Children often get mixed messages when they see their favorite child star with a perfect set of teeth. Few people are born with a flawless smile and child stars are no exception. Even though their parents may be more open to the idea of outfitting their son or daughter's teeth with veneers, you shouldn't be as willing. Most would agree that such children are subject to special circumstances, holding a career that requires them to constantly be in the public spotlight. Your child, on the other hand, doesn't possess any valid reasons to take the most drastic route to a perfect smile.

Dental veneers require extensive removal of existing tooth structure, sometimes as much as 2mm. This allows the veneers to take on a natural appearance and also gives them a coarse surface to bond to. The hidden problem is that this structure can never be replaced. The child will have to wear veneers or some other restoration for the rest of their lives. If their initial or subsequent set of veneers is somehow installed incorrectly, and decay is allowed to develop their teeth may be rendered irreparable. This is not as uncommon as people make it out to be. What will often happen is a cosmetic dentist will leave a gap between the gum line and veneers, giving bacteria a small area to wreak havoc on. This can cause gum disease if gone undetected, permanently jeopardizing the structural integrity of the teeth. If you want to protect your child against such severe dental problems in the future, explore other options such as braces.

Braces may not be the most aesthetically-appealing choice, but they don't cause any irreversible damage to the teeth. They are also more affordable. Sure, treatment will take longer periods of time but your kids will eventually accustomed to wearing orthodontia. After all, most school kids have or currently wear braces. If the appearance of braces is truly a concern, lingual braces or Invisalign might be a good option. These are more expensive but are without question a better alternative to dental veneers for kids.