What Is the Difference Between Veneers and Dental Implants?

Dental veneers and implants are two of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures in Los Angeles. They also share a lot in common. Both implants and veneers can transform your smile, improve your bite, and support better overall oral health. They differ in terms of what they are designed to treat. Here's what you should know about the difference between these two cosmetic and restorative procedures.

What Are Veneers?

Veneers are essentially thin shells that are custom made to cover the front surface of your teeth. Veneers are typically made of porcelain, the material that most mimics natural teeth, and they are bonded to the front of your teeth.

Dental veneers are usually considered a cosmetic procedure because they can change the length, shape, size, and color of your teeth to dramatically improve the appearance of your smile. Still, veneers can also be restorative and protective. Veneers in Los Angeles are a popular option to repair teeth with worn enamel and protect the surface of the tooth from damage.

Veneers offer many advantages:

• Porcelain veneers are very stain-resistant
• Mimics the natural appearance of teeth with light reflecting properties
• Fixes teeth that are worn down, broken, chipped, misaligned, uneven, or irregularly spaced
• Closes gaps between teeth
• Hides discoloration of teeth
• Can last up to 25 years

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is far more than a cosmetic procedure, although it does improve your smile. Implants are designed to replace teeth that have been lost whereas veneers are made to improve the appearance of natural teeth. A dental implant is a multi-step process that involves implanting a post in the jaw bone. Once the bone heals, an abutment is installed followed by a dental crown. The crown restores the appearance and function of the lost tooth while the post acts like a natural tooth root to prevent deterioration of the gums and jaw bone that happens when a tooth is lost.

Dental implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, several teeth, or the entire upper and/or lower jaw of teeth. They can even be used as an alternative to dentures without the issues that come with removable devices like slippage, difficulty eating, trouble speaking, and embarrassment. Implants function just like normal teeth and can last a lifetime for improved quality of life. Implants are also the only known treatment option to stop bone loss and receding gums after a tooth is lost.

Not sure if a dental implant is the right choice? Consider these benefits.

• Can replace one or several missing teeth
• 4-on-1 implants can replace all of the upper or lower teeth with just 4 implants in the jaw
• Looks and performs just like normal teeth
• Stops bone loss and receding gums after a tooth is lost by stimulating the bone
• Prevents remaining teeth from shifting out of alignment
• Can last a lifetime

Want to improve your smile but aren't sure where to start? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Arman Torbati DDS in Los Angeles to develop a customized treatment plan and explore your options.