Roman Khitruk: “Perfect smile: top myths and horror stories about veneers”

With the advent of veneers, the perfect snow-white smile is no longer something unique. To put or not to put? Dentist Roman Khitruk answers Сьогодні Lifestyle.

My colleagues and I joke that today the world is divided into those people who have already had veneers and those who are saving money for it. Nowadays, it is very difficult to meet a person who has never heard of this procedure.

With the advent of veneers, a perfect snow-white smile is no longer something unique. The thinnest ceramic plates that are glued to natural teeth serve for about 10 years. And many people wanted to get them.

But as always, where there are miracles, there are myths and horror stories. And patients continue to come to me with the same list of questions. So now we will analyze the TOP-7 main “horror stories” and finally get to the bottom of the truth.

Myth №1: enamel will be removed and teeth will be spoiled

It is true that to install a veneer, you need to create a place for it, and your own tooth needs to be slightly processed. But the key word here is “slightly”. We are talking about 0.1-0.3 millimeters of enamel. This is such an insignificant processing that in fact we get just a scratch on the tooth. This is what happens over the years even without a new smile. Plus, as a rule, people with an already imperfect smile resort to veneering. This means that the aesthetics have already been compromised, and making a new one is just the thing.

Myth №2: veneers will correct uneven teeth

This is a pure fable. Nowadays, you can find many videos on the Internet where a patient comes for veneering with obvious smile defects and leaves with relatively straight teeth. This is a very dangerous deception and manipulation — in order to achieve the result, the “doctor” almost completely files down a healthy, even crooked tooth. Any honest dentist will tell you that crooked teeth and a deep bite are contraindications for veneers. Therefore, the patient’s teeth are first straightened (for example, with braces), and then the veneers are installed. Also, veneers are not suitable for people who are missing 4-6 chewing teeth. The fact is that in this case, the front teeth are under a lot of pressure, and the veneer can simply chip. Also on the list of contraindications is bruxism — involuntary teeth grinding during sleep.

Myth №3: you have fillings, so veneers are not suitable

I can upset you and please you at the same time: yes, you cannot install a veneer on composite materials, but this problem can be solved. If the tooth is covered with a filling, it is completely cut off and the tooth is covered with ceramics. This is necessary in order to create fewer sutures: if we leave a composite suture, a ceramic suture, and our tooth, they will all crack under pressure, and eventually the veneer and the filling may fall off. If the tooth has no nerve, a ceramic crown is placed on it. But there is no need to worry about aesthetics — visually, the veneer and the crown will not differ.

Myth №4: There are lumineers and composite veneers, and you don’t need to file your teeth at all to bond them

I will disappoint you. These amazing names are just a marketing ploy. In fact, there are only two types of restorations: composite restorations (i.e., fillings) and ceramic restorations (aka veneers). Veneers are made of ceramics, the only difference is in its quality and, accordingly, in thickness. No matter how ultra-thin they are, the tooth still needs to filed. For example, a ledge needs to be created near the gum so that the edge of the veneer can be joined to the tooth end-to-end. Otherwise, food will get clogged there, plaque will form, and tartar will settle. Therefore, in 95% of cases, the tooth still needs to be prepared. And those who promise to install it without filing are simply deceivers or unprofessionals.

As for the components, this is a budget option for restoration using composite materials. Composite is a high-quality plastic, so its shelf life is much shorter. Yes, ceramics are more expensive, but if you stretch the amount spent over time, it turns out to be much cheaper.

Myth №5: the tooth spoils and rots under the veneer

I’ll debunk another fiction: the tooth spoils not from the inside, but from the outside due to the environment in the mouth. Microbes, food, and excess carbohydrates negatively affect it. With the help of a veneer, we conditionally create a protective plate over the tooth, so that germs and acids do not penetrate. Of course, it is also worth making allowances for the experience of the dentist: if you miss the mark and put a veneer on a tooth with initial caries, then the myth turns into truth. And here’s another non-obvious advantage: if there are chips on the tooth, the veneer can restore them and protect the tooth from further damage.

Myth №6: veneers are painful to put, difficult to care for, and they also darken over time

All three statements are far from the truth. In fact, since the installation takes place within the enamel, you can do without anesthesia. As for wearing them, veneers do not require any special care: home hygiene twice a day, professional cleaning every six months, and a routine dental checkup will be enough. Now let’s talk about the color: don’t worry, the chosen snow-white shade will not be spoiled by any coffee. A veneer can change only due to cracks and deformation, only then will the pigment get there.

Myth №7: veneers are very expensive

I have good and bad news for you. Let’s start with the bad news: the price of manufacturing and installation is really expensive. The average price for a qualified dentist is about $300-400 per veneer per tooth. And now for the good news — there is no need to install them on all 32 of your teeth. Usually it is enough to cover the smile line, which is 8 or perfectly 10 teeth on each jaw. Accordingly, getting a real Hollywood smile is cheaper than you think.

So, to the almost Shakespearean dilemma of “to be or not to be” veneers on your teeth, I will answer as follows: the main thing is not to rush to conclusions and find a professional whom you trust. A smile is your business card in any situation. Smile more often!