For instance, when you stare into a mirror and instantly concentrate on your one misaligned tooth or the small gap that you see between your front teeth, know that you are definitely not alone. There is a common desire among many people to attain a perfect, movie-star quality smile. However, the prospect of wearing metal braces for two years or putting up with aligners all day and every day? This will surely make you reconsider the procedure.
You may be wondering whether there is an easier and quicker option to give you the smile you long for.
Can veneers help correct uneven teeth?
In short, the answer is yes. Dental veneers have been becoming increasingly popular as a way of achieving perfect smiles without having to undertake orthodontic treatment. At The Dental Roots, there are numerous patients who find themselves tired of the prospect of prolonged treatments and who just want to get their dream smile. We are going to take you through how this procedure works, what it can achieve, and how it may be the perfect choice for your dental requirements.
Understanding the Roots of an Uneven Smile
Before we discuss how to solve the problem, we need to know the problem itself. When dentists speak of malocclusion, they mean that there is no proper connection between your teeth. In its worst case scenario, it may look like your upper jaw is sticking far too much in the front or just have some twisted teeth on the front line of your oral cavity.
The causes of such poor teeth alignment are numerous; it may happen because of your genes, or some bad habits in your early life, or even because your wisdom teeth made everything messy when they appeared at the age of your late teens. Regardless of what happened, poor alignment of your teeth will affect your smile symmetry greatly, and you will become quite self-conscious while taking a photo.
However, until recently, the only solution to this problem was wearing braces. Modern cosmetic dentistry offers an incredible orthodontics alternative to those who have mild or moderate alignment problems.
Can Veneers Fix Uneven Teeth?
Whenever you ask, "Can veneers fix uneven teeth?" you will be delighted to know that yes, of course, they can. But it is very vital to understand how they achieve it.
Veneers are extremely thin, customized shells made from porcelain, which are then fixed on the front side of your teeth. Whenever you consult a cosmetic dentist about crooked teeth, you will get an illusion from them. They do not push your own natural teeth downwards from your jaw bone; rather, they mask the misalignment.
For the fixation of a veneer, a small part of your tooth enamel is rubbed. In this way, the newly fabricated porcelain shell sits right beside your gums. Using the right technique, your dentist can make even the most misaligned or twisted tooth look like a perfectly straight one or make your short tooth appear as the same size as others.
Do Veneers Straighten Teeth?
It is one of the nuances which confuse a number of patients. Thus, do veneers straighten teeth? No, physically they cannot straighten your teeth. But yes, they visually correct the problem.
As they serve as a cosmetic cover, the real roots of your teeth stay in the exact place. This procedure is called "instant orthodontics". You get the visual effect of straightened teeth without waiting months or even years for remodeling of bone and tissues. When one faces the problem of slightly crowded or rotated teeth, veneers can make a fantastic change instantly.
But when you have severe malocclusion, for example, the huge overbite which disturbs your chewing, or severe crowding when it becomes impossible to floss, veneers cannot solve your problem.
Fixing Gapped Teeth with Veneers
When we say uneven teeth, it means both crooked teeth and teeth that have unnecessary spaces between them. Diastema refers to the medical term of having a gap in between teeth where this occurs usually on the upper two front teeth.
Closing gaps between teeth using veneers turns out to be one of our most gratifying procedures here at The Dental Roots. We only need to create veneers that are slightly bigger by a few millimeters compared to your own teeth and it will seal up the gap forever. It will look totally natural because porcelain has the ability to reflect light the same way as our natural dental enamel does.
Veneers vs Braces for Uneven Teeth
If you are sitting on the fence trying to decide between these two popular options, weighing veneers vs braces for uneven teeth comes down to three main factors: time, additional cosmetic needs, and the severity of your misalignment.
Time: Braces or clear aligners take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to do their job. You have to wear retainers afterward to stop the teeth from shifting back. Veneers, on the other hand, can usually be completed in just two or three visits to the dentist over a couple of weeks.
Cosmetic Enhancements: Braces only move your teeth. If your teeth are severely stained, chipped, worn down, or oddly shaped, they will still look that way once the braces come off. Veneers fix alignment, color, shape, and size all at the exact same time. It is a comprehensive smile makeover.
Severity: As mentioned earlier, braces are necessary for major bite issues and severe skeletal misalignments. Veneers are the go-to for mild to moderate cosmetic alignment problems.
Is Dental Bonding a Good Alternative?
Should you not feel ready for the commitment involved with porcelain veneers, there are alternatives worth considering. Dental bonding is one amazing alternative that you can consider.
Dental bonding involves applying a tooth-colored composite resin on your misaligned teeth, ensuring that it is shaped in such a way as to cover up any crookedness and spaces between teeth. An intense light is shined on the composite resin in order to ensure that it sets. Though bonding takes less time and is cheaper compared to veneers, it does not last as long and is also more likely to get stained by foods like coffee and red wine.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Dental Roots Editorial Team
Written by our panel of specialist dentists & patient educators
