If you are unhappy with the midline of your smile, you might have been told that the only solution was orthodontics. While that may be the case in some situations, porcelain veneers can also be used to shift the midline of your smile.
Why the Midline Matters
One of the things that makes a face attractive is symmetry: looking the same on both sides of the face. The two sides of the face are defined by a midline that runs vertically through your nose and should also run right through the middle of your smile.
But when your midline is off, it can look like your face is asymmetrical, off-balance. This can impact your entire appearance, not just the appearance of your smile. This is why people with an off-center smile midline want to have it shifted.
Advantages of Using Porcelain Veneers for Shifting the Midline
Orthodontic treatment is the most common method for shifting the midline of your smile. It makes sense: if you want your teeth shifted, then just move them over. But porcelain veneers can be used to shift the midline by reshaping your teeth so they create a midline that matches your facial midline. This is easiest to do when your midline isn’t that far off center, but it has several advantages over traditional orthodontics.
A porcelain veneer process can be completed in just a month, compared to a year or more for most orthodontic work. You also don’t need to wear a retainer after treatment the way you would have to for orthodontics.
Although porcelain veneers do remove some of your natural tooth enamel, they don’t increase your risk for gum disease and tooth decay the way orthodontics can because it makes your teeth hard to clean.
Porcelain veneers can address some problems, like discolored teeth, worn teeth, chipped teeth, and others, that orthodontics can’t fix. Sometimes, though, the best solution is to combine orthodontics and porcelain veneers together for great results.
Want to learn if you’re a candidate for instant orthodontics with porcelain veneers? Please call (843) 706-2999 for an appointment with a Hilton Head cosmetic dentist at Beyond Exceptional Dentistry today.