April 15, 2022

Dentures Vs Veneers – The Differences – What’s The Better Choice?

The Ultimate Guide to Full Mouth Dental Implants

Dentures VS Veneers

If it isn’t already obvious, dentures and veneers are very different...

The first thing we need to discuss is how you got to the point where you are in need of serious help for your teeth. The fact that you’re interested in comparing dentures and veneers tells us that you probably have dental issues that need to be addressed.

Over half of American adults head to the dentist every year to have some sort of procedure performed. You probably fall into one of these categories … discolored teeth, gaps in your teeth, chipped teeth, crooked teeth, rotting teeth, and teeth missing for medical reasons or due to injury.

There are a lot of different dental procedures available, but what are the differences? And what would be best for you? Are Dentures or Veneers the only option? Let's find out.

What Are Dentures?

In a nutshell, dentures are false teeth. They are the things you may have seen in a little cup on your Aunt Myrtle’s bathroom counter.

Dentures are used to replace missing teeth or to replace teeth that are unhealthy and need to be pulled. They are a prosthetic device that must be inserted and removed every day.

There are two basic types of dentures: Partial Dentures or Full Dentures.. It will come as no great shock to learn that partial dentures replace a specific portion of your teeth, while complete/full dentures replace all of your teeth.

Partial Dentures vs Full Dentures
Partial Dentures vs Full Dentures

Dentures are usually made of a combination of materials, including nylon, porcelain, acrylic, resin, or metal. Most of the time, there will be a complete set of teeth attached to a plastic plate that extends over the roof of your mouth that will help hold the denture in place.

Some partial dentures, however, hook on to your remaining teeth to give them support.

Pros of Dentures

  • You can replace all of your missing teeth
  • You can replace a portion of missing teeth

Cons of Dentures

  • Bulky
  • Can cause gagging
  • Must be removed, inserted, and cleaned daily
  • Can break
  • Can contribute to bone loss
  • Must be relined and replaced as your jaw shrinks
  • Are NOT a permanent solution

What Are Veneers?

An important thing to note is that if you are missing any teeth, veneers are not an option to correct your smile. Period. Keep reading and you will understand why veneers cannot fix any gaps in your smile.

Veneers are transformative coverings placed over your teeth. They are made of porcelain or composite resin. Veneers are an option when you have severely discolored teeth due to intrinsic stains that cannot be corrected by professional bleaching. (Think tetracycline stains.)

Veneers are used to fix slightly damaged teeth
Teeth before/after Veneers

They can be helpful for small gaps, chips, or teeth that have been damaged by trauma. (Trauma might be an injury that basically killed the root and caused the tooth to become gray.) Veneers are not an option for someone who has crooked teeth, bruxism, gum disease, or existing cavities.  They’ll only exacerbate your issues.

You have two choices when it comes to Composite Veneers: direct or indirect. Direct composite veneers are made in the office and placed right onto your existing teeth. Indirect composite veneers are custom made and take a little more time.

Composite Veneer Application

Composite veneer application is a bit like painting furniture that already has a protective coating on it. You will start out with a dental cleaning followed by a bit of “sanding” down of your teeth.

Depending on the condition of your teeth, this etching process may look different. Your teeth need to be roughed up for the composite resin to adhere properly. Next, the dentist puts the resin on and shines an ultraviolet light on it, causing it to harden.

Pros of Composite Veneers

  • Minimal gum damage
  • Easy repair process
  • Simple application
  • Able to correct various cosmetic dental issues
  • Can be completed in one dental visit
  • Less invasive than dentures

Cons of Composite Veneers

  • Can stain easily
  • Resin is not strong
  • Not a permanent solution

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are the higher quality veneers custom-made just for you. You’ll need to see the dentist twice to finish your application.

Porcelain Veneer Application

First, your teeth will be sanded down to make room for your veneers. During this sanding away of your enamel, you can also expect the dentist to remove any decay.

Your dentist will consider your natural tooth shape and color when having your custom veneers created. In the meantime, a prosthodontist will give you temporary veneers to cover your teeth while your custom veneers are being made.

Finally, at your second appointment, a dental surgeon will take off those temporary veneers, clean the area, attach your custom veneers with a special cement, and shine an ultraviolet light on the veneers to harden them.

What Veneer Placement Looks Like
What Veneer Placement Looks Like

Porcelain Veneer Pros

  • Porcelain is strong
  • Stain resistant
  • Zero harm to your gums

Porcelain Veneer Cons

  • Expensive
  • Decay can occur under the veneer
  • Require polishing
  • More invasive
  • Not a permanent solution

So, Which is the Better Choice ... Dentures or Veneers?

If your teeth just need some cosmetic help that cannot be fixed by bleaching and a brief stint wearing invisible aligners, then check out veneers to improve your smile. Do not use dentures to correct your smile for cosmetic reasons.

If you are missing teeth or have a few unhealthy teeth that need to be pulled, you might be thinking, Well, shoot. I would have preferred veneers, but now I’ll just be stuck with dentures.

Noooo. Stop those thoughts. Don’t cry. You do not have to be stuck with dentures. You don’t have to choose between the lesser of two evils.

Do NOT get dentures.

Now, do you want the good news? When you need to replace your teeth, Nuvia has experts ready to help you learn all about our amazing full mouth dental implants and the twenty-four-hour process that transforms your smile.

Yesss. You read that right. Twenty-four hours.

And you can take “the lesser of two evils” and kiss it goodbye!

We can give you a natural-looking smile that fits you to a tee, has you chewing again, and keeps you from experiencing further bone loss. Dentures cannot do that for you.

So, take our free online evaluation! Nothing would make us happier than having a chat with you and educating you on our dental implants. We would love to hear from you!

Nuvia is not a bait-and-switch company. We make it our business to listen to you, answer your questions, and give you real solutions.

Dental Implant Patients After Photos - Nuvia Dental Implant Center

Cost Guide

Dental Implant Cost Guide

2024 Cost Guide

This guide is designed to walk you step by step through the dental implant process and each dental implant type with their associated costs.

  • Different implant types and their average costs
  • 4 little known factors that affect pricing
  • How much will dental & health insurance typically cover for dental implants?
  • What 1000’s of average Americans are doing to make this treatment affordable.
  • And more...
Get the Guide

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