Are Porcelain Veneers and Press-on Veneers Comparable?
I have stained teeth and the two front teeth have a small gap. I’ve been thinking about porcelain veneers, but I’m still paying off student loans so I’m not sure if more debt is what I need. However, at this point in the game, I worry that the condition of my teeth keeps me from advancing at work. It may just be my sensitivity about my teeth, but I feel like everyone who gets a promotion has a gorgeous smile. We have a business that is quite interactive with our clientele. I recently heard about something that is called press-on veneers. They are still costly but not quite as much the porcelain veneers. Are they comparable?
Amanda W.
Dear Amanda,
A Smile Makeover Done by Dr. Newkirk with Porcelain Veneers
It depends on what you’re going for. If you’re looking for a permanent smile makeover that looks beautiful and natural, then I would go with porcelain veneers or other alternatives, which we’ll discuss momentarily. The press-on veneers will not accomplish that. What they could be useful for is a photo shoot you have to do or something similar.
They’re too bulky looking to look natural at a conversational distance and many patients find them difficult to talk with them in. Plus, they’re not permanent they’re removable. Rather than compare them to porcelain veneers, I’d say they’re much more like Snap-On Smile.
Even the website for the press-on veneers will tell you they’re bulky. I noticed when I looked at their models in their photos, which would be their best, you could see a gap between the top of their press-ons and the gums above them. That will allow things to get trapped between them leading to decay, not to mention it’s unsightly.
Alternatives to Porcelain Veneers
Because you’re mostly worried about staining and a gap, there’s a much more affordable solution which will give you a beautiful, natural smile. The first, obvious thing is teeth whitening. That alone makes a huge difference in someone’s smile.
For the gap, you have two options. First, you can get Invisalign. It’s a type of Invisible braces. This would make more sense if there were other portions of your teeth that also need to be repositioned. However, unless the gap is very large, it would be a bit of an overtreatment.
If everything else is perfect and you just have a small gap, I’d suggest getting dental bonding done to close the gap. You would want to do the whitening first to ensure your bonding will perfectly match the new white color of your teeth.
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