Invisalign Vs. Veneers

If you’re unhappy with the look of your smile, two of the most popular treatments to consider are Invisalign clear aligners and dental veneers. But how do you decide which route is right for you? As a top Lansdowne orthodontic practice, we’re often asked whether Invisalign or veneers is the better choice.

In this complete comparison guide, we’ll examine:

What Invisalign and veneers treat
Key differences between the two options
Pros and cons of each treatment
Average costs for Invisalign vs. Veneers
Which solution do we typically recommend

By the end, you’ll understand whether Invisalign or veneers (or a combination) is your best bet for transforming an imperfect smile.

What Do Invisalign and Veneers Treat?

First, it’s helpful to understand what issues each therapy addresses:

Invisalign: Straightens crooked, overcrowded, or gapped teeth using a series of clear, removable aligners changed every 1-2 weeks. Gradually shifts teeth into an improved, balanced position over several months.
Veneers: Thin porcelain covers are custom-made to fit over the fronts of existing teeth, disguising imperfections. Used to treat stained, chipped, unevenly sized, or misshapen teeth. Requires permanent cementing to the tooth surface.

Now let’s explore the key differences between the two options…

Invisalign vs Veneers: Key Differences

	Invisalign	Veneers
What it Treats	Crooked, crowded, or gapped teeth	Stained, chipped, uneven, or misshapen teeth
Application Method	Custom-fit clear aligner trays changed out every 1-2 weeks	Thin porcelain covers permanently cemented to the front of teeth
Treatment Type	Orthodontic	Crooked, crowded, or gapped teeth
Teeth Targeted	Entire smile realignment	Front visible teeth only
Process	Gradually moves natural teeth into an improved position	Instantly masks flaws by applying covers
Time to Results	Several months of daily wear	Full results in 2-3 office visits
Removability	Aligners are removable for cleaning and eating	Cemented veneers can’t be removed
Durability	Lasts as long as you wear your retainers	Porcelain may chip or need replacing over 5-15 years
Cost	$3,000 – $8,000 total fee	$925 – $2,500 per individual tooth

To summarize the key distinctions:

Invisalign straightens actual teeth over months of aligner wear
Veneers disguise flaws instantly by adding porcelain covers

When determining Invisalign vs. veneers, weigh the pros and cons of adjusting your natural smile vs. permanently changing your teeth for instant cosmetic improvement. We hope this comparison helps you decide!

Our Professional Recommendation

When asked “Should I get Invisalign or veneers?” our dentists at Lansdowne Family Dental usually recommend trying clear aligners first to straighten your natural teeth.

Invisalign gives you straighter, properly aligned teeth without permanently altering healthy tooth enamel as veneers require. It’s a more reversible approach.

However, for severely stained, cracked, or misshapen teeth, veneers may be needed to achieve your desired smile transformation.

We sometimes recommend combining aligners + veneers for the best results: