Most studies show that the physical attribute people notice first and remember most when they meet someone new is their smile. The benefits of having a nice smile are clear: improved appearance, better self-esteem, and enhanced personal and professional relationships.
Today, there are many options for improving one’s smile—teeth whitening, orthodontics, bonding, veneers, crowns, tooth recontouring, gum reshaping, and combinations of these treatments. The best choice is always the most conservative one that will achieve the desired result while minimizing the need for future treatment.
When patients think about improving their smile, veneers often come to mind. They read about them in magazines and see pictures of movie stars with beautiful white teeth. Many believe that this option while expensive will give them the smile they’ve always wanted. While veneers can be a wonderful treatment option for the right patient providing life-changing results, they are often presented as the best solution without much discussion about the long-term implications. In fact, veneers may not be the best option for many patients, especially the younger patients.
With veneers, healthy enamel must be removed from the tooth, and this process often involves multiple teeth—sometimes as many as 12 to 14. A simple google image search of “Tooth Preparation for dental veneers” will show the amount of tooth removal. Veneers are sometimes regrettably referred to as “Instant Orthodontics” which is extremely misleading. Once completed, the patient may find themselves on a path to a lifetime of ongoing dental treatment. Potential future issues, such as veneer fractures, recurrent decay, gum recession, and tooth sensitivity, may arise—problems that didn’t exist before the teeth were prepared for veneers. If veneers are placed without proper tooth preparation (“no preparation veneers”), the result oftentimes is a bulky, unaesthetic smile, or veneers that are so thin that their strength is compromised, making fractures likely in the future.
For someone looking to improve their smile, the starting point should be a detailed examination. This includes close-up images of the existing smile using dental photography and an analysis of the bite relationship with models, to determine the most conservative and appropriate option. If you’re looking to improve your smile, It’s best to explore all options with the pros and cons.