When a person is missing teeth and seeks to have them replaced, his goal is usually to have the most lifelike grin as possible. Using just implants, however, can result in a smile that is not entirely natural looking. That’s why combining implants with veneers can have a better effect, says Dr. Mark Gustavson, partner at Affiliated Dentists in Madison, Wisconsin.
With a dental implant, a titanium post is placed in the bone, which seals into place over a period of just a few months. That titainuium post can then be accessed and an impression can be taken to create a tooth on top of the post, essentially creating a perfectly good tooth.
A veneer, on the other hand, is a thin piece of porcelain, often referred to as a ”contact lens” type of porcelain, which is placed on the front of the tooth to recreate color, shape and size. People rely on veneers when a teeth is damaged due to trauma or decay, and needs to be restored both to its original function, and for cosmetic reasons.
More Predictable Result
Combining implants and veneers allows the dentist to create more harmonious shape and color when it comes to making a new smile, and to allow for a more predictable result. It can make your teeth look a lot more lifelike, and therefore your smile a lot more natural.
In the front of the mouth, where the front top teeth are, a single implant is difficult to match to the natural structure that is already there. That’s because the implant and the crown will not allow natural light to pass through as well as the natural tooth structure will. When no natural light is passing through a tooth, it will not look as lifelike as it should.
Same Batch of Porcelain
But when you combine implants with veneers on adjacent teeth, you can use the same batch of porcelain to create a more ideal color and translucency. It also allows you to create a more aesthetic or beautiful shape to the tooth and the teeth around them, so that there is a more continuous shape to the smile, or the arch of the teeth.
If you are missing teeth and want a natural look to your mouth, combining implants and veneers might be the right way to go, especially as far as the front teeth are concerned. Ask your dentist about what is involved, and see if this can result in teeth that look more lifelike than just having implants would.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
