Getting dental veneers

[MightyMen]

Hi guys,

First post on this forum, although I've been an avid reader for a couple of weeks now, so I hope I've put this in the right section and am allowed to make such a thread.

Basically, I'm far from happy about my teeth (to put it very lightly) and have been considering cosmetic surgery for a very long time now. On an abstract scale, my teeth are like 3.5 out of 10 and this has really impacted on my life negatively, contributing to low self-esteem and depression etc. I've now been working for a while and have saved up for a long time as well. My beautiful and amazing girlfriend is also prepared to help me with the cost (Heaven knows what I've done to deserve her) but I'm hoping I won't have to use her help.

I have a few questions to ask, though, and I'd be grateful if anyone could answer any of them:


Have you had veneers before and what is your experience of them?
Do veneers feel uncomfortable/unnatural in any way, especially when eating or brushing?
From the research I've done, I can expect to pay around £500 per tooth? Is this about right or is it too low or too high an estimate?
Do you know of a highly recommend London dentist who could do this for me?
Generally, would you recommend them?
The last question seems a bit redundant because I've wanted to get my teeth 'fixed' for a long time now and I've been saving up for it, but I just thought I'd ask anyway. Apologies for so many questions and I'd be really grateful if anyone could help me with any of them.

Many thanks.

[absolutebounder]

Hi guys,

First post on this forum, although I've been an avid reader for a couple of weeks now, so I hope I've put this in the right section and am allowed to make such a thread.

Basically, I'm far from happy about my teeth (to put it very lightly) and have been considering cosmetic surgery for a very long time now. On an abstract scale, my teeth are like 3.5 out of 10 and this has really impacted on my life negatively, contributing to low self-esteem and depression etc. I've now been working for a while and have saved up for a long time as well. My beautiful and amazing girlfriend is also prepared to help me with the cost (Heaven knows what I've done to deserve her) but I'm hoping I won't have to use her help.

I have a few questions to ask, though, and I'd be grateful if anyone could answer any of them:

Have you had veneers before and what is your experience of them?
Do veneers feel uncomfortable/unnatural in any way, especially when eating or brushing?
From the research I've done, I can expect to pay around £500 per tooth? Is this about right or is it too low or too high an estimate?
Do you know of a highly recommend London dentist who could do this for me?
Generally, would you recommend them?The last question seems a bit redundant because I've wanted to get my teeth 'fixed' for a long time now and I've been saving up for it, but I just thought I'd ask anyway. Apologies for so many questions and I'd be really grateful if anyone could help me with any of them.

Many thanks.
I would recommend you get them done somewhere like the ukraine or poland as much cheaper than here

[beckyandjack]

i would recommend you get them done somewhere sensible like where you live so you can have some follow up treatment if things go wrong!!!!!

[TomsMom]

I have a few questions to ask, though, and I'd be grateful if anyone could answer any of them:

I can't answer all of them but this is what I can say


Have you had veneers before and what is your experience of them?

I have one veneer on a tooth next to the front middle. This was done a few years ago, possibly 6-8 years, privately. At the time it was about £200, probably much more now but I live in Wales so not as expensive as London. The natural tooth is "shaved" (can't think of a better word) so it is thinner than normal to allow the veneer to be fixed in place and level with the other teeth (apologies to the dentists on here, can't describe it any better :o ). I recently had the veneer come off. My dentist has re-cemented it (at a cost of approx £55) but warned that fixing it a second time may not be as successful as the first time and that it may come off again and we might have to re-think what to do. If they do come off you have an unsightly remnant of tooth showing until it's re-fixed.


Do veneers feel uncomfortable/unnatural in any way, especially when eating or brushing?

No, you don't know they are there, you can't feel them as long as they've been fitted well. If you run your tongue across your teeth you can instantly tell which is the veneered one as it is smooth compared to natural teeth. It can, however, have the look of a false tooth on a denture rather than a completely natural tooth. Very slightly noticeable to someone who is particularly observant if it's just one tooth like mine but probably not noticeable if it's all your teeth.


From the research I've done, I can expect to pay around £500 per tooth? Is this about right or is it too low or too high an estimate?

Don't know current costs, sorry.


Do you know of a highly recommend London dentist who could do this for me?

Don't live in that area, sorry.


Generally, would you recommend them?[/LIST]

Do some research as to how much it will cost, how long they are expected to last in normal circumstances, don't bit anything too hard (thinking humbugs and stuff here as it could crack/break) and find out what alternatives there are.

I'm sure Toothsmith will come along and give you more information from a dentist's perspective.

[Raul]

Veneers can be phenomenal for your appearance but they are also a life long commitment. They are described as ‘permanent’ but chances are you’ll have to replace them meaning more money in the future.



As the other poster has said they grind your teeth down and this can lead to permanent problems and sensitivity in some unlucky cases. A cosmetic dentist I saw also told me that if you clench your teeth at night that veneers can come loose. If you do and go ahead with veneers and also grind your teeth then you will have to incorporate the price of a custom fitted mouth guard to wear at night to protect what you have paid for.




Many cosmetic dentists will say that they are a member of the ‘British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’ or the American equivalent which sounds prestigious but can misleading. If you read the website closely you can see that membership can be gained by simply paying a joining fee. It seems that only ‘full’ or ‘accredited’ members have undergone further study and training by that organisation.



If you don’t have a personally recommended dentist or trusted surgery in mind then take advantage of the free consultations that many cosmetic dentists in London offer.
Go to as many as you need to and use them to assess the clinic and the dentist. Ask them before hand if you will be able to see a portfolio of work and proof of further study in cosmetic dentistry when you go to see them. If you need a lot of work it will be a major investment and you need the best your money can get.


I needed cosmetic dentistry after a minor accident and was offered veneers but opted for the least invasive work possible. In the future I’ll do try to the same and try to keep as many of my natural teeth as I can. Once they grind it down it is gone for good!




If it is a matter of intact teeth out of line rather than broken or missing gnashers then you might want to look into orthodontics. You can get invisible braces and also train tracks that run on the inside of your teeth these days. Once you get them straight you see about getting them whitened up and they may improve the prospects of your dental health and bank balance over the long term. The down side is the long time scale and veneers have a major advantage as they are in effect ‘instant orthodontics’ giving you a bright white smile a lot quicker.



I’m not a dental professional but I realise that it can be a daunting decision. Cosmetic dentistry can be life changing and every element has pros and cons as much as every individual has different wishes and wants different outcomes.


I’m sure you’ve already put a lot of thought into this and sorry if I’ve told you a lot you already know but I hope this helps.
Best of luck with what you choose to do.

[MightyMen]

Wow, that was a lot of great help, folks. Thanks a lot. I'm looking forward to the hour this "Toothsmith" decides to grace my thread. It seems as if he can't help me, no-one can :D Having said that, you've all helped a lot and given me a lot to think about.

For the exact reason that Beckyandjack pointed out, I don't want to have any treatment abroad, but thank you nonetheless Absolutebounder.

Tomsmom & Raul: Thank you for the helpful and in depth responses :) Like I said in my first post, it is something that I have thought about a lot and something I've wanted to do for a while. If they do last 5-10 years, which seems to be the general consesus, then I'm content that I'll be getting my money's worth. It is a lot of money but I now have a well paid job and I've been saving it up for it and it would make me genuinely a lot happier, so I can't think of any reason not to get them. I also don't drive, smoke, drink/go out excessively and thus have saved a lot of money that way. Yes, I am trying to justify this spending to myself now! :$

If the veneer comes off, would the dentist repair it for free or would I have to pay? Also, how likely is it to come off? And is it horrific to look at in the time between it coming off and getting repaired? Finally, if a particular tooth becomes really bad after, say, 15 years, then is a crown possible or does having veneers eradicate the possibility of having a crown later in life?

Sorry for the continued barrage of questions.

[Toothsmith]

I'm away on a course today, so I'll pop in this evening!

[tirednewdad]

As toothsmiths on a course- you'll have to make to with me instead.

Veneers do have good results and many patients are very happy with the results, but there are also other alternatives which your dentist (when you find one) can advise you on.
As explained above a heathy tooth needs to be filed in order to place a veneer, perhaps the same results could be attained with braces and bleaching- far less distructive on your teeth.

If you are still keen after the consultation appointment to have your teeth veneered then you have to be aware of all of the bad bits aswell as the good bits of having beautifull teeth.

In some cases, in order to get the 'straighter' look a crown might be required instead of a veneer. This would involve removing more healthy tooth tissue.
Veneers feel flatter and smoother than normal teeth on the front, but it is quite a pleasant feeling. Depending on how bad the teeth are out of alignment, the veneer might need to be bulkier. You will initailly feel this but it will go after a few days/weeks.

There are failures with veneers like anything else. The glue might not work as well and the veneer might need to be recemented or replaced over time. This might mean that you could need the work replacing every 10-20 years.

The costs seems about correct- who knows you might even get some change back.

The most important thing that i will advise you on is not to assume that by having the veneers, your life and confidence will change. You have to be realistic with what can be achieved by the veneers and communicating with the dentist of the final outcome that you want is very important.

Good luck with you decisions and let me know what you decide.

[tirednewdad]

Just because you have had a veneer on a tooth is does not stop you from having a crown at a leter date.
Every dentist would have thier own garrentee policy. For me it is 3 years, but that will vary between dentists. Although reading this you might think veneers come off all of the time, but it doesn't happen in real life that often.

[SandC]

Well after years of hating my front teeth I had veneers on my two earlier this year.

Since my old dentist retired and a new one took over his practice I think he's been dying to get his hands on them. :D Basically they were wonky, bent inwards, I had had a filling on one and the enamel was wearing off in patches. Abysmal basically. He did offer to renew the filling and 'clean them up' but that would have cost quite a bit anyway.

I was pleasantly surprised that the cost was going to be £325 per tooth. Because this was cosmetic work it was private work and not NHS, but I had heard more figures of around £1000 per tooth than anything else so this sounded good. Maybe others will recommend that you go to a specific cosmetic dental practice but for me, I was happy for him to do this for me. Maybe because he is young and therefore whilst not fresh from training, well up to date with procedures (not saying older people aren't!).

Anyway, it's the best £650 I ever spent. It was quite uncomfortable while he was grinding down my original teeth. I didn't actually see them so where they felt like two pegs left in they might not have been that bad! I had to wear a temporary thing for a couple of weeks which wasn't too bad but was careful in what I ate and drank. he made it look as good as he good.

When I had that taken off for the veneers to be put in, holy crap were they sensitive!!!! They had to be thoroughly cleaned off I guess but geez, that smarted!

My teeth are now wonderful. They were so awful before that nobody can believe I only had those two front ones done. They detracted from my other teeth which were actually okay. I had got to the stage where I had taught myself to smile with my mouth closed and didn't laugh as much as I should have.

They were sensitive and a bit achey for around 2 days only. I just took some ibuprofen the first night and didn't need them after that.

I am quite careful with what I eat, but they feel real enough. I think you just automatically switch to cautious mode when you've had veneers on. I wouldn't, for example, use those front teeth to tear into a crusty baguette but rather have learnt to use the teeth next to it for things like that.

They have been on problem whatsoever. The only thing is that even he realises how competitive his prices are but he merely considers it to be fair for the work he is doing. I am not complaining!

They are not porcelain veneers but something else, that is probably part of the reason they cost less. He said pretty much permanent but I was thinking myself that surely they would need replacing after 10/15 years?? We shall wait and see!

Go and have a proper chat about it with your dentist, see what he recommends.

[SandC]

They have boosted my confidence massively. Even if people never noticed them before what mattered was what I felt. A few have commented on how great they are. I never wanted anyone to suddenly go 'oh my god, Sand's had new teeth'. So they are subtle enough but have done wonders for me.

I now feel happy to smile normally and didn't realise quite how reserved I had become over it.

I think a lot of it is down to if you have bad looking teeth there is a presumption that is because you didn't look after them. Now whilst you may well know this isn't the case, that's what you feel people are thinking. My brother was blessed with straight and strong teeth, I was not. Now I've finally done something about it I wish I had done it sooner!

[Toothsmith]

Hi guys,

First post on this forum, although I've been an avid reader for a couple of weeks now, so I hope I've put this in the right section and am allowed to make such a thread.

Basically, I'm far from happy about my teeth (to put it very lightly) and have been considering cosmetic surgery for a very long time now. On an abstract scale, my teeth are like 3.5 out of 10 and this has really impacted on my life negatively, contributing to low self-esteem and depression etc. I've now been working for a while and have saved up for a long time as well. My beautiful and amazing girlfriend is also prepared to help me with the cost (Heaven knows what I've done to deserve her) but I'm hoping I won't have to use her help.

I have a few questions to ask, though, and I'd be grateful if anyone could answer any of them:

Have you had veneers before and what is your experience of them?
Do veneers feel uncomfortable/unnatural in any way, especially when eating or brushing?
From the research I've done, I can expect to pay around £500 per tooth? Is this about right or is it too low or too high an estimate?
Do you know of a highly recommend London dentist who could do this for me?
Generally, would you recommend them?The last question seems a bit redundant because I've wanted to get my teeth 'fixed' for a long time now and I've been saving up for it, but I just thought I'd ask anyway. Apologies for so many questions and I'd be really grateful if anyone could help me with any of them.

Many thanks.


Back now!

TND has given you a very good answer, but I would add that you haven't told us if you are receiving regular dental care, or whether you're one of the 50% of the population who only look for a dentist when you have a toothache.

If you're the first, then your regular dentist is the best person to talk to about it. From the amount you've estimated for the cost, I really think you should ask your dentist for a referral to a cosmetic specialist.

If you do't have a regular dentist, and particularly if you haven't been for a fair while, then for the time being, I would pt anything cosmetic right out of your head.

The first thing you need to do is to find a good preventative dentist, and make sure your mouth is in absolute tip-top shape before you think about anything else. It's silly building a palace on a bog! get good foundations.

Regular visits will also educate you in to how to look after your teeth, so all this expensive work will look it's best for the longest possible time.


It is also possible that veneers might not be suitable for you. It completely depends on why your teeth 'look bad' as to what should be done to fix them. It might be that your teeth are arranged in such a way that orthodontics(braces) would be required to get them into a half decent position before veneers could finish the job. It might well be that something really conservative like a bit of tooth whitening, and a bit of a build up here and there with white filling might bring about a transformation.

Finding your dentist is the most important thing though. If you have one, then unless he does a lot of cosmetic work (or unless the necessary treatment is quite simple) I would ask for a referral to someone he trusts to do the sort of job you want.

If you don't have a dentist, then find a general dentist first (follow the hints in my signature at the bottom).

DON'T look through yellow pages - and if you do DON'T go somewhere that says NHS/Private/cosmetic on the advert!!! If the dentist does any NHS, then he/she is very unlikely to be as experienced in the cosmetic stuff as you want!!!! Finding a cosmetic dentist can be a real minefield, which is why it's best to get a general one first, and get referred.

[MightyMen]

Thanks for all the replies, guys.

I've got a lot to think about now. I'll keep thinking it over and will visit a few practices with free consultations and then come back and update this thread later. Thanks you again.

[SandC]

I understand what you are saying Toothsmith, but my dentist is primarily NHS (I think the thing on the window says NHS and Private). He doesn't have a picture ad in the yellow pages or anything. So it's not always the case that an NHS dentist won't be able to do cosmetic work well. I would recommend mine to anyone.

However - I will agree in that it is best if you have a regular dentist and he/she knows your teeth and has every other area sorted out before considering this. That would be the case for me and following on from Toothsmith's post my dentist probably does cosmetic work only for his regular patients, which is why he doesn't advertise as being cosmetic. No doubt if the job was going to be bigger he would have referred me elsewhere.

He did say when he'd finished that he was very pleased and it was pretty much the best veneer work he'd done so far.

Otherwise, yes agree with everything Toothsmith says.

[Toothsmith]

By only having 'free' consultations, you may well be limiting yourself.

A few 'free' ones might give you an idea of your options, but when choosing where to go, don't discount a place just because you have to pay. There's no-one I refer to who does a free consultation. The consultation is really THE most important bit - if a dentist does a 'free' consultation, then (for any thorough look) it's going to be 30mins- 45mins plus x-rays which a dentist can't be doing on a regular basis and then tetlling people they're not suitable for treatment.

This way of managing patients puts a lot of pressure on both dentist and patient to then go on and actually have treatment.

I would suggest you are much more likely to get a more thorough, and honest appraisal of your needs if you pay for the time a consultation takes.

As I said though, going for a few 'free' ones might give you a bit of an idea, but don't sign up to anything there and then. Always leave the practice and think about it.

You may well find the perfect dentist for you via a free consultation - just don't limit yourself.

[Toothsmith]

I understand what you are saying Toothsmith, but my dentist is primarily NHS (I think the thing on the window says NHS and Private). He doesn't have a picture ad in the yellow pages or anything. So it's not always the case that an NHS dentist won't be able to do cosmetic work well. I would recommend mine to anyone.

However - I will agree in that it is best if you have a regular dentist and he/she knows your teeth and has every other area sorted out before considering this. That would be the case for me and following on from Toothsmith's post my dentist probably does cosmetic work only for his regular patients, which is why he doesn't advertise as being cosmetic. No doubt if the job was going to be bigger he would have referred me elsewhere.

He did say when he'd finished that he was very pleased and it was pretty much the best veneer work he'd done so far.

Otherwise, yes agree with everything Toothsmith says.

I would agree here completely - most dentists can do a nice looking crown or two. The OP seems to want qute a big job though, and the result will be very important to him. In this case - I would suggest that being referred by his regular dentist to a specialist cosmetic dentist is the way to go - especially as he seeems to have budgeted pretty accurately for this route anyway.

[lolly5648]

I dont know where you are in London but the Lotus clinic in North London does various types of veneers. I haven't had them but I am having implants done there. I know they have a special offer at the moment of £350 per tooth.

http://www.lotusclinic.co.uk/smilemakeover.php

[Toothsmith]

Good for a recommendation to crop up from someone who has a post count above 1 !!!!!!!

[MightyMen]

By only having 'free' consultations, you may well be limiting yourself.

A few 'free' ones might give you an idea of your options, but when choosing where to go, don't discount a place just because you have to pay. There's no-one I refer to who does a free consultation. The consultation is really THE most important bit - if a dentist does a 'free' consultation, then (for any thorough look) it's going to be 30mins- 45mins plus x-rays which a dentist can't be doing on a regular basis and then tetlling people they're not suitable for treatment.

This way of managing patients puts a lot of pressure on both dentist and patient to then go on and actually have treatment.

I would suggest you are much more likely to get a more thorough, and honest appraisal of your needs if you pay for the time a consultation takes.

As I said though, going for a few 'free' ones might give you a bit of an idea, but don't sign up to anything there and then. Always leave the practice and think about it.

You may well find the perfect dentist for you via a free consultation - just don't limit yourself.

Yeah, I understand what you're saying. The main reason I'm going to these consultations is because I want to be able to ask the dentists questions personally and obviously the fact they'll be able to see my teeth and know the full extent of my 'problems' will be a major plus. I'm not easily manipulated, I don't think, and I know when to say no. I certainly won't be signing up to anything after my free consultation. I just want to know if there appears a general consensus from all the dentists and see which dentist makes me feel most comfortable.

Re your other post: I might be overplaying how bad my teeth are, I don't know. It's just become a psychological thing and similar to what SandC I think other people don't notice it as much as me. It's mainly my front two middle upper teeth and the middle two below them (sorry I don't know the proper jargon :o). The thing with my other teeth is that whilst their shape isn't particularly bad, they seem to be mis-shaped from the top, like they've been worn down and look a bit wiggly. Sorry I can't explain it any clearer.

Thank you for the recommendation, lolly5648. I will look into that as well :)

[MightyMen]

BUMP!

Been a long time since I posted this and things have changed considerably. I've learned to become more comfortable with my teeth and I know that they aren't as bad as I thought- it was more a problem with my perception of myself.

I tried a few dentists after getting recommendations and I thought it was quite easy to distinguish between those trying to talk themselves into work and those being genuine. Where first I thought I needed veneers and lots of them, I now think more minor work is what's needed.

Part of that work involves drilling the top bit of my bottom teeth to make them smoother, which sounds awfully painful. Has anyone had this done before? Is it really painful? What are the after-effects? I asked my dentist these questions and he said it would hurt a little, but be over in 10 seconds. I don't really know why I'm questioning thing, but I just find it hard to believe that to solve the problem of uneven teeth surface, you just drill the top bit and leave it smooth. Just to verify, it isn't the front surface of my teeth that are really uneven, it's the top part. So, if you imagine teeth to be a house, then my front door is fine, but my roof is not, if that makes sense :o He also said veneers was a last resort because my teeth really weren't as bad as I thought, which I'm slowly coming to accept, and that I should get teeth whitening to remove the stains instead. The product they use is BriteSmile. What do we think of these products? I know you can get home kits too, but will it work? Finally, if I'm still unhappy with anything, I can also get composite veneers, just to make slighter alterations to sort of try and better the look. Is it recommended to do it this way or just get the veneers first?

Any advice on anything would be appreciated. Sorry if I haven't made much sense, but it's getting quite late and I really should be in bed now :( Thanks for any help in advance :)

Oh, oh, another quick question which I was pondering on earlier, is is possible to get veneers (either the composite or porcelain) on molars? It's just my frontest one on the one side which is rather unsightly. Thanks again.

[tirednewdad]

BUMP!

Been a long time since I posted this and things have changed considerably. I've learned to become more comfortable with my teeth and I know that they aren't as bad as I thought- it was more a problem with my perception of myself.

I tried a few dentists after getting recommendations and I thought it was quite easy to distinguish between those trying to talk themselves into work and those being genuine. Where first I thought I needed veneers and lots of them, I now think more minor work is what's needed.

Part of that work involves drilling the top bit of my bottom teeth to make them smoother, which sounds awfully painful. Has anyone had this done before? Is it really painful? What are the after-effects?
I asked my dentist these questions and he said it would hurt a little, but be over in 10 seconds. I don't really know why I'm questioning thing, but I just find it hard to believe that to solve the problem of uneven teeth surface, you just drill the top bit and leave it smooth. Just to verify, it isn't the front surface of my teeth that are really uneven, it's the top part. So, if you imagine teeth to be a house, then my front door is fine, but my roof is not, if that makes sense :o He also said veneers was a last resort because my teeth really weren't as bad as I thought, which I'm slowly coming to accept, and that I should get teeth whitening to remove the stains instead. The product they use is BriteSmile. What do we think of these products? I know you can get home kits too, but will it work? Finally, if I'm still unhappy with anything, I can also get composite veneers, just to make slighter alterations to sort of try and better the look. Is it recommended to do it this way or just get the veneers first?

Any advice on anything would be appreciated. Sorry if I haven't made much sense, but it's getting quite late and I really should be in bed now :( Thanks for any help in advance :)

Oh, oh, another quick question which I was pondering on earlier, is is possible to get veneers (either the composite or porcelain) on molars? It's just my frontest one on the one side which is rather unsightly. Thanks again.


Sorry, my son has been up all night and this is my first break. I hope this makes sense.

To just smooth the top of the tooth surface to get them even in hieght shouldn't hurt unless in very rare circumstances- you'll be ok.

secondly- Brightsmile is a bleaching kit- it can only change the colour of the mineral in the teeth. It will not remove staining, although this can be easily cleaned off. I find a suprisingly high number of my patients ask for white teeth by bleaching and i always give them a clean first. The majority are so happy with the results that they decided to postpone the bleaching.

The home kits are absolute pants IMO- although they are improving.

The composite veneers is something you have to discuss futher with your dentist. From what i think they are suggesting, these composite veneers are less distructive than normal veneers. talk to your dentist though.

You can get Veneers on molars, but often crowns are suggested instead for increased strength.

Got to go- need sleep. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:shhh:

[MightyMen]

Sorry, my son has been up all night and this is my first break. I hope this makes sense.

To just smooth the top of the tooth surface to get them even in hieght shouldn't hurt unless in very rare circumstances- you'll be ok.

secondly- Brightsmile is a bleaching kit- it can only change the colour of the mineral in the teeth. It will not remove staining, although this can be easily cleaned off. I find a suprisingly high number of my patients ask for white teeth by bleaching and i always give them a clean first. The majority are so happy with the results that they decided to postpone the bleaching.

The home kits are absolute pants IMO- although they are improving.

The composite veneers is something you have to discuss futher with your dentist. From what i think they are suggesting, these composite veneers are less distructive than normal veneers. talk to your dentist though.

You can get Veneers on molars, but often crowns are suggested instead for increased strength.

Got to go- need sleep. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:shhh:

Firstly, thank you for your response & well done on fatherhood! Hope you really enjoy it :)

How far off the top of the surface do you think teeth could be smoothened down? And would you recommend this treatment if it was necessary? It also just seems like it's too easy/simple to be true :o

Re the BriteSmile: Although my prime problem is with the stain (I have a horizontal, grey line going across the top teeth) they're also far from white, which I'm guessing is why I've been recommended the BS. One of the dentists I visited also said I have Fluorosis (sp), would that be a reversible thing?

Sorry for all the questions, but my dentist is away for the weekend now and I'm just trying to make sure I get the right treatment.

EDIT: I don't suppose your based in London and charge a decent rate for the aforementioned treatment? :p

[Mutter]

Crest Whitestrips Supreme are utterly brilliant for bleaching, available on Ebay. (Just Googled and now are available elsewhere online), but all from USA.
I have had two courses in the past. They are like cling film with bleaching agent. Stick one each to top and bottom gnashers and leave for 30 mins. Either use twice daily or you can take it more slowly if you wish. Think the course was 10 or 14 days.
I dare say the dentists here will shoot me down but this is not a quack whitening system. It is Crest as in Crest toothpaste and the strips are sold over the counter in the states. EU, doesn't trust us yet to use them.
The cost is about £40 tops for a course.

If you are not happy with the effect, better than spending hundreds at the dentist, they can't do any better.
On that note, it is said that like a slowly developed tan lasts the longest, so does slow bleaching.

[*jobags*]

I had veneers done about 12 years ago (I've had some seriously expensive work done since then but nowt to do with my veneers)
My veneers are fantastic and have completely transformed my life - I cannot recommend them enough, if you can afford it then go for it

My teeth were very badly stained due to fags, red wine and tea. I used to talk to people with my hand over my mouth, sit in job interviews and answer questions without opening my mouth, yes, it is possible but not successful!

Since I had veneers my salary has doubled (over and above inflation) because I am a much more confident person and I have been able to be confident in job interviews, socially I am also a much more confident and outgoing person - OK - it's also to do with age but i would say if your teeth are holding you back socially and workwise then get them sorted.
It was the best investment I have ever made in myself.

I was fortuntate, I had mine done before cosmetic dentistry really took off and while I only paid £3,000 for 8 veneers on the top and 8 crowns on the bottom. I think replacement is going to be a lot more expensive.

My veneers are getting a bit long in the tooth now (couldn't resist that - sorry) but I will replace them once I start feeling a bit self conscious. The crowns are fine.
The whole process took about 3-4 weeks. It was awful at the time, going around with stumps instead of teeth but the end result was well worth it.

As I said, one of the best investments I ever made - didn't have them done in London though!

I have thought about going abroad. I have had (successful) IVF abroad so I'm not anti going abroad, but my teeth are too important, (and too public) to risk the unknown

I was in the USA earlier this year and saw some of the bleaching products in the chemists, I was temptd but if they're banned in the UK then it's probably for a good reason

Hope this helps

Jo

[tirednewdad]

Firstly, thank you for your response & well done on fatherhood! Hope you really enjoy it :)

How far off the top of the surface do you think teeth could be smoothened down? And would you recommend this treatment if it was necessary? It also just seems like it's too easy/simple to be true :o

Re the BriteSmile: Although my prime problem is with the stain (I have a horizontal, grey line going across the top teeth) they're also far from white, which I'm guessing is why I've been recommended the BS. One of the dentists I visited also said I have Fluorosis (sp), would that be a reversible thing?

Sorry for all the questions, but my dentist is away for the weekend now and I'm just trying to make sure I get the right treatment.

EDIT: I don't suppose your based in London and charge a decent rate for the aforementioned treatment? :p


Thankyou- very much enjoying fatherhood- can't recommend it enough to anyone.

AS i haven't seen you i cannot tell you how much needs to be smoothed off- sorry. As for whether it is truely neccessary- thats your decision. Is the treatment with the veneers necessary at all? Only you can really decide.

Fluorosis isn't reversable i'm afraid. Depends on how worried you are about it. Lots of people have it, without detrimental effect to thier teeth. Bleaching the teeth might partailly mask the flourosis and stain, although you still might see it afterwards.- results do vary. Requests that your dentist puts some 'seal and protect' on the stain/crack before bleaching starts as it will reduce sensitivity.

PLease ignore people advertising thier own buisness on these forums- you will notice that Toothsmith, Coldstream, Alison . myself and the other dental practices are particaularly vague about where we work. We never tout for work (probably cause we don't need to?).

Mutter- i will not shoot you down. Personally i would welcome the colgate whitening stips. They are a reasonable price, not quite as strong as the dentist based bleaching- but the long term results are good.- of course i have to add that the EU has not approved them for medical use and therefore are not recommended under EU law.:p

[schoolrunmum]

Mu husband has just finished having extensive dental work done in Budapest.He is very happy with the resuts so far, and the cost was 50% of the quotes in the UK. Can PM the name of the clinic if anyones interested..SRM.

[ry111]

I had mine done for free...................not sure if its a crown or a vaneer. had it when I was like 17 (thats why it was free) and now im 27 and its still there looking very natural.

[Cris2fer]

Hi MightyMen - any more news on your teeth. I've read with interest your posts

My regular dentist has suggested 2 veneers to correct 2 front teeth. One has a corner missing (side tooth) and another has a white patch on it. A third (front) is a 20yr old crown which doesnt have the same look as the other teeth

He sugegsted whitening first (although my teeth are quite white - I've also used home kits in the past) He said this would give an overall better look. That would cost £395

2 porceline veneers and a crown will cost a futher £1400

Has anyone had similiar costs quoted? does that sound right?

What questions should I be asking with regards to the quality of the veneers etc?

Thanks all.... this has been an interesting forum post from you all

Cris

[Toothsmith]

£4.95 for a guide that's basically going to say "Brush your teeth better", judging by the required items.

[Toto]

I have 6 veneers on my upper front teeth. I had them done purely for cosmetic reasons because I work in the music industry. To be honest I regret doing it. Firstly they have fallen off, usually every 6 months or so I have to go and have one or another re-fitted, most recently I have had 2 fall off within a space of 2 weeks. It's a pain.

My gums have never quite been the same since I had them done they bleed more and on one tooth the gum line is red and swollen. it's been 4 years since I've had them and despite numerous trips to more than one dentist and 3 monthly hygenist appointments my gums never seem to be right. I floss twice daily every day.

once you have veneers you are in for life. My teeth are just little stumps now, I was surprised at just how much tooth was removed, I thought it was a thin layer of veneer with a small amount shaved off the tooth, that's how it was sold to me. But the reality is different.

My number one tip for getting them done is research what you will be having and who will be making/fitting them. This isn't something to do on the cheap, get recommendations and ask lots of questions before you take the plunge. I didn't do any of this, I just had them done by my local family dentist. Although she is a very good dentist and I have no issue with her, she did say after the event that I was only the second person she had done veneers on.

[Toothsmith]

I have 6 veneers on my upper front teeth. I had them done purely for cosmetic reasons because I work in the music industry. To be honest I regret doing it. Firstly they have fallen off, usually every 6 months or so I have to go and have one or another re-fitted, most recently I have had 2 fall off within a space of 2 weeks. It's a pain.

My gums have never quite been the same since I had them done they bleed more and on one tooth the gum line is red and swollen. it's been 4 years since I've had them and despite numerous trips to more than one dentist and 3 monthly hygenist appointments my gums never seem to be right. I floss twice daily every day.

once you have veneers you are in for life. My teeth are just little stumps now, I was surprised at just how much tooth was removed, I thought it was a thin layer of veneer with a small amount shaved off the tooth, that's how it was sold to me. But the reality is different.

My number one tip for getting them done is research what you will be having and who will be making/fitting them. This isn't something to do on the cheap, get recommendations and ask lots of questions before you take the plunge. I didn't do any of this, I just had them done by my local family dentist. Although she is a very good dentist and I have no issue with her, she did say after the event that I was only the second person she had done veneers on.



A post everyone thinking of getting veneers should read.

Really - veneers should just be a small amount off the teeth, but it all depends on what result is expected.

If a lot needs to come off, full crowns might be more reliable, but getting healthy tooth whacked off to replace with porcelain is really very extreme.

ALWAYS at least consider orthodontics first.

[Sweetpeanut]

HI, I MYSELF HAVE 4 VENEERS, ON MY TOP FRONT, I GOT MY 1ST ONES FITTED WHEN I WAS 16YRS OLD, IVE HAD 3 SETS SINCE, AND IM 36 THIS YEAR:eek:, I WOULD RECOMMEND THEM, BUT IN MY EXPERIENCE BE PREPARED FOR SOME PAIN, I FIND MY TEETH ARE VERY SENSITIVE WHEN IVE HAD MINE REMOVED FOR NEW ONES, TO BEGIN WITH YOUR TEETH WILL BE FILED & SHAPED FOR AN IMPRESSION, YOU WILL HAVE TEMPORARY'S, THEN YOUR PROPER ONES NORMALLY TAKE A WEEK OR SO, GOING ON ARE FINE, DENTIST PUTS CEMENT ON TEETH & THEN PUTS A ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT,THAT HE SHINES ON YOUR TEETH, THEN ITS DONE & DUSTED:D, I DEFINATELY HAVE A PAIN WHEN IVE HAD THEM REMOVED, BUT I DON'T KNOW WETHER THAT JUST HAPPENS WHEN YOU'VE HAD THEM DONE A FEW TIMES, I WOULD DEFINATELY HAVE THEM DONE IN THIS COUNTRY THOUGH, THEN IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THEM SORTED QUICKLY, GOOD LUCK,:D

[fimonkey]

I thought I needed/wanted veneers to correct some wonkiness, but my orthodontist suggested braces instead. I didn't like the idea of train tracks so went for invisalign, and the results are awesome!..

PLus, the total cost was MUCH less than quoted on websites (2K for upper and lower. Treatment time upper = 30 weeks, lower = 50 weeks).

[the little one]

Hello - here's my story!

I slept walked when I was about 7yrs old and smashed my front top teeth in half when I fell off the end of the bed and hit the radiator on the wall!! (amazingly I didn't wake up!)

Anyway...I just had them patched up (bit like a filling) same colour as the tooth throughout my childhood and had become seriously self concious of it - you'll never see a childhood picture of me smiling! The nerve was removed in one tooth as I had broken off such an amount that the nerve was unprotected and over the years the tooth started to discolour. My NHS dentist always wanted me to wait until I was 18yrs to do something perminent. Then she went private and I couldn't afford it and didn't trust anyone else so carried on with a hidden smile.

I got to 26yr old, was asked to be my best friends bridesmaid and decided to get something done - as I was still very aware that my smile was more of a smirk.
To be honest people didn't notice at all and looking back they really weren't that bad but when you're a teenager and in early twenties it's the end of the world!

I went privately, cost about £1700 for 4 front teeth and its the BEST money I have spent in my life - it's given me so much confidence and I'm never short of a smile!!

It didn't hurt at all, it took a few appointments and quite a while sitting in the dentist chair but it was well worth it - the only bit that was uncomfortable was when I had my teeth whitened they were quite sensitive during the process.
They felt quite strange for the first day when they were on as I had gone a week with my teeth lightly filed (so the veneer will have a rough surface to stick to) but it soon felt normal.

I can't explain the feeling I had when I had a look at them for the first time - I cried, I was so happy!!

It's alot of money to part with I know but I should have done it a lot longer ago now I know how happy I am with my appearance!