Orchard Scott Dental Pte.Ltd.

You’ve probably seen a number of people with crooked, gapped, overlapping, or misaligned teeth and thought to yourself, “why don’t they get it fixed?” Well, the answer is simple; people usually fear dental work thinking it is expensive, painful, or invasive. However, there are several ways to repair these problems that aren’t invasive or require any tooth extraction at all. These include repairs through Invisalign or porcelain veneers.

There has been a 3% increase in visits to the dentist from 2017 to 2018, which means more and more people are looking to perfect their smile in one way or another. Most people with misaligned teeth have the same question for their dentist; “should I get veneers or Invisalign in Singapore?”

Although the two aren’t mutually exclusive, it is very rare that the scope of their treatments might align. Here we will discuss the right treatment for each condition.

What The Problem Is

Easy as it might seem, comparing Invisalign to veneers isn’t as straightforward as listing down the differences. To better understand the differences between the two, the first thing you should know before we get into details about each procedure is that which problem requires which treatment.

You should consider porcelain veneers if you find that your teeth are

  • Chipped due to damage
  • Stained a different color that is visible every time you smile
  • Are discolored, either due to old age or some other reason
  • Gapped
  • Crooked, especially if that is the case since birth

Veneers are a great, quick way to rectify aesthetic issues with one’s teeth and patients can get a new, natural-looking smile within weeks!

Invisalign should be considered when

Invisalign is a great way to beautify and realign your teeth. Though this process takes some time, you get to retain your natural teeth without any permanent foreign material in your mouth.

Now that we have an understanding of the several conditions that might warrant one treatment or the other, let’s dig into what Invisalign and veneers are, their pros and cons, and their differences.

Invisalign

What Is Invisalign?

Invisalign are said to be the ‘modern braces’ by most people. It is a custom-made ‘invisible’ aligner that you put in your mouth for aligning your teeth and keeping them from shifting out of place. Cosmetic dentists usually make Invisalign in the lab, much like dentures. The patient’s mouth’s impression is taken with the help of a mould or with a modern aesthetic dental clinic like Orchard Scotts Dental, a 3D model of the mouth is taken with an iTero Element Intraoral Scanner. The data is then sent to Align Technologies to start the process of fabricating your aligners.

These clear gel-type aligner needs to be interchanged every two weeks for the duration of the treatment (six to eighteen months) to gradually shift your teeth into place.

Benefits

Invisible

The aligner is almost invisible – perfect for those who dislike the idea of metal braces

Removable

You can remove the aligner at any time. This makes it easier to eat, brush, or floss and keep one’s oral hygiene in check.

No Food Restrictions

Braces come with restrictions; not to eat hard foods, not to brush too hard, difficulty flossing, etc. Invisalign has no such restrictions since you can simply remove the aligner at your leisure and eat what you want without having to worry about any food getting stuck in your braces.

Comfortable & Safe

While metal braces are known to prick in case of the slightest damage, be it because of biting or brushing too hard, Invisalign is made from a smooth plastic that doesn’t harm the user if damaged. The material used is BPA free, medical grade plastic, and thus doesn’t contain any harmful toxins.

Drawbacks

Long Adjustment Periods 

Getting used to Invisalign aligners might take a long time due to their easy removability. No matter how comfortable the plastic is, it still is a foreign object in the mouth. It might take a few weeks before the aligners start feeling natural in your mouth.

Even if you do keep wearing aligners, you might end up with more misaligned teeth if you don’t follow your dentist’s instructions to the letter with Invisalign. Some people forget to wear the aligner back once they take it off, thus impeding the alignment process.

Can Get Lost

Since the aligners are removable, they are susceptible to getting lost.

Veneers

What Are Veneers

Veneers are sheets of porcelain or resin that sit on the front of your teeth, giving them their natural, clean look. They are also custom-made in a dental lab and then bonded to the front of the teeth. They can be used to restore the size, shape, or length of the teeth.

Benefits

Long-Lasting

Although not permanent, veneers have been known to last up to 15 years easily, with the proper care and treatment.

Protection

Not only do veneers help cover any problems your teeth might have, they also help protect any eroded teeth. Dentists can remove any bacteria that has been eating the teeth and then put in the veneer. This will effectively stop the teeth from eroding any further.

Quick

Veneers don’t have such a long adjustment period. People get used to the veneer within a few days.

Drawbacks

Cosmetic Treatment Only

The real problem only gets ‘covered’ by veneers and doesn’t go away.

The Color Stands Out

As you age, teeth start yellowing out naturally. However, veneers remain white, thus becoming very noticeable.

Durability

Although they last a long while, they aren’t permanent. You will have to get veneers installed again at some point later on.

Irreversible

To install a veneer, your dentist will have to file your tooth down. This means that the change is permanent, and if you ever decide you don’t want a veneer anymore, you’ll have to get the whole tooth replaced.

Differences – Invisalign Vs. Veneers

Invisalign Veneers
Cost Starting from $6,000+ for the whole treatment (depending on severity) From $1000+ – $2,500+ per tooth
Treatment Length 6 – 18 Months (maybe longer, depending on the severity of misalignment) 3 visits
Goals Natural correction of teeth Synthetic correction for a quick and easy solution

Conclusion

Both, veneers and Invisalign have their own pros and cons. However, people have started giving more thought to using Invisalign in Singapore, since it is a painless, non-invasive solution. You should consult an aesthetic dental clinic in Singapore with dentists possessing skills that focus on creating smile makeovers with both procedures.

To have our a look at your teeth by our dentists in Singapore, you can book an appointment online or come to our clinic at the heart of Singapore’s key shopping belt. You can also call us at +65-6734-0739 for any questions you may have about your appointment.