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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Should I Get Veneers or Invisalign for Overbite?

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My dentist is referring me to an orthodontist for mild overbite correction with Invisalign. As I asked, she said she could not do porcelain veneers because it wouldn’t work. She said the only option is to do porcelain crowns on my six front teeth instead of veneers. I do not want my teeth ground down for crowns. My other concern is tetracycline stains on my teeth. I am not sure how the stains would get resolved with just orthodontics. Are there options other than what my dentist knows about? Thank you.  – Leigha

Leigha,

You are wise to decline crowns on your front upper teeth. A skilled cosmetic dentist can place veneers and confine the work to the fronts of your teeth to soften mild overbite and conceal tetracycline stains.  Severe overbite requires orthodontics. Your dentist’s options of orthodontic treatment or all crowns imply that she is uncomfortable using porcelain veneers for your procedure. Skilled cosmetic dentists do not decline to do veneers because of mild overbite.

Should You Get Veneers or Invisalign for Overbite?

After an exam and X-rays, a skilled cosmetic dentist can determine whether you can benefit from porcelain veneers or Invisalign for an overbite. Mild overbite cases can benefit from porcelain veneers, but a dentist may recommend orthodontics for severe cases.

Will Invisalign Correct Overbite?

Invisalign will correct an overbite. If you prefer orthodontics to straighten your teeth, an experienced Invisalign provider or orthodontist can do it.

Dental Crowns for Six Front Teeth

Getting dental crowns for six front teeth has some disadvantages.

  • Grinds away healthy teeth – If your teeth are healthy, your dentist will grind away tooth structure to place crowns over them. And if your dentist is trying to correct overbite with crowns, a significant amount of tooth structure will be gone.
  • Does not complete your smile – Eight to twelve teeth show when you smile, so crowns for six teeth will still leave teeth on either side dark from tetracycline stains.

Concealing Tetracycline Stains

A porcelain veneer held next to a tooth

Porcelain veneers can conceal mild overbite and tetracycline stains

A skilled cosmetic dentist and ceramist can craft porcelain veneers to conceal tetracycline stains. However, this requires advanced training and knowledge of manipulating color and translucence without making the veneers look pasty.

Many experienced cosmetic dentists successfully treat tetracycline stains with in-office whitening and porcelain veneers. It may be possible to improve your tooth color with bleaching and correct your overbite with Invisalign, but stay away from a dentist who wants to grind down your teeth from crowns.

Get a Second Opinion

We recommend that you find an expert cosmetic dentist for a consultation. After examining your teeth, the dentist will discuss your options.

Lowell, Massachusetts, accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek sponsors this post.

What would a cosmetic dentist do for buck teeth?

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I have buck teeth that I have always hated. Now I can do something about it but I want it done quickly. I don’t want a slow track with braces. In Feb. I will be 32 yrs old and being in braces for years is not something that interests me at all. I can deal with a month of cosmetic dentistry to make it all go away and look like I have a new smile. It’s worth whatever it costs to me to find the best cosmetic dentist around to get the work done right. What I am not sure of is what treatment will be recommended. What do cosmetic dentists do for buck teeth and on average how long does it take? Thanks! London M.

London – When a patient has overbite or overjet, a cosmetic dentist will recommend orthodontic treatment. If you are totally against metal braces, low-profile clear braces or Invisalign will be recommended.

Cosmetic dentistry in the form of porcelain crowns or porcelain veneers will make the color or shape of your teeth look better, but they won’t correct protruding teeth. You will need orthodontic treatment. The good news is that today’s orthodontics has ways of reducing treatment time. Products like Invisalign move teeth more efficiently, and the process can be accelerated with special appliances.

If your cosmetic dentist doesn’t provide Invisalign, he or she can refer you to an orthodontist. After your teeth are aligned, your cosmetic dentist can whiten them and further enhance their appearance with dental bonding, porcelain veneers, or porcelain crowns.

So an experienced cosmetic dentist is a good place to start. Discuss your goals for your smile, and he or she will develop a treatment plan for you to reach them.

This post is sponsored by Lowell cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.