Today we’re going to talk about if teeth are going to shift again over time and may need some correction, would it be better to just file the teeth and get veneers?

This question is referring to the fact that after orthodontic treatment is completed, we get the teeth nice and straight. But if you don’t wear a retainer long-term, they do tend to shift and move. And if they do shift and move, then you might need some re-treatment if you want them straight again.

Let’s break it down into a couple of parts.

The first one is if you wear a retainer you’re pretty much guaranteed that they won’t shift or move. That would be my preference. If you get orthodontic treatment and wear a retainer a couple of nights a week, ideally for the rest of your life, that’s the best option.

The second half of the question would be better to just file the teeth and get veneers. If you get veneers on your teeth and you don’t wear a retainer, your teeth will still move as you age. Your teeth never stop moving unless they’re held in position. You put porcelain on the front of your teeth does not mean that they don’t move. They may not move right away but eventually as you age, as the tongue and lip pressures change in your face, those pressure changes will cause some changing in your teeth. So if you got a mouthful of veneers and never wore a retainer, your teeth are still going to be crooked.

Alternatively, the long-term implications of getting veneers on your teeth are not necessarily a bad thing. But to have a lot of the enamel shaved off your teeth and replaced with porcelain is not the healthiest thing for your teeth. If you can get that same correction with orthodontic treatment without having to alter the surface of your teeth, that is a better long-term solution.

Veneers are really the better option if you want to change the size shape or color of your teeth.

Because that can’t be changed with orthodontics. If your goal is to just make them straighter, a veneer can make them straighter but the better option would be to do orthodontic treatment where you’re not having to change the content of your teeth, take off the enamel, and replace it with porcelain.

Porcelain veneers aren’t a lifetime solution. Most people that get a veneer will have to get them replaced at some point in their life. They do tend to chip, they will crack again, your teeth might shift, and they might have to be redone. Most likely, if you got your veneers placed when you were 30, you may have to replace them two or three times in your lifetime.

So again, if you want your perfectly straight teeth for life, wear a retainer a couple of nights a week long term and that’s the best and healthiest solution to keep your straight smile. And if you want to change the size, shape, and color of teeth, do veneers.

If you have any questions about orthodontics or veneers, feel free to ask them in the comment below.