Teeth: veneers

hethmar

lost, lots of dentists now specialise in cosmetic work. Have a google for dentists in your local towns/cities. In my local area there are at least a dozen who offer this sort of work including implants now.

I have to confess, I actually asked people who I saw with nice teeth where they went Embarrassing, but most people are really happy to tell you. After 2 said the same guy I went to him.

Now I get people asking me what dentist I have - lol.

I dont think youd necessarily get a better job in Harley street or somewhere - remember their overheads are going to be a lot higher than provincial surgeries and in fact those type of premises are often hired out by the day to surgeons, so there isnt really the security you imagine. There was a quite worrying thread on here recently about a cosmetic dentist in London who someone was visiting from a distance .........

Have a google for nearer dentists.

lostinrates

hethmar wrote: »

Have a google for nearer dentists.

DH is in London weekdays: as easy for me to be there, and be with someone who will be sweet about any pain/swollen facedness If it were otherwise, I'd go to a more local city.

hethmar

And please dont choose bright white crowns If he is a decent bloke he will match the ones you have done with your bottom teeth (assuming you are having just the top done like me). Mine arent whiter than white (which I think looks awful on people) but look natural and match my own teeth.

Toothsmith

I would say it's worth having the conversation with your dentist.

I am comfortable doing straight forward 'easy' cosmetic jobs. If a patient wants a particular result that is a bit more complex to achieve, then I refer to a specialist I know and trust in a nearby town.

Your dentist may well be fine doing what you want, but it would be better to get a referral from him if the job is more complicated than it would first appear. He does have a duty to inform you and refer you if he does feel the job is above his skill level.

hethmar

When I had my teeth prepared for the crowns it went on for so long I had to ask if I could have a break for a wee. The dentist said that was fine "but dont look in the mirror when you wash your hands" :eek: I didnt!

Toto

I know I've said this before on posts about veneers and I don't want to sound like the voice of doom, but, I bitterly regret having them.

I had 6 done on my upper teeth for no reason other than I work in the entertainment industry and wanted nice white straight teeth. Now I realise that I should have looked at braces and bleaching first. But, I went straight into having veneers and I really wish I could turn back the clock.

The problem is that my teeth are now little stumps with porcelain stuck on top. But, it doesn’t matter how many times I’m told the glue is strong, in my experience it’s anything but. I have a veneer fall off around once every 5 or 6 months, usually when I’m on holiday or somewhere really inconvenient. I doubt I’ll ever feel able to bite into an apple again while I have these things.

My gums have never been right since I had them put on either. I always had really healthy pink gums but they are redder and prone to bleeding now despite the fact I still floss properly twice a day at least. I even asked my dentist once if she would watch me floss to make sure I’m doing it right.

I find that I make food choices because I’m worried that once again I’ll have one of the stupid things fall off again. So I don’t eat anything which requires biting with my front teeth at all.

The biggest problem with these things is that you never realise how they will be until it’s too late. I’m in for life now, I can’t get my slightly wonky ivory coloured but perfectly healthy teeth back again. So my advice to everyone is to examine every other option before you go whacking your teeth down to stumps and only do it as a last resort.

hethmar

There was a programme on tv the other day about the after math of some of these makeover/cosmetic surgery programmes. One woman on there said after she had veneers on 10 years younger she was in agony for a year or more and had to have a lot more work done to them.

If you are going to have cosmetic dentistry I think that crowns are the better bet.(I still tuck into an apple, albeit it slightly wary )

lostinrates

Oh dear.

Toothsmith

hethmar wrote: »

If you are going to have cosmetic dentistry I think that crowns are the better bet.(I still tuck into an apple, albeit it slightly wary )

It's horses for courses.

Veneers are a lot less destructive than crowns, and so have more options for replacing them when they eventually fail.

Crowns might well last a bit longer, but when they fail, it's often a bigger mess than with veneers.

I always try an put patients off having anything done JUST for cosmetic reasons. It does do damage. And people who have abused themselves for years shouldn't suddenly get a gobful of dental bling (A la 10 years younger). They're just not ready for it.

But, saying crowns are better than veneers is a bit like saying cars are better than aeroplanes - it depends where you want to go!!

hethmar

Well you are the expert TS Its just from what Ive heard about veneers (sister was a dental nurse and put me off having them)