Veneers vs Dentures: Which Option Is Best For You

Difference between veneers and dentures

Veneers vs Dentures

Dental treatment is a popular way to improve the health and appearance of your teeth. Dentures and veneers are two popular treatments that can help you get a beautiful smile, but which one is right for you? If your teeth are in poor condition, dentures may be the best choice. However, if the problem is mostly aesthetic, veneers may be the best option. Let’s explore these two treatments to help you decide which one is best for you.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are artificial teeth that the user can remove. They are most often used when a person has lost all or some of their original teeth, but they can also be used as replacement teeth to fill in gaps between existing teeth.

Depending on how well your dentures fit, you may have problems eating certain foods. You should be able to chew softer foods with little trouble, but harder foods like steak may be more difficult for you. There are three main types of dentures.

Conventional denture – A conventional denture (complete denture) is a removable prosthesis that replaces all teeth that are missing along the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both. This removable denture must be removed for cleaning, and it does not provide any stability for the jaw bone.

Partial denture – A partial denture or dental bridge is an appliance used to replace multiple missing teeth. A complete denture consists of a gum-colored base that supports a number of replacement teeth, which are attached to the base with metal clasps. Partials can be constructed using materials like acrylic resin, nylon, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or cobalt chrome.

Overdentures – An overdenture is a removable dental prosthesis that fits over the teeth that remain in your mouth. It can help preserve your healthy gums and jawbone, making it more likely that you’ll be able to keep the rest of your teeth for many years to come.
Overall, dentures provide better support for the lips and cheeks, preventing them from sinking in and looking sunken or gaunt.

Dentures

What are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers, also known as dental laminates, are a type of dental restoration that can be used to enhance the smile and overall appearance of your teeth, such as changing the color, shape, size, or length of your teeth. There are two types of veneers, porcelain veneers (most commonly used) and composite resin veneers.

A porcelain veneer is a thin shell material that is custom-made to fit on the tooth. A composite resin veneer uses a tooth-colored filling material that matches the color of your teeth, where they’re bonded to the tooth to create a veneer. Dental veneers can be used to treat a variety of cosmetic and restorative issues, including:

  • Gaps between teeth
  • Broken or chipped teeth
  • Crooked teeth
  • Worn-down teeth
  • Stained or discolored teeth

 

How Can Dentures Help Me?

Senior Couple Smile

A healthy smile can positively affect your oral health, self-confidence, and overall well-being. And if you’ve lost several teeth in one or both arches, dentures may be the perfect solution for a more confident smile by filling in the gaps between your remaining natural teeth or dental implants. Dentures can also help make chewing easier, improve speech, and restore facial structure that may have caved in due to missing teeth.

Dentures can be an excellent restorative option if you have lost all of your upper or lower teeth, but they are not suitable for everyone. It’s important to talk to your dentist to determine which type of denture is right for you.

How Can Veneers Help Me?

Veneers can be a quick and easy way to give you that perfect smile you’ve been looking for. They’re thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front surface of your teeth to improve their appearance. Whether it’s because your teeth are crooked, the color is off, or you have gaps between them, veneers can help with all these things. Because they’re custom-made, it’s possible to choose the shape and shade that works best for your teeth and smile.

If you’re considering getting veneers, it’s essential to talk with your dentist about how best to proceed—they’ll be able to advise on whether you should get porcelain or resin veneers based on your oral health.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Dentures

Like natural teeth, dentures will allow you to eat, speak, and laugh without issue. They also restore your confidence. Some of the other benefits of veneers include:

  • A realistic, natural appearance that’s difficult to distinguish from real teeth.
  • Better biting and chewing ability, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with ease.
  • Improved speech
  • More confident smile
  • More comfortable and easier-to-use than ever before


Drawbacks of dentures

  • They can be uncomfortable, especially for people with dentures that have never been adjusted.
  • If you wear them for a long time, they can develop sores and irritation on your gums and mouth.
  • Dentures can fall out if wearers aren’t careful.
  • The dental procedure of dentures can take some time following a tooth extraction, as your gums heal.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Veneers

With porcelain veneers are a popular, effective cosmetic dentistry treatment that changes the look of your smile. Permanent veneers can be used to treat several dental health problems, but they’re most commonly used for aesthetic purposes. When you’re considering veneers, several benefits can come from this procedure:

  • Your veneers will be made to fit your exact specifications. This means that your smile will look natural, as though it were always part of your mouth.
  • Making your teeth look straighter – Veneers can cover minor misalignment issues in a way that is less noticeable and invasive than traditional orthodontics. Veneers are a great option for patients with minor alignment issues who do not want to wear braces for years at a time.
  • Veneers are easy to clean – They do not require any special cleaning tools or techniques, and all you need is a toothbrush and toothpaste.
  • Covering chips, cracks, and other imperfections –  Porcelain veneers are excellent options for patients who have chipped or cracked their teeth. They can also be used to cover up imperfections that you may have had.


If you are considering veneers, make sure you know:

  • Veneers are a long-term commitment. Once you get them, you’ll probably have them for the rest of your life.
  • They are more expensive than dentures.
  • May experience some sensitivity to hot and cold foods

Do I Really Need to Treat A Chipped, Cracked or Missing Tooth?

Woman Adult Smile

The answer is yes, you do. Even if the cracked or missing tooth is on the back of your mouth or covered by your tongue, you’re still at risk for future dental problems without it.

Chipped tooth – A chipped tooth may be sharp or uneven, irritating your tongue and lips. You may feel pain if the chip exposes sensitive tooth structure or if you accidentally bite yourself. A chipped tooth also can impact how you eat, causing pain when you chew. If the chip is large enough, food and bacteria can get stuck in the gap, leading to tooth decay, gum disease, or tooth loss.

Missing tooth – When you lose a tooth, it is important to get it replaced. This will help maintain the health of your teeth and gums and help keep your smile looking its best. Your dentist will recommend replacing a missing tooth in most circumstances.

Common Questions About Getting Invisalign

Unfortunately, veneers will not work with missing teeth. For veneers to work, they can only be applied to the front of the tooth. However, there are several other tooth replacement options (dental implants & dentures) that can restore your smile and help you chew more effectively.

The key to getting great results from your new teeth is choosing the right dentist. Choosing a dentist who is experienced in both dentures and veneers will ensure that you have a beautiful and natural-looking smile.

Veneers vs. Crowns: Which One Is Best for You

Dentures and veneers are both popular, successful treatments for varying dental issues. They’re similar in that they both offer a cosmetic solution to changing your smile, but they are not the same. In general, if the goal is to improve the appearance of teeth, veneers are the better choice. Dentures, on the other hand, are more suited for people with missing or damaged teeth.

If you think you need restorative or cosmetic dentistry care, our team would love to help you achieve the smile of your dreams. We’re here to answer all of your treatment option questions to find the right dental solution for you.

To schedule your in-person consultation, contact Sloan Creek Dental, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you. You can reach us at our Fairview, TX dental office to schedule an in-person consultation with us today – 972-468-1440

Our dental office is located in Fairview, Texas, and our patients visit us from across the surrounding areas, including Allen, Plano, McKinney, and Lucas.