Both veneers and partial dentures offer valuable solutions for enhancing your smile, but they serve different purposes. Dental veneers can address common cosmetic concerns like discoloration, chips, gaps, or misalignment. From coffee staining to minor orthodontic irregularities, veneers offer a minimally invasive way to achieve a beautiful, natural-looking smile. On the other hand, partial dentures are considered functional as well as cosmetic, as they replace missing teeth with removable prosthetic teeth that restore your smile and support proper chewing and speech. Read on to learn more about veneers and partial dentures to decide which is right for you.
Veneers
Dental veneers are thin shells made of durable materials that are bonded to the front of your teeth. Their purpose is to conceal imperfections such as gaps, chips, or cracks. These solutions can also help improve the appearance of slightly misaligned teeth or restore the shape of teeth worn down by grinding. Veneers are often used to cover stains or discoloration that don’t respond to professional whitening treatments. They can also completely hide the damage caused by tooth decay or trauma.
Many dentists offer porcelain veneers due to their level of strength, along with their ability to look and feel like natural teeth.1 Though veneers are strong, they may not provide the same level of support for heavily damaged teeth as other options. Veneers are best suited for teeth that are mostly intact but have cosmetic issues. If you choose to get a veneer, you can expect minimal enamel removal and quick placement compared to other procedures.
Partial dentures
Partial dentures are usually removable dentures that replace multiple teeth in the front (anterior) or back (posterior).2 More than just cosmetic devices, posterior dentures can also enhance chewing and speaking for the wearer while preserving the placement of remaining teeth, which may otherwise shift in the future.
Partial dentures are typically constructed with a metal framework and a small base that fits over the gum. They are usually fitted with metal clasps or precision attachments to keep the prosthetic teeth secure between the natural teeth.
Partial dentures are made with metals like titanium, cobalt, or chromium or plastic for the base. There are also “flexible” dentures made with thin, lightweight thermoplastics without visible metal clips. These are first submerged in water before insertion to help them better mold to your gums.2 You may benefit from using partial dentures if you have experienced injury, decay, or had multiple teeth extracted.
The removable nature of dentures can make them a less popular choice. However, when removed at night, dentures are easier to clean all the way around, making them a hygienic and healthy option for your remaining teeth.
Deciding between veneers and partial dentures
The main difference between dentures and veneers is that dentures fill the void of missing teeth while veneers attach to the front and sides of existing teeth. Therefore, veneers are not the right solution for you if you have multiple missing teeth. Additionally, veneers may fail to cover some types of damage or fill bigger gaps. In those cases, removing the affected teeth and replacing them with a partial denture may be your best option.
In terms of pricing, veneers are expensive and are not always covered by dental insurance. Partial dentures vary in cost depending on the materials used, the number of teeth replaced, location in your mouth, and the method of creating the dentures. You may also require dental care beforehand and further adjustments after receiving your dentures. The total partial dentures cost can be expensive compared to other tooth replacement costs.
If you have questions or concerns about discovering the right option, be sure to contact your dentist, who can recommend the best solution for your smile.
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