain problems and aren’t a true repair. However, they may be cheaper.

They also provide other benefits that Invisalign can’t. Invisalign has its share of benefits as well.

Ultimately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. At Harbour Pointe Family Dentistry, we’ll help you make the right decision for you.

Give us a call or send us a message today!

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We open our doors to Mukilteo, WA, but gladly welcome those in Everett, Martha Lake, Mill Creek, Alderwood Manor, Lynnwood, Marysville, Snohomish, and Edmonds, too.