Veneers vs braces?! What’s the difference? Should one come before the other?

I have noticed an uptick in confusing advertisements that have bombarded my Suburban home in Forsyth County, GA. I am referring to Dentists advertising services. The advertisements usually consist of 6 month Smiles, fast braces, Invisalign and veneers as well as tooth whitening services all in effort to attract the new patient whom has cosmetic concerns.

Dental veneers are a quick fix cosmetic procedure to allow a person to close a gap or cover a deep stain within the teeth. If done correctly and by a skilled cosmetic dentist veneers can look natural and beautiful, they can truly be the final touch that makes a smile dazzling. Like any great cosmetic procedure though it can be botched and leave less than desired results to the patient.

The most common mistake I see is when a veneer is placed prior to braces in an attempt to avoid orthodontic treatment. These always lead to poorly shaped, poorly sized veneers that highlight gum display differences in a smile. The smile doesn’t look quite right when veneers are done before braces and to correct this often causes the patient thousands of dollars more in unnecessary treatment as well as loss of time and enamel tooth structure.

The other egregious mistake I see is when the orthodontic treatment is performed by a general dentist. General dentists don’t have the training to consistently deliver good orthodontic results to patients. Common issues that arise are in relation to traumatic occlusion, slanted Smiles, alignment issues and spacing concerns that are left unaddressed. These problems are then presented by the dentist to the patient after a short round of braces. General dentists often intend to end orthodontic treatment early in attempt to keep time restraints minimal and the procedure profitable. The General dentist then plans for comprehensive correction with restorative procedures. The procedures offered utilize veneers, crowns and implants. These procedures can sometimes be avoided by properly treatment planned and fully completed orthodontic treatments.

The training given to general dentists is provided by corporations and companies aiming to train and allow the dentist to advertise 6 month Smiles, fast braces and Invisalign treatments. These courses consist of only have a few hours of training accomplished in as short as a weekend. These hours spend time teaching the general dentist to fill out a lab slip and how to advertise the new service to their patients.

Lack of proper training can be costly to the patient and so buyers beware of quick fix veneers and quick fix orthodontics. You don’t want to be a victim of Botched Braces. Weekend CE doesn’t touch on comprehensive treatment planning that allow a doctor to deliver consistent results.

Orthodontics should be performed by an orthodontist. Orthodontist’s go to a full time orthodontic residency for 2-3 years to learn and understand how to balance the smile and the teeth in bone for excellence and health. Visit my other blog topics to learn how to tell if your doctor is an Orthodontic specialist.

Orthodontist’s often offer free Smile consultations to patients. I would recommend everyone utilize the free information session with a specialist so you can know your options to achieve a beautiful smile. Your orthodontist went to dental school before their full time residency and can inform you on all your braces/ veneer options. Month over month and bang for your buck your time and money will be best spent in the hands of the right doctor!

Visit Dr Susan Podray for a consultation in Cumming, Suwanee, or our flowery branch office locations in North Georgia.