Tooth veneers

[z1rconia]

I would really like to have these. Has anyone had a successfull experience of them?
I've seen Katie Price,and Miriam Stoppard,drooling spittle, after they've had them. Presuming that they both had extremely top-of-the-range dentists,is this what happens generally?

[Larold]

Al I can say is be prepared for constant problems if you have them done!

I have veneers on my six teeth upper front teeth and they have been nothing but trouble. They are ALWAYS falling off and have to be restuck and because they have been restuck sooooo many times they don't match any more.

Nightmare!!!! :(

[z1rconia]

Oh! Thanks for commenting. I did wonder why people that have spent £0000's,still seem to have problems.

[TattyDevine]

I don't have any experience of them. And I think like most things there are good and bad practitioners and therefore good and bad results.

But I do know they have to do a fair bit of filing down and that they have to be replaced every few years (10 years? 15 years? I daresay it comes around quickly). So you need to have "not a lot to lose" to risk them, possibly...don't do them because you "seek perfection", do them because you "really need to"...type thing.

[mepsopie]

Hi. I'm a dentist and I'm so glad you said that about Katie Price. I think her veneers have been done really badly. I saw the episodes where she was having them done. She was sedated. I'm sorry but the preparation of teeth for veneers should be minimal as they should be bonded to enamel so there should be no need for sedation, sometimes no need for anaesthetic.

Question is: why do you want them? Is it to straighten teeth - you'd be better with invisalign. Is it to change colour? You'd be better with bleaching. Are they very heavily filled? In which case crowns would probably be a better option. I have only 3 patients who I have done veneers on 6 front teeth and these were really carefully assessed, but there are many other options now so I would explore all angles. Also, yes life span of veneers in the literature is 10 years max.

[Larold]

You are right Tatty the teeth have to be filed down and the veneer fitted on top. You do lose a lot of the tooth surface -so when the veneer falls off the tooth underneath looks all stumpy and discoloured.

I am stuck with them now but would strongly advise against them if you have healthy teeth that look ok.

I didn't have much choice as my teeth were ruined in childhood by an allergy to penicillin.

JUST DONT BOTHER if you don't have to,

[K999]

Gosh I would love veneers so am watching this thread. My mum just had her teeth done - they're like veneers but called something different. Can't think of the name though? but it cost her nearly £10k

[z1rconia]

Mepsopie and Larold,I was overdosed on Tetracycline as a child,which wrecked the enamel on my teeth. I've had acrylic veneers for years,but I'd like permanent porcelaine. I know that they're going to cost a fortune. I started to have doubts when I saw people in the public eye,dribbling.

[TattyDevine]

zIrconia, there is probably a better practitioner for you than they had.

Believe it or not!

K999 was it "titanium implants"? My mum had them, for proper medical/dental reasons (though at a cost!)...they are the creame de la creme of "false teeth" so to speak. She went for a "natural" look, I remember going at her not having them whiter but to be fair they matched the rest of her teeth and she's not a "bling" person bless her. (good thing)

[TattyDevine]

I was 20 at the time so well and truly into "bling"

[wicketkeeper]

I've had a veneer on one of my top front teeth for at least 15 years, following root canal work. I've never had a moment's trouble with it. If I remember rightly, it cost me £150, and they said it would last about 10 years.

[mepsopie]

If you already have acrylic veneers then you don't have much choice other than to go for porcelain, they have just launched Componeers. I would investigate Lumineers, componeers, Lava and empress. There is no reason why you should not get a good result.

[K999]

It was Lumineers!

[thestringpeople]

I had them done at Dentics in Kensington. The results were amazing the best £2,500 I have ever spent.

I was told they would last approx 15 years. 13 years and two pregnancies later I am having a few issues. If I had a spare couple of grand I could get them redone but I don't, so I am having to have them patched up on the NHS (not great).

If you can afford it I would go for it. It really is amazing the difference they can make.

[Grumpystiltskin]

I'm also a dentist, I had a veneer placed 12 years ago and now another veneer and two crowns later (as veneers are generally pretty difficult to get right and aren't all that tbh, and this equates to 3 years per restoration) I wish I hadn't bothered. If I (with free specialist care and laboratory technicians and all the time in the world) can't get a perfect replacement, honestly, what chance does the man (or mumsnetter) on the Clapham omnibus have?

In the majority of circumstances, the best thing that you can have in your mouth is what nature gave you. We can warn you off the quick cosmetic fix until we are blue in the face but please, get a second opinion.

[z1rconia]

Thanks all! I've had acrylic for about 30 years. I've always had to have them 'shaved' to be replaced. I began to think that there'd be nothing left to bond to. Hence wanting opinions on the alternatives. I'll definately have a look at a few now. Thanks all!

[K999]

Oh, think I'll re-think now. Damn, I really would like my teeth to look nice as well. Not shiny white and straight just enough to make me feel confident about them. Would love to be able to smile properly!

[z1rconia]

No Cowell-white for me either!

[sprinkles77]

i'm Also a dentist. Veneers in the right hands can look wonderful and last years. However there are so many complicating factors that many people are disappointed. They require varying degrees of tooth trimming, depending on what you have to start off with and the desired result.

In the majority of circumstances, the best thing that you can have in your mouth is what nature gave you. We can warn you off the quick cosmetic fix until we are blue in the face but please, get a second opinion.
couldn't put it better myself.

There are so many different options and a good dentist should discuss them all. If only one option is mentioned, something has probably been omitted. For all problems there are usually at least 2 options...1 try to correct it. 2. Don't!

Depending on what it is that concerns you about the appearance of your teeth, a combination of orthodontics (conventional, "invisible" or aligners), home whitening and replacement of discoloured restorations, can give lovely results with relatively little intervention, risk, cost and long term maintenance.

[K999]

I bought a tooth whitening kit from my dentist after some work. It cost £250 but I had to stop using it as it was causing real sensitivity and pain. I was gutted.

[Willabywallaby]

Nothing to add really, just wanted to say I'm also a dentist!! I don't normally come on Style and Beauty.

I have a patient who has 6 veneers and needs one replacing. I'm not one of those dentist who loves to hack about at the teeth so am cautious of veneers and she's had these 20 years plus. She would get the best result if she had all 6 done, but she's on denplan so since 5 would be for only cosmetic reasons she'll be a little put off.

My understanding is you have to get the laboratory work spot on. You don't need a 'London dentist', just one who's done some work you like and their research.

But what nature gave you is always works better. Katie Price's are awful.

[thestringpeople]

The cosmetic dentist that did my veneers advised me against having them. He said that what he would be doing was essentially hacking my perfectly healthy teeth and filing them into stubbs and then placing a veneer over them.

I still don't regret it for a minute. I spent 25 years not being able to smile, not feeling confident enough to speak in public and having the odd mean person ask why I had strange teeth.

Having veneers meant that I had one less thing to worry about, I ended up doing a job that I could never of dreamt about in a million years and I felt that people were no longer judging me on my looks.

[Pudden]

I had my veneers done in 1991 and they still look good and as natural as my 'normal' teeth. Never had any problems with them and didn't need any anaesthetic whilst having them fitted. They replaced ones an over enthusiastic fitted a few years earlier
However if I could go back in time I would not have had them fitted as three of them were over healthy teeth- one over a filled front tooth. I would have gone for a crown instead.

[RosinaCopper]

I had veneers done to correct a (cosmetic) problem I'd had since childhood. I much prefer the look of them, although still feel self conscious about smiling with my teeth showing, even now 8 years later. The teeth are a bit sensitive and I dread to think what the stumps under the veneers look like. Not sure what I'll do when these wear out - possibly go for the titanium implant things (I'd better start saving!)

I was a bit worried that I'd have them done and then wish I hadn't, but I have to say on balance that I'm happier with them than without. Mine were £360 per tooth, I think.

[Loshad]

I had major dental problems, broken front tooth, all teeth discoloured and small due to tetracycline as a child, 2 missing teeth etc, and i have had a series of crowns on the NHS (still quite a bit of money). We deliberately didn't go for ultra white brite so the result looks natural. I can honestly say i am delighted with the result. i was really embarassed about my mouth before and now can smile happily and talk without embarassment. My dentist recommended agaisnt veneers, said they were troublesome, and i know a couple of friends who have had problems with theirs - like them all falling off during a skiiing holiday .
My dad has had some implants odne but they were about £2000/tooth!!

[fluffiphlox]

I have had (the same) veneers since 1988 and they have been great. I avoid biting into apples etc. The dentist has said that when they go, they will need replacing with crowns but I will cross that bridge (haha) when I come to it