Pretty much everyone wants a beautiful, dazzling smile, but unfortunately, white, bright teeth rarely happen naturally, especially during adulthood.
Disease, trauma, medication use, smoking and vaping, and countless cups of coffee, tea, and red wine all take their toll, causing stains and dinginess that can leave your smile looking worn and unattractive.
Fortunately, there are solutions to help. Two of the most popular options are dental veneers and professional teeth whitening. Best of all, these treatments can be used together. In fact, Abir Faraj, DDS, at Novi Family Dentistry in Novi, Michigan, often recommends both treatments to help patients get the absolute best results.
Teeth whitening uses special solutions to gently and effectively lift away stains, including stains from tobacco use, deeply pigmented foods, and medication use, so your smile looks whiter and brighter. Whitening is performed in our office using prescription-strength solutions not available in over-the-counter products for more dramatic and consistent results that last.
While whitening can be an effective solution for many types of stains and discoloration, veneers are a better choice for very deep or severe stains and for correcting other cosmetic concerns like gaps, chips, or cracks.
A veneer is placed on the surface of your tooth using a strong dental adhesive. Each veneer is custom-made to match the shape and contours of your teeth. Veneers are also carefully tinted to match the color of your natural teeth — an important consideration when it comes to timing your whitening treatment.
Veneers are made of a special porcelain material that helps repel and prevent stains and discoloration. This quality means veneers aren’t affected by teeth whitening products. Having your teeth whitened after your veneers are in place won’t change the color of the veneer which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on when you have your whitening treatment.
Dr. Faraj typically recommends patients schedule a teeth whitening treatment prior to veneer placement. That way, she can match the color of your veneer to the color of your natural teeth when they look their absolute best.
Whitening before veneer placement also means that when you have your teeth whitened in the future, your other teeth will always match your veneers for natural-looking results. On the other hand, if you delay whitening, your veneer tint will match your teeth when they may look dingy or yellow.
Bottom line: If you plan on whitening your teeth at any time in the future, it’s important to schedule an initial whitening treatment before having your veneers applied, so you can enjoy the best-looking results now and for years to come.
Both teeth whitening and veneers can dramatically improve your smile and confidence. To learn more about these and other cosmetic treatments focused on giving you the smile you want, book an appointment with Dr. Faraj and our team by calling 313-646-7903 or scheduling online today.
