Veneers or your teeth: the dentist named the pros and cons of a Hollywood smile

There is a myth that a Hollywood smile can be made in a short time by installing veneers. Some patients and even doctors believe that the patient's lack of money is one of the indications for such a manipulation.

Oleksii Bida, MD, professor and orthopedic dentist, told OBOZREVATEL what dangers lie behind a snow-white smile and whether veneers can become a tool for instant dental upgrades.

What are veneers?

Oleksii Bida explains that veneers are thin, solid overlays that cover the front of dental crowns and provide the most aesthetic result. There are several types of such onlays.

The most aesthetically pleasing are ceramic veneers made using different technologies and materials. There are also composite veneers and lumineers.

It is important to note that before placing veneers, the enamel layer is polished off the front of the tooth and an analog or digital impression is taken.

While the permanent veneer is being made, temporary onlays are placed to protect the teeth. At the next visit, the permanent veneers are already fixed.

"Yes, the process itself is quite fast, but it is important to remember that veneers are not installed at the whim of the patient, but only on clear indications and only on previously prepared teeth," the doctor warns.

Dentists often neglect this preparatory stage and jeopardize the patient's health. Placing veneers on unprepared teeth can lead to their loss.

Mandatory requirements before installing veneers:

• healthy hard tissues;
• absence of dentition defects, abnormalities, and malocclusion;
• stabilization of periodontal tissues.

"It may take more than a year of treatment to fulfill these requirements. This means that it is possible to make a Hollywood smile in a short time, but you need to be prepared to pay a high price for it, and not just in terms of money," says Oleksii Bida.

The information has been verified by doctor Viktor Litvinenko.