Teeth Whitening Alternatives

Everybody would like to improve their smile in one way or another and teeth whitening seems to be a decent alternative. However, if you want to have whiter teeth and don't want to go through the hassles and financial strain of teeth whitening, what are the other alternatives?

* Veneers are tiny little strips of porcelain or plastic that cover the teeth to make them white and more pleasing to the eye. With some people bleaching doesn't solve the problem due to a more severe staining or discoloration. There are two different types of veneers.

* Porcelain veneers must be created in a dentist's office through a series of visits where the dentist will make moldings of the patient's teeth. For around $1,000-$2,500 an individual can have whiter teeth for between 10 and 15 years.

* Composite or direct veneers are created in a single visit to a dentist or other oral health professional. The enamel is bonded to each tooth one at a time for around $250 per tooth and the composite veneers will last for somewhere between five and seven years.

* Bonding uses composite resin to fill in gaps in teeth or reshape and recolor teeth to improve your smile. The resin is delicately placed by a dental health professional and then bonded to the teeth using a high-intensity light.

* The composite resin looks almost natural when placed next to the teeth and is sometimes used instead of silver fillings that are generally placed by dentists. The composite resin is not a good choice for smokers because the smoke will cause it to be discolored. Another negative is that the composite resin bonding costs significantly more than normal silver fillings, sometimes up to $600 per tooth.

Veneers and bonding are viable alternatives to the teeth whitening processes that are found in stores or in dentist's offices. If you are against the process of teeth whitening that requires patience and hard work the veneers and bonding are a decent option. However, the process of bonding or getting veneers can be both painful and expensive.

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