Teeth are designed to last for the rest of your life and give you a smile that boosts your confidence. However, different circumstances including tooth decay, gum diseases, and wear and tear cause noticeable differences in the natural structure of your teeth. Dental procedures are devoted to cosmetic and structural fixes to help remedy situations of bad teeth and restore your natural smile. 

The procedure for teeth cover-ups commenced in the 1930s when dentist Charles Pincus introduced an excellent trick to temporarily enhance movie star smiles. He would select thin strips of tooth-shaped porcelain and glue them over the bad teeth of actors. The process provided a quick fix for crooked and gapped smiles that satisfied the public's desires. Pincus' quick fix cover-ups laid the foundation of modern-day teeth cover-up procedures. 

With the advancement of technology, dentists have invented a diverse range of customized laminates as remedies for bad teeth, by recommending resin composite bonding or permanent tooth covers with a lasting impact. With the rise of ultra-thin and strong porcelain, teeth cover-ups can be added directly to natural teeth with no prior preparation. Proper dental care and oral hygiene is required for the cover-ups to endure decades and still look fabulous. 

Is there a way to cover up bad teeth?

Every smile is uniquely beautiful. Damaged teeth can deny you the smile you deserve for your self-confidence and optimal health. A combination of restorative and cosmetic dentistry procedures allows you to restore the structure of damaged teeth temporarily or permanently. There are different types of teeth cover-ups, including veneers and dental crowns.

1. Porcelain Veneers 

Porcelain veneers are dental prosthetics that attach over the front of the teeth to add aesthetic beauty and cover up damaged teeth. They are a great way to improve your smile if you have chipped, malformed, and discolored teeth that cannot be whitened. Although a single veneer can cover up a single damaged tooth, multiple veneers help the teeth appear even and symmetrical.

The most commonplace for veneers is along the top eight front teeth. The key distinguishing character of veneers is that they only cover the front surface of the damaged teeth.

Porcelain is the most common veneer material since its smooth, impervious, and stain-resistant. Traditional veneers involve a lengthy procedure that includes grinding away part of the tooth, sometimes past the enamel, based on the extent of the damage. The procedure is permanent and cannot be reversed whatsoever. From newer veneer procedures like the no-prep veneer, the process is less invasive. However, the teeth will need slight alterations without affecting the enamel.

2. Dental Crowns 

Over time, teeth weaken and get damaged due to tooth decay, injuries, or just the normal wear and tear. As a result, your teeth may lose their shape and size. Dental crowns are designed as caps to be placed over your teeth to restore the shape, size, appearance, and strength. Depending on the level of damage, dental crowns can cover the entire tooth or conservatively a part of the damaged tooth if you still have a solid tooth structure.

Crowns are restorative and built to encircle a tooth or dental implant using dental cement. The process involves taking a mold of your damaged teeth and fabricating the crown before insertion. With modern technology, dentists use CAD/CAM dentistry procedures for crown fabrication. Dental crowns can only be removed with the help of a dentist.

Dental crowns are usually made from porcelain or acrylic which is fused to metal to withstand the pressure of biting. However, based on your personal preferences and budget, you can choose crowns made from other materials including resin, stainless steel, and metal.

3. Snap-on Veneers

Snap-in veneers are a non-permanent option to traditional dental veneers for people who want a beautiful smile but do not want to commit to permanent veneers. They are designed to fit over your teeth like a mouthguard and can be taken off without the help of a professional dentist. Since snap-on do not require any form of surgery, the dentist will take molds of your teeth and send them to the laboratory.

Snap-on veneers are used as cover-ups for a variety of dental problems including gapped teeth, colored and stained teeth, and missing teeth. However, due to their temporary nature, they do not alter the tooth structure, hence they cannot address corrective issues like crooked teeth.

You can choose snap-on veneers over traditional veneers over traditional permanent porcelain veneers when you want an attractive smile but limited by factors including costs and level of invasion. If you are looking to have permanent veneers, snap-on are a great option to test them out before committing. The American Dental Association notes that getting porcelain veneers requires the removal of your enamel, which is a permanent and invasive procedure.

How much do teeth cover-ups cost? 

The cost of teeth cover-ups depends on what the user wants. If you are looking to cover the teeth partially or the entire tooth. The material chosen further impacts the cost of your cover-ups. According to the American Dental Association, the cost varies between $925 and $2500 per tooth for major procedures like porcelain veneers.

TrueSmile offers the most affordable snap-on veneers on the market for $470 payable in two installments. The first payment of $240 upon checkout and the balance is billed a month later. Since cover-ups are considered cosmetic procedures, your insurance does not cover the costs. 

Dental crowns cost between $800 and $1500 per crown. However, the total fees will vary based on the material chosen and treatment options needed before the final crown is cemented. For instance, if you need a root canal, bone grafting, or gum surgery, the cost of the crown will go up. 

How to get started with TruSmile Veneers

At TruSmile, we use the latest state-of-the-art 3D technology to create dental cover-ups ranging from porcelain veneers to dental crowns. We understand that natural movements and age can damage your teeth and your smile. As a result, we allow you to create impressions of your teeth, which our experts use to create an ideal set of veneers and caps for a better and more confident smile. 

Find out for yourself what our customers are smiling about! Find your perfect shade today!