I want to straighten my teeth without Ugly Betty braces

[LauraH]

My friend has recently had lumineers placed on her front teeth and they are quite amazing! I think my smile could be better looking and so I'm thinking about cosmetic dentistry.

I want to straighten my teeth, but would hate to wear ugly braces? I just would be embarrassed to go outside my house with ugly betty style braces on my teeth and would want to avoid braces what ever happens.

I thought about getting Lumineers straighten my teeth but I have read on your site that I could straighten my teeth with Invisalign too. Are there any benefits or advantages to getting Invisalign over Lumineers for straightening my teeth?

[Dr Ehsan J. Esfahani]

Hello Laura,

Thank you for your post.

Generally there are three ways you can have straighter teeth. Porcelain veneers like lumineers can give you really nice straight teeth. Alternatively orthodontic treatment such as Invisalign can straighten the teeth. Finally a combination of orthodontic and restorative treatment may be needed to give the best cosmetic dentistry results. Following an assessment we can discuss which options is most suitable in your case.

Benefits of invisalign over veneers include the original shape and natural appearance of teeth are maintained. In some veneer cases filling down teeth is necessary although this can be very minimal. Veneers usually last between 5-10 years and may need replacing or repairing every 10 years. Some people don't want ugly betty braces and want there teeth straightened quickly. In these cases lumineers work really well and can give them the dream smile they always wanted.

The shape of front teeth can only be improved with veneers and crowns, and orthodontic treatment is often used in combination with restorations to give the best results.