We all want to love our smiles. But sometimes, certain aspects get in the way. Discoloration, cracks, chips, gaps, peg teeth — whatever you’d like to change about your smile, there are solutions out there. And one of the go-to fixes is traditional veneers.
Veneers are great in the right circumstances, but like any cosmetic dental treatment, they’re not perfect for everyone. Luckily, there are plenty of other options. Below, we’ve selected the best alternatives to traditional veneers. You might just find the perfect solution for your smile!
Table of Contents
Veneers at a Glance
Veneers are wafer-thin shells, custom made for individual teeth with porcelain, ceramic, or composite materials. They strengthen the tooth while hiding various imperfections underneath. Traditional veneers require the dentist to prep each tooth by shaving down the enamel, and you will typically need 2–3 dental visits before your final veneers are in place.
As a cosmetic treatment, veneers don’t correct any dental issues beyond reinforcing the tooth. Instead, they hide the natural teeth, presenting a more aesthetically pleasing look. If your smile concerns impact your oral health, you’ll need a more substantial treatment.
With that said, they can hide various cosmetic issues and look very natural, making them a top choice for cosmetic dentistry patients. But if they aren’t right for you, there are plenty of alternatives to consider.
Alternative #1: Snap-On Veneers
Snap-on veneers are frequently called Millennial dentures. While that’s a bit of a misnomer, they do cover most or all of the teeth with the facade of a perfect smile, and they can cover gaps left behind by missing teeth. Quality snap-on veneers are customized to your smile, working with your facial features and clipping onto the molars for a secure fit.
With snap-on veneers, you can hide all the same concerns as you would with veneers, plus a couple more:
- Chips
- Cracks
- Discoloration
- Gaps
- Crowding
- Snaggletooth
- Missing teeth
- Misshapen teeth
- Small or peg teeth
Top Benefits
- For hundreds or thousands less than traditional veneers, you can hide aesthetic concerns in all your teeth.
- They cover gaps from missing teeth.
- You can order snap-on veneers online and skip the office visits and fees.
Notable Drawbacks
- Most snap-on veneers will only last about a year before you need to replace them.
- You can’t eat anything you want when wearing them, and some models aren’t meant for eating at all.
Alternative #2: Lumineers
Lumineers are a type of traditional veneer that don’t change your natural teeth nearly as much. They are about half as thick as traditional veneers and require no enamel removal or tooth reshaping. Despite this, they last roughly as long as porcelain veneers and are almost as strong.
Lumineers are slightly more limited in the aesthetic concerns they can hide. They can only cover mild-to-moderate cases of the following concerns:
- Stained teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Gapped teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Misshapen teeth
Top Benefits
- They don’t require the same tooth prep as traditional veneers, so if you decide you want to show off your natural teeth again, you can.
- You treat them just like your natural teeth; no special care is required.
- You can get them fully customized to your smile.
Notable Drawbacks
- They only last between 8 and 20 years.
- Lumineers can cost as much as $2,000 per tooth, so they aren’t an affordable solution.
Considering Lumineers?
If you’re interested in traditional veneers, but you’re unsure about the prep involved, they could be an ideal alternative. We encourage you to consult your dentist to find out if Lumineers might work for you.
Alternative #3: Clear Aligners
Clear aligners emerged as an alternative to braces back in the late 90s. Rather than brackets and wires, they use their shape to exert force against the teeth, steadily moving them into place. You can choose from in-office, at-home, and hybrid companies; just keep in mind that you need an in-office treatment for more complex cases.
Aligners, as their name implies, only correct alignment issues. So, if you are interested in veneers to hide crooked, gapped, or twisted teeth, they offer a permanent solution that actually corrects the issue rather than just hiding it.
Top Benefits
- They make authentic changes to your teeth that improve not just appearance but overall oral health.
- Unlike veneers, they can work with pretty much any type of misalignment.
- There are a lot of different providers to choose from, and some offer a full course of treatment for just slightly more than a single veneer would cost.
Notable Drawbacks
- Depending on your misalignment, you might need to be in treatment for 18 months or more.
- Aligners require extra care throughout the day, putting demands on your schedule.
Alternative #4: Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is one of the oldest cosmetic dental treatments in existence, but modern advancements have made it more effective than ever. There are at-home and in-office options, but if your tooth discoloration is severe enough to consider veneers, you likely need professional whitening.
The only issue you can correct with whitening is the color of your smile. Results should impact all of your teeth, or at least all the teeth your whitening method targets. Just keep in mind that results aren’t for life — you’ll likely need to touch up your results 1–2 times a year.
Top Benefits
- Whitening makes real changes to your natural teeth, breaking up and lifting out set-in stains.
- When you get treatment from a dentist, you can address even severe staining, like the kind from tetracycline.
- Many whitening solutions also break up tartar and surface stains, helping protect your teeth.
Notable Drawbacks
- Most whitening products can cause sensitivity or chemical burns to the soft tissues of the mouth.
- You’ll need to get additional treatments every several months.
Interested In Teeth Whitening?
Veneers are great for hiding discoloration, but if you want to brighten your real teeth instead, you have a ton of options for how to go about it—from pens to strips to professional whitening sessions.
Our guide to the five best teeth whitening options has everything you need to get started.
Alternative #5: Crowns
Dental crowns are prosthetic caps that cover damaged teeth. They help restore tooth shape while also giving the tooth back any integrity it lost because of cracks, injuries, or decay. Dentists use crowns when fillings aren’t enough to get the job done. Much like veneers, once your final crown is in place, you treat it just like a natural tooth.
Crowns are specifically meant to restore function and hide tooth damage. This can include everything from drilling to correct cavities to teeth that have crumbled from chronic bruxism.
Top Benefits
- Crowns aren’t just aesthetic; they restore a tooth’s strength and function.
- Dentists can make them from a variety of materials to fit your unique budget.
- Crowns are a type of restorative dentistry, so your insurance plan might cover them.
Notable Drawbacks
- The most affordable crowns aren’t the most attractive.
- You need to replace them about as often as you do veneers.
Considering Crowns?
If you want to restore the function of a single damaged tooth, you can’t do much better than a crown. We encourage you to consult your dentist to see if they might work for you.
Alternative #6: Bonding
Dental bonding is a cosmetic dental treatment that hides chips, cracks, discoloration, gaps, and misshapen teeth. The dentist places composite resin on top of the teeth and shapes it to create the look you want. Then, they cure it with a light, hardening it. This hides the imperfections below and gives the appearance of a perfect tooth.
Bonding can hide all the issues veneers can, including teeth that are:
- Stained
- Chipped
- Gapped
- Crooked
- Misshapen
Top Benefits
- Bonding can hide a wide variety of aesthetic concerns.
- It is cheaper than veneers, making it easier to improve the appearance of multiple teeth.
- The entire treatment only takes one session.
Notable Drawbacks
- Bonding material isn’t very strong, so you need to be careful when eating.
- You need to replace bonding material every 3–10 years.
Evaluating Your Options
This is a basic overview of your options if you’re not sold on veneers. All six traditional veneer alternatives above are great — for the right people in the right circumstances. The hard part is knowing which is right for you. When making your decision, keep the following factors in mind:
- Which Issues You Want to Address: Not every alternative can address every issue. For example, if you want to cover up gaps from missing teeth, snap-on veneers are the only option on this list to consider.
- How Much Money You’re Ready to Spend: Some of the alternatives on this list are just a few hundred dollars; others will set you back thousands. You need to find the solution that works with your budget (and perhaps your insurance coverage).
- How Many Teeth You Are Looking to Improve: If you want to correct issues in just a couple of teeth, most of the options above will work great. But if you want to hide four or more teeth, you’ll likely want to stick with bonding or snap-on veneers.
- How Long the Solution Will Last: Sometimes, a treatment will seem affordable at first — but then you have to replace or correct it so often that it no longer seems like a solid deal.
The goal is to find the solution that strikes the right balance between all your wants and needs. If you struggle to figure out what’s best for you, speak with your general dentist.
Final Thoughts
Don’t get us wrong — traditional veneers are a great way to improve the look of your smile, offering an attractive and convenient solution. But they can’t cover up every imperfection, and they can get pretty pricey, especially when addressing issues with multiple teeth.
If one of the options above sounds intriguing, now is the time to start your research. Read more about the solutions that interest you so you can zero in on the path to your perfect smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do traditional veneers cause damage to the teeth?
It isn’t exactly damage, since it is part of the process. The dentist needs to shave down a small amount of enamel so the veneer won’t stick out from the tooth’s surface. You might also need to get the tooth shaped a bit. Both procedures permanently change the tooth and can weaken it, but they’re essential to placing traditional veneers.
Will I experience pain after getting veneers?
Some people do. Your dentist will use local anesthetic while placing the veneers, but once it wears off, you may experience pain or discomfort. It’s rarely severe, and most people feel nothing after a few hours.
How much does it cost to get multiple veneers?
It depends on your dentist’s rates, the material you select, and how many teeth you want to cover. Porcelain veneers can cost as much as $2,500 per tooth, so if you want to cover your front six teeth (aka, the social six), you could spend $15,000.
Which veneer types are the most affordable?
Composite veneers are the most affordable, but this lower price comes with a shorter lifespan. Not only do you need to replace them more often, but they’re also weaker and more likely to break.
Why can’t veneers cover missing teeth?
Dentists attach veneers to individual teeth, one veneer per tooth. If you’re missing a certain tooth, there is nothing to attach them to.
Are implants, dentures, or snap-on veneers best for addressing missing teeth?
It depends on your goals. Implants restore the look and function of natural teeth, but they’re expensive. Dentures and snap-on veneers are more affordable but not as sturdy. Additionally, snap-on veneers cover all the teeth, improving your smile’s overall appearance — implants and dentures don’t.
Are there types of tooth discoloration whitening treatments cannot correct?
Most whitening treatments cannot correct brown stains or stains from medications like tetracycline. The exception is KöR — a professional whitening system that can make significant changes even in cases with the toughest stains.
How are crowns and bonding different?
Crowns are prosthetic caps placed on top of individual teeth. Bonding is a composite material that goes on the front surface of a tooth and is shaped, then cured with a light.
Are aligners or braces a better alternative to veneers?
Our opinion? Aligners. They’re more discreet during treatment, which is the goal with veneers, and you can whiten your teeth when using them, which isn’t advisable with braces.
Are snap-on veneers the same as dentures?
No. Dentures only replace missing teeth; they don’t cover the teeth that remain. Snap-on veneers are also not as sturdy as dentures, so you can’t always eat in them.
Join The Discussion: