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Are Snap-on Veneers a Good Alternative

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I have a bunch of discoloration on my teeth and want to get a smile makeover. My dentist quoted me quite a bit of money for that. Someone told me you can get snap on veneers online. I looked and some of them are only $500 for the whole set. Is this a good alternative?

Ivan

Dear Ivan,

porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

It really depends on what type of expectations you have. As you probably gathered from the name, porcelain veneers are made of porcelain. That is not the case with snap-on veneers. These are generally made of acrylic. They will not look nearly as natural. Additionally, because they snap over your teeth, they will look bulky. So, if you go into it with expectations of an “okay” smile, you may be satisfied. However, I would not do the DIY ones online. They will fit even worse and could cause you some pain.

The best brand is Snap-on Smile. You would do it through a dentist who can fit your bite properly. Even then, they always need some adjustments when they come in that require special tools. You would not be able to do that on your own.

In general, these are recommended for someone with a horrible smile who is going for a job interview, or maybe someone doing a special photoshoot. For you, I would recommend if you do decide to get them, do it as a temporary measure while you save up for a better smile makeover. Truthfully, these snap-on veneers only last about three or four years anyway, so you’d have to keep buying them over and over or work to get something more permanent.

I know this probably isn’t what you wanted to hear, but I didn’t want to give you false expectations.

Who Should Do Your Porcelain Veneers

Because true porcelain veneers are so costly, I want to make sure you get the smile you really want. You should be aware that cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty. As a result, any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of the training they have or do not have. To make matters even more difficult, smile makeovers are not taught in dental school. It is up to the dentist to invest the time and money in that training.

One sure way you can get a cosmetic dentist who does have both the training and artistry to give you a stunning smile is to go to an AACD accredited dentist. These are the best cosmetic dentists in the country.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Picking my Cosmetic Dentist With Yelp!

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I am having a hard time picking between three dentists highly rated for cosmetic dentistry on Yelp! Here is what I am thinking of doing for my smile makeover. First, I’ll get Zoom Whitening because that’s faster and I think I need to whiten either before or immediately after getting the smile makeover done. Then, I want to have bonding done on eight teeth. I chose bonding over veneers because it is cheaper. Now, the color I am thinking should be BL2. I’m 55 with a medium skin tone and dark blonde hair. Is there a way to pick a dentist based on this information when they all have 5 stars?

Kelli,

Dear Kelli,

porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

I can tell you have put a lot of thought, time, and effort into this and you are committed to getting the best outcome possible. With that in mind I want to slightly change the direction you are taking here. First, don’t worry about what specific color to give the dentist. The two of you can go over that together when you design your smile. There will be many more decisions aside from color and an expert cosmetic dentist can guide you through all of them. You don’t have to figure those out on your own.

As for whitening, you will definitely want to do that before your smile makeover, not after. You are correct that Zoom Whitening is the fastest, so going that way is fine. Just make sure to leave between one and two weeks for the whitening color to settle before going to your cosmetic appointment.

The key to a beautiful smile makeover is not the materials and shade you choose, as much as it is the dentist. You need an expert, artistic cosmetic dentist who knows how to get a stunning result. Yelp! isn’t the best place to locate that dentist. They are great for things like a plumber, or a washing machine repairman. But, their algorithms don’t work well for what you need. For instance, they do not distinguish whether a dentist has 5 stars for being a nice dentist who is good at fillings or an excellent cosmetic dentist. As a test, I did a search for an expert cosmetic dentist in an area where I know of a few great ones. Yet, none of them were listed on the top three cosmetic dentists listed on Yelp! Of the ones who were, two of them don’t even do cosmetic work. The third one says she does but does not have a smile gallery, which is a bad sign.

My suggestion is you go to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry webpage (aacd.com), and look for an accredited cosmetic dentist. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. You can also do an internet search in your area for an AACD accredited dentist.

One final thing. You mentioned wanting bonding for financial considerations. Dental bonding is cheaper when it is for something like a chipped tooth or closing a tooth gap. However, when you are talking about covering an entire surface area of a tooth it actually gets more expensive than porcelain veneers because it has to be done freehand.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Getting a Pretty Smile with Dental Anxiety

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I am so tired of being ashamed of my smile. At the same time, I am terrified of the dentist. Absolutely terrified. I get a panic attack every time I’ve tried to go. Have you encountered someone who struggles as much as I do? What would it take to get my smile pretty? My teeth are yellow, two of them are chipped, and the front two are crooked. I’m sure there are cavities too, but I don’t see any.

Kallie

Dear Kallie,

person hiding behind chair in fear

How would you like to never fear the dentist again?

You are not alone in your dental anxiety. Many Americans struggle with going to the dentist. Often, this stems from a traumatic experience during childhood with their pediatric dentist. While we can’t do anything about the past, we can help you with your future. There are dentists who are particularly good at working with fearful patients. In your place, I would look for a dentist who advertises as a sedation dentist. They are great with fearful patients. To make things even easier for you, they can provide medication that will completely relax you. Given your level of anxiety, I am going to recommend you see someone who offers oral conscious sedation. It’s administered by a pill. This pill is so strong, though, that you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment as well as stay with you for a few hours after your appointment until you are lucid and steady on your feet again. Most people sleep through their entire appointment.

Another benefit to dental sedation is it enables you and the dentist to get more work done at each sitting. That will help you get the smile you want even faster. One you can be proud to share. As to the work you need, you have several choices. Before those, your first order of business is to make sure you don’t have any decay and if you do, deal with that first. Once that is established, the first thing I recommend is teeth whitening. Not only will that make a dramatic difference in your smile, but it is a precursor to most other work. The easiest and most dramatic fix will be porcelain veneers. You have other options as well, but this is the top-of-the-line smile makeover and what gives celebrities that Hollywood smile.

One important thing to be aware of. While you can go to any sedation dentist to get your oral health on track, cosmetic dentistry is different. It requires extensive post-doctoral training. Don’t be fooled into thinking dental school is enough. In your place, I would look for a dentist who has reached accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. Your smile will be stunning.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Tricked by “Cosmetic Dentist”

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I went to speak to my dentist about the possibility of braces and then teeth whitening. I have uneven teeth in my front upper arch. My dentist suggested porcelain veneers and said that he could accomplish both of those things at once with porcelain veneers without having to deal with braces for a couple of years. That sounded great to me, so I agreed. He provided 1 tooth bonding and 1 porcelain veneer, plus did some reshaping of my bottom teeth, which we never discussed and I never agreed to. All of this came to a little over $9,000. When he said the job was completed, I was appalled. My smile actually looked worse. The teeth were still misaligned and the porcelain veneer he gave me was too small for the tooth. Plus, my smile was still crooked and yellow. I feel like I’ve paid over 9k to look like I tried to get a smile makeover but it was botched. I asked him how I could get the results he told me we’d get from this treatment. He said only four porcelain crowns on my front teeth, plus a root canal would do it, for an additional $8,000. By then, I’d lost all faith in him and decided to get a second opinion. I’m glad I did. The second dentist thought some teeth whitening and four veneers would solve the problem. No dental crowns. No root canal. I definitely like his plan better. Is there any way for me to get my money back from the first dentist?

Amaya

Dear Amaya,

porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

What a disaster! I hope you don’t mind if we add this to our pile of cosmetic dentistry horror stories. You should be able to recoup your money. You have two strong things working in your favor. One, he promised results you didn’t receive. Two, he did work on you without your permission or even discussing it. This is a big no-no in the dental world.

Start by simply asking your dentist for a refund. Though, given his actions thus far, I don’t anticipate he’ll just hand your money back to you. I’m going to suggest you get an expert cosmetic dentist on your side to help you request that refund. The dentist you got a second opinion from sounds like he knows what he’s doing. Teeth whitening and porcelain veneers are the right treatment for what you described. However, I want you to make sure. Smile makeovers are not taught in dental school. Instead, a dentist has to invest in post-doctoral training. The best cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited. See what the second dentist’s qualifications are. If they are good, then he or she can help you secure your refund. From there, you can get the smile makeover you were promised originally.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Smile Makeover Lost It’s Shine

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A little over two months ago, I had a complete smile makeover done. I was thrilled with the results. Because of how beautiful they were I took even more care of them than I did with my natural teeth. I found the best toothpaste possible at the store, Crest 3D Glamorous White toothpaste. I also use a mouthwash once a week. In the last week, I have noticed that my beautiful smile makeover has lost its shine. Is there any way to get it back? Do you think my toothpaste caused the problem? What do I do?

Amanda

Dear Amanda,

porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

I wish I had a bit more information about your smile makeover, specifically who was your dentist and do you know what type of material he or she used. Without that information, I see two basic possibilities though you’ll have to figure out which one with the help of an expert cosmetic dentist.

I will say I don’t think your toothpaste is the problem. Porcelain is even more stain-resistant than your natural teeth. It would not become dull and stained that quickly from simply using a new toothpaste.

One possibility is that your dental hygienist did something to remove the glaze from your porcelain veneers. This protective glaze can be damaged by your hygienist using either a power prophy jet or acidulated fluoride during your cleaning and checkup. Some hygienists and dental assistants are not as well-versed in care for cosmetic dental work and may be unaware of the damage they can do.

A second option, when it comes to your smile makeover losing its shine, is that your dentist did not actually provide you with porcelain veneers. Instead, he or she may have made composite veneers. This is not nearly as resistant as porcelain. Composite is actually softer than tooth structure and will easily damage. Even just a whitening toothpaste could take off its shine.

I would like you to see a dentist who has received accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. They will be able to look at your smile makeover and tell you whether or not your dentist provided porcelain or composite. If you thought you were getting porcelain and did not, that is fraud and you can get your money back with ease, then have this done correctly with a skilled and artistic cosmetic dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

New Lumineers over Old Lumineers

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I had Lumineers placed years ago. At the time, I wanted them whiter than I was given but my dentist explained the tech told him that isn’t available. I’ve noticed these days you can get them very white. I realize that I cannot use teeth whitening to get them whiter, but wondered if it would be possible to get new Lumineers placed over my old ones?

Caryn

Dear Caryn,

New Lumineers over old cosmetic work advertisement

Above is an advertisement the Lumineers brand put out years ago promoting this idea of new cosmetic work over old. What you are suggesting is pretty much the same thing. While you can do this, I do not recommend it. First, bonding porcelain to porcelain is much less secure than bonding porcelain to natural tooth structure. That means you have a real risk of bonding failure with the new set of Lumineers. Because your previous Lumineers are getting on in age, you have double the risk of bonding failure — one part from your old set and one part from the weaker bonded new set.

A second consideration is the margins will be vulnerable. Because you will have an older set of porcelain under the new, there is no way for them to be flush against the margins. This leaves a trap for food and other bacteria.

Finally, there is the thickness. You’ve got your natural teeth below the old veneers, which will be below the new veneers. This is very likely to have way too much bulk to it to look natural.

The Best Solution to Your Dingy Lumineers

With all that bad news you will be glad to know I have some good news as well. It is the same amount of work to re-do your smile makeover as it is to build one over the other. My suggestion is you just get a brand new smile makeover. However, I don’t think you should go to the same dentist. The ability to have very white Lumineers has been around from the beginning. It sounds like your dentist and his tech have not kept up with their field very well.

Cosmetic Dentistry is not a recognized specialty so any general dentist can do it regardless of their training and experience in these type of procedures. In order to become skilled, a dentist has to invest in a significant amount of post-doctoral training. It also helps to have some natural artistry. After all, doing a smile makeover is an art form in itself.

In your place, I would look for a dentist who is AACD accredited. These dentists have gone the extra mile to not only receive that training, but also to put their skills to the test through a rigorous accreditation process. Any one of them will be able to give you a stunning smile.

Don’t be surprised if they suggest NOT using Lumineers. They are just one brand of porcelain veneers and many expert cosmetic dentists do not like them. This is mostly because the company that owns Lumineers insists dentists use the company’s laboratory, which is not known for its skill or artistry.

A great cosmetic dentist will know the strengths and weaknesses of each brand and will pick just the right one to give you the desired outcome.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Zoom Whitening for Tetracycline Stains

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My daughter has tetracycline stains and is turning 30 soon. I know her smile has always bothered her. I would like to get her an awesome present by getting her teeth fixed. Would Zoom Whitening be the way to go? I hear it is the strongest whitening.

Hattie

Dear Hattie,

What a great present for your daughter. Fixing her tetracycline stains will bring her added confidence. Though unfair, people often judge us by our smiles. While it is true that Zoom Whitening is very strong, you would have to do so many sessions to clear tetracycline stains that it would be cost-prohibitive to go that route.

porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

The recommended treatment to cover tetracycline stains is porcelain veneers. These are tiny wafers of porcelain that a cosmetic dentist can color and shape to create a stunning smile. They can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth. One thing to be aware of is that doing smile makeovers is not taught in dental school. Nor is cosmetic dentistry a recognized specialty. Just because someone says they are a cosmetic dentist does not mean they have the training to do it well.

Tetracycline stains are among the toughest cosmetic cases because you have to get the veneers opaque enough to cover the stains, while still having that sparkle and translucency that makes them look like natural teeth. You will need an expert cosmetic dentist for your daughter.

If I were in your place, I would look for a dentist who is AACD accredited. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. They have passed stringent exams and have proven their artistry before a board of examiners. The standards are so high, that only about 1% of dentists are able to get accredited. This would be the type of dentist I would look for to do your daughter’s smile makeover.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Smile Makeover Looks like Wallace & Grommit

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My friend and I were both getting a smile makeover. She went first because her dentist had an opening before mine. To be honest, I feel guilty now. She had a pretty smile but I was getting mine redone and just mentioned it would be fun if we both did. Now her smile looks like the guy from Wallace & Grommit. This cost her about $30,000. Is there any way for her to get her money back? It looks like she has false teeth that are too small for her mouth. I’m also a bit worried the same will happen to me. How is it some patients get gorgeous smile makeovers and others end up looking ridiculous?

Brenda

Dear Brenda,

porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

I’m so sorry to hear about your friend’s experience with her smile makeover. You actually hit on the crux of the problem with cosmetic dentistry. Some patients get beautiful results and others end up with cosmetic dentistry horror stories. Where is the disconnect? The issue lies with the fact that cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty. As a result, any general dentist can provide cosmetic work, regardless of the training and skill they have, or lack thereof.

Dentists who provide those stunning smiles you mentioned invest countless hours in post-doctoral training and practice in cosmetic dentistry procedures. The best cosmetic dentists have reached accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists have to pass stringent exams proving their technical knowledge and skill as well as visual evidence of their artistry with a large number of specific cases they’ve done. The way to ensure you get a beautiful smile makeover is to have a skilled cosmetic dentist do the work.

If your friend’s case is as bad as you say, she may be able to get a refund. This is especially true if there is a functional problem with her bite as well. The key to this is to get another cosmetic dentist to look at your smile and recognize there are problems with the results.

She’ll need to get a second opinion. When she does, make sure it is a blind second opinion. It is best if she doesn’t tell the dentist who is giving her the second opinion who it was who did the work. That is because dentists know one another. You don’t want your dentist to be put in the position of speaking negatively about a friend’s work. If they ask who did the work, just tell them you want their unbiased opinion before you share the name of the dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

CEREC Smile Makeover?

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I need a crown on one of my lateral incisors. My dentist has a CEREC machine and plans on using that. He knew I’d mentioned before that I wanted to improve my smile so thought we could do that at the same time using the CEREC machine to do some veneers as well. I’d heard of CEREC crowns, but not CEREC veneers. Is that a possibility?

Carson

Dear Carson,

Block of porcelain for a CEREC crown

While possible, it isn’t easy. CEREC crowns and veneers are milled from a single block of porcelain. On back teeth this is easy. On your very front teeth, it will take some expertise is color theory to know which stains to add where to make them look natural. The key to whether or not they will look natural is the dentist you use. I wouldn’t let anyone other than a dentist who is AACD accredited attempt this.

Your dentist shouldn’t mind you asking. If he says he isn’t but that he is qualified none the less, that is possible. There are some highly skilled cosmetic dentists who are on their way to accreditation. It takes quite a few years to obtain. However, I’d still want to know they have the requisite training.

Cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty and smile makeovers aren’t taught in dental school. It’s totally up to the dentist how much, if any, post-doctoral training they receive. If your dentist isn’t accredited, you can ask him where he received his cosmetic training.

No matter what dentist you go with, make sure they do a temporary try-in of your porcelain veneers and dental crown before they permanently bond them on. That way if you are not thrilled with the results, then it can go back to the lab until they are made to give you the gorgeous smile you deserve.

It is important to know that if they are permanently bonded on and you don’t like them, there is no recourse. The only standard is that they are functional. Beautiful isn’t a requirement. That is why you have to be careful who does your smile makeover.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

How White Should I Get My Porcelain Veneers?

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I have very white teeth. Yet, when I got porcelain veneers they weren’t quite as white as my teeth. I asked my dentist about it and he said both he and the lab are willing to re-do them. However, they warned me that to get them that white will require some opacity. I don’t want them to look fake. Should I do them that white?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

A single porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

You aren’t alone in wanting very white teeth. If you talk to dentists who do a lot of work for celebrities, you’ll hear they do the same. The key to having this work out beautifully is to make sure you have an experienced and artistic dentist. The cosmetic dentists who are in the top 1% of their field are AACD accredited. I’m a tad concerned that your current dentist seems to be mildly discouraging you from your desired smile.

Cosmetic dentists know that you are creating the dream smile the patient wants. Their job is to find the most beautiful way to do that. Some cosmetic dentists have a term for the type of white you want— ballistic white. There is a slight trade-off with opacity, but that is generally noticeable only at a very close distance. A good cosmetic dentist will still get that natural sparkle in there.

My experience has been people don’t get their porcelain veneers very white and wish they had it more “natural” looking. However, there have been many patients who have had a more natural-looking smile who regretted not getting a whiter one. Get the smile you want.

If you can’t find an AACD accredited dentist in your area, you can look on the mynewsmile.com website. They screen cosmetic dentists for both their technical knowledge and training as well as their artistry. Many of them are either accredited or on their way to accreditation. A cosmetic dentist from either group should be able to get your porcelain veneers as white as your teeth have gotten with your teeth whitening.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

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