• Home
  • About Us
    • Dr. Phelan Thomas
    • About the Staff
    • Request an Appointment
    • What Can I Expect My First Visit?
    • Financial Policies
    • Contact Us
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Smile Gallery
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Beautiful Smile Guarantee
    • Porcelain Crowns
    • All-Porcelain Bridges
    • Invisalign
    • Composite Bonding
    • Tooth Colored Fillings
    • Teeth Whitening
  • Implants
    • Dental Implants
    • Dentures
  • Technology
    • DIAGNOdent
    • Electrosurgery
    • Air Abrasion
    • Panorex Imaging
    • Computerized Anesthetic
    • Dental Implant Placement System
    • Diagnostic Wax-up Model
    • Smile Blueprint
    • Intraoral Camera
    • Digital Photography
    • Vizilite
  • Other Services
    • Endodontics
    • Periodontal Disease
    • Pediatric Dentistry
    • Emergency Dentist
    • Occlusion Therapy
    • Preventive Dentistry
    • Gum Tissue Sculpting
    • Mercury-Free Dentist
  • Make a Payment

Iowa Center for Family and Cosmetic Dentistry - West Des Moines

Iowa Center for Family and Cosmetic Dentistry –  West Des Moines
  • Best Des Moines Dentist
  • Des Moines Holistic Dentist
  • Privacy Policy
  • Blog

Braces or Porcelain Veneers?

Posted on September 4, 2021 by writeradmin.

I have a tooth gap and my dentist is suggesting I get either braces or porcelain veneers to close it. I’m not keen on either solution. The porcelain veneers are super expensive and I am way too old to have a mouthful of metal. Are those my only choices?

Kaitlin

Dear Kaitlin,

Good news for your here. They are definitely NOT your only choices. If the only thing you are wanting to treat about your smile is your tooth gap, I would consider porcelain veneers a major overtreatment. It is designed for patients who are looking for a complete smile makeover. If that is not what you’re going for, save your money!

Invisalign aligners

As for orthodontics, if you were going to go that route, I would suggest Invisalign instead of braces for an adult, unless it was an unusually complicated case. These use clear aligners instead of metal wires and brackets. You can straighten your teeth without anyone ever knowing. They are completely invisible even at a conversational distance. They do have an additional cosmetic benefit that you can take advantage of in that the aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. This will allow you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time.

Chipped front tooth before and after dental bonding

If that doesn’t appeal to you, there is another option– dental bonding. If your dentist is an excellent cosmetic dentist then he can use a composite bonding to fill in the gap. It does take an expert cosmetic dentist, however. This is something that has to be done freehand. Make sure your dentist has before and after images of dental bonding cases that he has done so you can make sure he can provide beautiful, natural-looking results. My guess is he cannot as he did not even mention this as a solution. If that is the case, your best bet will be to look for an AACD accredited dentist. These are the best cosmetic dentists in the country.

This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.

 

Filed Under: Invisalign Tagged With: AACD accredited dentist, closing a tooth gap, dental bonding, Invisible braces, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening

Recent Posts

  • Tooth Knocked Backward
  • Smile Direct Club – A Risky Idea
  • Can I Get Gold Teeth for My Dentures?
  • What If I am Moving Partway Through My Dental Implant Procedure?
  • Will Vaping Stain My Porcelain Veneers

Categories

  • Best Des Moines Dentist
  • Cosmetic Dentist
  • Dental Bonding
  • Dental Emergency
  • Dental Implants
  • Dentures
  • Emergency Dentist
  • Full-Mouth Reconstruction
  • Gum Contouring
  • Holistic Dentist
  • Invisalign
  • Porcelain Veneers
  • Smile Makeovers
  • Teeth Whitening
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014

Contact Us

Iowa Center for
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
4100 University, Suite 105
West Des Moines, IA 50266
New Patients Call:
Office: 515-223-8800
URL of Map

Office Hours


Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm

Read Our Reviews


SEO by Infinity Dental Web


View Map and Get Directions
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Dr. Phelan Thomas
    • About the Staff
    • Request an Appointment
    • What Can I Expect My First Visit?
    • Financial Policies
    • Contact Us
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Smile Gallery
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Beautiful Smile Guarantee
    • Porcelain Crowns
    • All-Porcelain Bridges
    • Invisalign
    • Composite Bonding
    • Tooth Colored Fillings
    • Teeth Whitening
  • Implants
    • Dental Implants
    • Dentures
  • Technology
    • DIAGNOdent
    • Electrosurgery
    • Air Abrasion
    • Panorex Imaging
    • Computerized Anesthetic
    • Dental Implant Placement System
    • Diagnostic Wax-up Model
    • Smile Blueprint
    • Intraoral Camera
    • Digital Photography
    • Vizilite
  • Other Services
    • Endodontics
    • Periodontal Disease
    • Pediatric Dentistry
    • Emergency Dentist
    • Occlusion Therapy
    • Preventive Dentistry
    • Gum Tissue Sculpting
    • Mercury-Free Dentist
  • Make a Payment
  • New patients
    (877) 631-9967

  • Existing patients
    (515) 223-8800

©2000-2023 Phelan R. Thomas, DDS. • All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy

  • Best Des Moines Dentist
  • Des Moines Holistic Dentist
  • Privacy Policy
  • Blog