Teeth Whitening vs Veneers: Which Option Is Best for You?
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Since whatever you put in the mouth sticks around to your teeth, the formerly pearly whites can eventually become discolored and unappealing. Striving to make them white and shiny again, you may face a dilemma: veneers vs whitening. The choice might be challenging without proper knowledge of dentistry. We’ll ease the burden and explain the intricacies of teeth whitening and veneers in a nutshell. Read till the end to discover the key difference between these treatments and shape your decision!
What Is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is commonly performed by a dentist to lighten tooth tone and remove occasional stains. This procedure allows you to brighten your tooth color by several shades! The doctor usually applies peroxide-based bleaching agents, while some innovative solutions like Zoom teeth whitening imply using ultraviolet light and acid-free gel to get rid of stubborn pigmentation.
What Are Veneers?
When choosing between teeth whitening or veneers, you should understand the purpose of the latter solution. Veneers are custom-made shells placed over the front surfaces of your teeth. They cover chips, cracks, gaps, and other cosmetic blemishes. Additionally, dental veneers conceal stains. This is a backup plan for stains that don’t get better with teeth whitening.
Key Differences Between Whitening and Veneers
Since both dental treatments struggle with stains, you might wonder about veneers or teeth whitening differences. Here we are with a distinct overview!
Effectiveness and Results
- Professional teeth whitening is almost an instant option — you only need to make an appointment and relax in a dental chair for nearly an hour to enjoy stunning results. The procedure is more effective than the products you can purchase at the local drugstore. Though the dentist paints your teeth with bleaching agents, special precautions help protect your oral cavity.
- Getting veneers implies removing a thin coat of tooth enamel, making the treatment more invasive than teeth whitening. The doctor bonds a veneer directly to the tooth surface, so you should boast healthy teeth and enamel to consider veneers as a permanent solution. To get custom-made porcelain veneers, you have to invest several hours of your precious time and multiple appointments.
Veneers vs Teeth Whitening: Procedure and Treatment Process
- In-office teeth whitening procedure starts with a professional dental examination. Then a doctor applies a bleaching agent to your teeth, waits till it works, removes it, and reapplies it if necessary.
- For porcelain veneers, a dentist removes a bit of the enamel from the tooth surface and makes customized impressions. The doctor sends these impressions to a lab and offers you temporary veneers in the meantime. Next, they bond veneers to your teeth and polish their shape for a maximum natural look.
Cost Comparison
- The average cost of professional teeth whitening starts from $500.
- Porcelain veneers pricing varies from $1200 to $2500 per tooth, while their composite counterparts are slightly cheaper — from $400 to $800 per tooth.
Considering a significant gap in pricing between teeth whitening and veneers, let us make it a bit clearer. The scope of veneer benefits spreads far beyond handling tooth discoloration. They also hide chipped or broken teeth, diastema, misshapen teeth, and the like. Since veneers are a long-term and custom-made solution, no wonder their cost is higher than one teeth whitening procedure.
Teeth Whitening vs. Veneers: How Long Do the Effects of Each Last?
- Teeth whitening is a highly rewarding procedure: you can admire the results immediately afterward. Alas, nothing lasts forever. You might have to use special whitening trays at home to prolong the effects. After several years, you might need to repeat the process. The speed of getting tooth discoloration depends on your diet, oral hygiene, and habits.
- Porcelain veneers can endure up to 20 years. However, they require thorough daily care and utmost mindfulness as to what you eat and drink since you can occasionally damage veneers if you treat them sloppily. If you chew on something hard like nuts or ice cubes, veneers can chip. Though a dentist can try to repair the damaged veneer, you should understand it might need replacement.
For your convenience, we’ve summed up the information in a handy comparison chart below.
| Feature/Treatment | Teeth Whitening | Veneers |
| Effectiveness | Instant results, but you might need a renewal after some time. | Perfect dental restorative solution for a wide array of tooth issues — from misaligned to cracked teeth, including tooth discoloration. |
| Treatment Process | 1-hour procedure that implies bleaching agent application to your teeth. | The treatment requires multiple visits to a dental office since the doctor has to remove some tooth enamel, make impressions, and bond veneers to your teeth. |
| Cost | The average cost of in-office teeth whitening begins from $500. | Porcelain veneer pricing starts from $1200 per tooth, and composite veneers cost from $400 per tooth. |
| Durability | A professional dental procedure may last up to 2–3 years. | Porcelain veneers are a long-lasting solution with a nearly 20-year lifespan. You need to care for them properly to prevent damage. Otherwise, the veneers might need replacement. |
Veneers or Teeth Whitening: What Should You Choose?
When deciding between veneers or teeth whitening, you should prioritize the dental issue you want to solve. Is it about tooth staining or discoloration? Then professional teeth whitening may be your lifesaver. Though you have to redo it every 2–3 years, this procedure is completely safe and cost-effective. You’ll see the instant result in one hour, without the need to postpone your enjoyment till the next dental visit.
On the other hand, veneers kill several birds with one stone, effectively dealing with discoloration, chipped teeth, and gaps between your teeth. They cost more but are outstandingly durable. However, once you have veneers, you’re bound to them for a lifetime: nothing will return the processed tooth enamel.
Teeth whitening and veneers have one similarity: they cope with tooth discoloration. From this point, their routes differ, making it essential to be guided by your dental needs in the first place. The most reasonable solution would be to consult with a reputed dentist from a vetted clinic like Forest Hills Dentistry to understand which treatment suits your unique case.
Additional Resources
- It’s beneficial to prevent tooth discoloration rather than deal with its costly consequences. Read this article on key tooth discoloration causes and forearm your teeth with a valuable data shield.
- Once you get stains on your teeth, you might wonder how teeth whitening works.
