Veneers vs. Teeth Whitening: Which Is Right for Me?

Tooth stains and discoloration can occur for lots of reasons. Tobacco, the foods and drinks you consume, and underlying diseases are all possible causes, but even your genes and your age can play a role. Fortunately, professional whitening and dental veneers can help. The key to getting your desired results is understanding which is the best option for you.

As a leading cosmetic dentist in Waterford, Michigan, Marvin Taylor, DDS, at Dr Taylor’s Family Dental Center offers both in-office whitening treatments and state-of-the-art dental veneers to help patients achieve the beautiful results they’re looking for. Learn when professional teeth whitening is a good option for helping your smile look its best and when dental veneers might be a better choice. 

Teeth whitening

Professional teeth whitening uses formulas that lift away years of stains and discoloration without harming your enamel. While you can certainly achieve some level of whitening with over-the-counter products, your results with store-bought products are far inferior to what a professional whitening treatment can achieve.

Dr. Taylor offers two whitening treatments: Zoom!® whitening and Epic® treatments. Zoom! treatments take about an hour and use a special light-activated gel to lift away stains, helping your teeth look up to eight shades whiter. Epic combines whitening gel with focused laser energy during a 20-minute treatment that makes your teeth look 6-12 shades whiter.

One benefit of professional whitening is its speed: With either treatment, you can schedule whitening in the morning and be ready to flash those pearly whites that evening. Professional application also helps reduce sensitivity that can occur with many at-home treatments.

Teeth whitening is a safe, effective way to remove superficial stains caused by foods, beverages, and tobacco products. It can also help “undo” some of the discoloration due to years of wear and tear.

Dental veneers

Veneers are super-thin tooth covers applied to your teeth using special dental adhesives. Each veneer is custom-made to match your tooth color and contours. Dr. Taylor offers both porcelain veneers and super-thin Lumineers®.

Veneers typically take two visits. At the first visit, Dr. Taylor prepares your tooth and takes an impression that serves as a model for your final veneer. Then, he applies a temporary veneer to protect your tooth while the permanent one gets crafted at a special dental lab.

During the second visit, Dr. Taylor removes the temporary veneer and cleans the tooth surface before applying the permanent veneer. After a final adjustment and shaping, your veneer blends beautifully with your surrounding teeth.

While whitening excels at removing stains in the outer layers of your teeth, veneers are an excellent choice for anyone with deep discoloration in the interior portion of the tooth. That includes teeth damaged by trauma and stained by long-term use of some medications and other causes of internal tooth discoloration.

Help your smile look its absolute best

A great-looking smile isn’t just about aesthetics — it can help you feel more confident. To learn how we can help you achieve the beautiful smile you’re looking for, call 248-681-8100 or request an appointment online at Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center today.