How To Get Braces When You Already Have Veneers
Dental veneers can give you the look of straighter teeth, but nothing can actually correct the alignment of your teeth except braces. If your veneers are doing a good job of hiding your dental problems but you're bothered by an under or overbite, it's time to consider getting braces installed by your local cosmetic dentist. Find out if you can get those braces while you still have veneers.
The Problem
Veneers are small porcelain sheets that are affixed to the front of teeth. Since the brackets of braces are adhered to the front of teeth, they will not work with veneers. The only way you could get standard braces would be to remove your veneers before the correction.
Unfortunately, invisible braces also aren't a possibility, as the width of your teeth plus veneers likely exceeds that of a tooth by itself. Invisible braces may also put pressure on veneers that could damage them. However, this doesn't mean you're completely out of luck!
Sublingual Braces
Sublingual braces work and look almost identical to standard metal braces. They use wires and brackets to create a strong grip on your teeth, and can correct crooked teeth, poorly spaced teeth, and even bigger bite problems, like an overbite. The one thing that sets them apart from standard braces, however, is that everything is hidden from view behind your teeth.
Since sublingual braces affix their brackets and wires to the back of your teeth, they don't interfere with veneers at all. Your veneers can continue to make your teeth look beautiful in the front while your sublingual braces are hard at work.
What To Expect
Sublingual braces are installed just like standard braces are. Your dentist will examine your teeth and take a mold to get a good idea of the 3D geometry of your mouth. From there, they'll begin the process by attaching the brackets to the back of your teeth. This is done with dental adhesive and isn't permanent, but it is long-lasting.
Once your brackets are in place, your dentist will pass a metal wire through them, connecting the brackets together. This wire will be tightened when your teeth are finished moving into a new alignment.
Dental veneers and braces can co-exist, so long as your braces are sublingual braces. Talk to a dentist if you want to find out more about permanently straightening your teeth while keeping your veneers for the duration of the treatment.