Patients who want to improve their smile and oral health now have several long-lasting options. First, let’s start with dental implants and veneers. Veneers or dental implants can make a noticeable transformation to your appearance. However, there is certainly a difference between veneers and implants, and the best option depends on your oral health needs.
A Bay Area dental implants and veneers experts like Pannu Dental Group can provide sound guidance on the best treatment for your unique oral health and aesthetic needs. In the meantime, it’s helpful to have a foundational understanding of the difference between veneers and implants to start exploring your options.
What are Dental Implants? A Closer Look at Dental Implant Facts
Dental implants are permanent tooth replacements designed to look and function like natural teeth. The dental implant procedure entails replacing tooth roots with sturdy metal posts that hold strong artificial teeth that are permanently affixed to your jawbone. These implants bond with your jawbone over time, resulting in a better smile and oral health overall, as the implants protect your surrounding bone, teeth, and gums.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
While dental implants generally require more than one trip to the dentist’s office to complete procedure from start to finish, dental implants can last a lifetime. If you enlist an expert in dental implants who uses the latest implant technology and provides client-focused care, you can expect decades of perfect teeth that look and function like regular teeth without deterioration.
When Are Dental Implants Recommended?
Dental implants may be recommended as the best treatment if the following scenarios apply:
- A patient must replace one or more missing teeth without affecting any surrounding teeth.
- A patient has jaw pain or other oral health issues caused by teeth shifting into missing teeth territory.
- A patient has damaged or deteriorating teeth affecting normal functions, like chewing or speech.
- A patient wants to permanently restore their smile without future procedures.
Benefits of Dental Implants
There is also a wide range of inherent benefits when it comes to dental implants, which include the following:
- Restores the patient’s ability to chew like normal.
- It requires no extra maintenance other than daily routine habits like brushing and flossing.
- Instantly restores cosmetic appearance and stays beautiful on a permanent basis.
- Preserve the oral health of the gums and the jawbone.
- It helps protect any surrounding teeth and keeps them stable.
- Looks and functions just like natural teeth, with no noticeable differences.
- Impervious to future damage issues, like chips, cracks, or discoloration.
What are Veneers?
Veneers are thin but tough coverings placed over the front of your tooth or teeth to look and function like natural teeth. Veneers are made of tooth-colored porcelain or a composite of materials and can conceal a wide range of aesthetic imperfections, including cracks, gaps, tooth discoloration, and more.
When are Veneers Recommended?
Veneers are generally recommended when a patient’s oral health issue is primarily cosmetic. For instance, a patient has a discolored, cracked, chipped, or damaged tooth that has no other major problems beyond the surface. They are also recommended if a patient is unhappy with their smile and wants a uniform and perfectly white row of teeth to build their confidence and enhance their appearance.
Are Veneers Permanent?
Unlike dental implants, veneers are not typically a lifelong solution, and their lifespan depends on many factors, including the veneer material and the dentist performing the procedure. For example, veneers can shift if they are not bonded correctly during the procedure, which can cause issues in the future, such as tooth decay and gum disease. They can also chip or crack, altering the patient’s appearance.
Furthermore, veneers last around 10 to 15 years before they need to be replaced, although any damage to veneers will likely require a follow-up visit to the dentist’s office.
Dental Implants vs Veneers – The Key Differences
When considering whether to opt for dental implants or veneers, it’s helpful to keep their key differences in mind.
- Dental implants are a preferable treatment option for more severe oral health issues like damaged or missing teeth. Additionally, veneers are typically recommended as a cosmetic enhancement.
- Dental implants can protect surrounding teeth, gums, and the jawbone and help prevent further oral health issues. Furthermore, veneers do not offer the same protection or benefits to your oral health.
- Dental implants may require more time in the dentist’s chair during the procedure but are a permanent solution. Veneers will need upkeep throughout a patient’s lifetime and will likely need to be replaced every 10-15 years.
- Dental implants look and function like natural teeth from the inside out and improve a patient’s appearance, speech, and ability to chew. Veneers primarily improve a patient’s appearance but do not have a huge impact on normal functions like chewing.
Which is the Best Option – Veneers or Dental Implants? Our Bay Area Dental Specialist Can Help You Find a Solution
While there are several advantages and disadvantages to veneers and dental implants, the best way to determine the proper treatment for your unique oral health needs is to start with a consultation with an experienced dental expert.
When it comes to Bay Area dental implants, Pannu Dental Group provides singular care and expertise, using the best technology, materials, and a knowledgeable team of specialists to provide a comprehensive treatment from start to finish.
The key to embarking on any dental procedure is to have a trusted and professional partner. Our dental specialists at Pannu Dental Group can help. We’ve performed countless Bay Area dental implants procedure (as well as many other procedures) with stellar results that improve a patient’s oral health across the board.
Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation. Discover the many options available to transform your smile. Regardless of your oral health needs, you can rest assured that the experienced and caring team at Pannu Dental Group can provide transformative results that will result in a lifetime of beautiful, perfect teeth.
Schedule an appointment today.
Dr. Dalvir S. Pannu has been a practicing dentist since 1995. In 1996 he opened his first dental practice in India, where he gained invaluable experience and acumen. In October of 1997 he was invited by the American Dental Association (ADA) to present the table clinic on Endodontics, at their annual session held in Washington, D.C. At this time he fell in love with the United States and became passionate about practicing dentistry in California. He became particularly enamored of the San Francisco Bay area, and soon took up residence and work here.