Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think people are ruining their teeth with veneers

179 replies

enterone · 04/04/2022 14:37

I keep seeing people going to Turkey for veneers where their teeth and filed down to tiny points and whiter than white 'teeth' are put in their place, not natural at all. I keep seeing things also saying these 'teeth' need replacing after x amount of years etc..

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Rosehugger · 04/04/2022 16:02

I had 4 veneers done at a private dentist (with insurance, though I still had to pay something towards it) on my front teeth and it made such a difference. One tooth in particular was discoloured from having fillings and one of my front tooth had been broken and filled. I hope I don't need them doing again. They look like good natural teeth, not brilliant white tombstones.

okayigetit · 04/04/2022 16:05

I went to my dentist about getting Invisalign, my teeth aren't bad but I can tell that the front two are crossing more than they used to so are obvs moving, he said I had 4 options, Invisalign, braces, veneers or do nothing, I have gone for Invisalign, I didn't want veneers and he said he wouldn't even do veneers on my teeth because they are so healthy

Carrotten · 04/04/2022 16:09

There is not a single dentist in Britain who would go to Turkey and get a full set of crowns. There's not a single dentist who would get a full set of crowns full stop tbh.

Yes it is ruining their teeth. Once the enamel is gone the enamel is gone, crowns have a shelf life and eventually that crown will need replacing and the tooth will end up in the bin. All crown preps risk devitilising the tooth, especially when using bulky cheap porcelain crowns as you have to remove more tooth tissue, and doing 32 there's a fairly high chance that at least one tooth will devitlise and need a root canal/extraction.

It is stupid because you will get problems and because you had the work done in Turkey you can't then see the person who did the work to sort it out. Have dealt with several patients whove had work done abroad and completely messed up their teeth for life. Their bite is wrong, they end up needing multiple root canals/extractions. Sometimes the crowns are bonded together so you can't floss or clean properly. The margins are poor and so irritate the gums leading to plaque build up and perio disease. Again plaque build up around the margins leads to secondary decay under the crowns. If you want to keep your teeth into your old age do not get a full set of crowns.

Private dental work costs what it does because that is what it costs to provide decent dental care. The lab bill for a decent, aesthetic crown is high and is a large proportion of the cost of a crown in the UK. £40 is not even going to cover your impression material.

Composite bonding will not ruin your teeth in the same way although still needs to be done carefully as there is still a risk of plaque build up and decay/gum disease around the margins if not smoothed. Bulky build ups again can lead to perio disease.

Carrotten · 04/04/2022 16:11

Veneers are much thinner than Turkey teeth and won't do so much damage, because they require very little prep. They are essentially like a false nail for the tooth. They are not as damaging, but you cannot do so much with veneers because they are made of thin brittle porcelain, they can be prone to chipping and if you try to hide too much they can end up looking dull and bulky.

Horcruxe · 04/04/2022 16:30

They look like horse teeth

MurmuratingStarling · 04/04/2022 16:32

100% agree @enterone But did you mean crowns? (Replacing all your teeth with crowns?)

Or are veneers just as bad?

Rosehugger · 04/04/2022 16:33

I thought crowns were called veneers if they are at the front?

earsup · 04/04/2022 16:39

@Rosehugger

I thought crowns were called veneers if they are at the front?
No...2 different procedures....veneer is a thin layer glued to front of tooth, crown is where tooth is filed down and a whole tooth glued on the spike left....crowns used when veneer not possible....last resort.
RestingPandaFace · 04/04/2022 16:40

@TempName01

This is Katie Price having hers done
Jesus wept, why would anyone do that to themselves.
RavenT · 04/04/2022 16:42

I had veneers put on my discoloured front teeth when I was in my teens, 30 years ago. One of them is now chipped and I've been advised to consider composite bonded veneers.

Both of these options are nothing like the teeth that Katie Price has I think!

NeedleNoodle3 · 04/04/2022 16:43

My DM had this process done about 13 years ago in Turkey, her teeth look fabulous. They did not look good before and she’s had no problems.

mistermagpie · 04/04/2022 16:46

@RincewindsHat

A lot of people are getting composite bonds now, you get super thin 'veneers' made out of the same stuff as white fillings, and they're glued on top of your existing teeth and will eventually come off with no damage at all to your teeth beneath. Best option if you hate your wonky teeth or want to fill gaps where Invisalign just won't do.
I've got composite on the bottom half of my front two teeth and you're right, it just sticks onto the existing tooth. They have fallen off a couple of times over the years but the existing tooth is fine underneath, there was no filing down or anything. It's a great solution.
HollaHolla · 04/04/2022 16:54

I had one veneer on a badly damaged front tooth, almost 30 years ago! The tooth itself eventually died, and I am considering implants (but in the UK) - in the meantime, I have a crown and fixed bridge, done by the same dentist I've gone to for almost 20 years.
I know it's cheaper to get Turkey Teeth, or on a holiday in Thailand, but I know that when I had problems, the dentist 4 miles down the road, who knows me, and my teeth, would sort it.

JudgeJ · 04/04/2022 17:13

@ThreeWiseWomen

We call them Turkish tombstones in this house. Grin
You omitted fluorescent, they're fluorescent tombstones, wherever they're done. I love reading criticism of people's teeth because they're not tombstones and Dulux white, no dear, they're natural tooth coloured. At one time only old people had false teeth, now it seems to be the norm .
TroysMammy · 04/04/2022 17:17

Some of them look so unnatural that they look like Bingo in the Banana Splits. Coupled with filled lips, not good look.

suckingonchillidogs · 04/04/2022 17:18

Sadly Katie P looks like she's wearing a blindingly white gum shield now

Beaconoflight · 04/04/2022 17:19

I have had mine done in London, I had the worst teeth because of fear of the dentist, I found an amazing human dentist and he changed my smile ! Before I had a gummy smile, small damaged teeth, holes everywhere…it was very expensive but worth it. I could never have gone to Turquey, too scared !

Crimesean · 04/04/2022 17:26

@BingoBungle

So many types of cosmetic dental treatment result in a charmless smile that makes you do an involuntary shudder, Uncanny Valley style. There are several dentists at DC’s school and they have terrible teeth exactly of the type you describe.

I hate Invisalign teeth too - especially where they’re all the same length and shape and far too long, like an ageing horse.

Um, I think you've misunderstood what Invisalign is. It's just see-through braces, where you replace the retainer every 2 weeks rather than get wires tightened.

They don't lengthen your teeth, or whiten them, or change their size at all - all they can do is straighten them.

SpeckledlyHen · 04/04/2022 17:33

I had 6 veneers put in about 8 years ago. I had them done in the UK by my private dentist. To be honest I did not read up enough on the process and the thought of my teeth being filed right down does make me feel sick - I just did not realise they would do this. (my own fault) - however the results are amazing. No one knows there are veneers, you can have them as white as you like but I went for a natural look that is the same as my own teeth. I had big gaps in my teeth and a discoloured tooth and came into a bit of money via an inheritance. So far I have not had any problems with them, although I have of course heard horror stories.

carefullycourageous · 04/04/2022 17:37

I have a badly damaged front tooth with a veneer, it has been brilliant. I wouldn't get them done for minor cosmetic issues as nothing is as good as real teeth but I would definitely get mine done again with hindsight.

It needs to be renewed now, but it has been twenty years.

I paid what felt like a lot at the time, no way would I be a dental tourist, I would rather pay more and be able to pop back for repairs/adjustments/corrections.

Mangogogogo · 04/04/2022 17:39

I think people are being a bit mean here. Some peope have them because they didn’t have another option. Most of my clients have them because previous drug dependency killed their teeth. Or an ex partner smashed them up. Hearing people say ‘horse teeth’ and stuff is awful, and I hope noone reading is in that position. Why can’t we just be kind?

dustydriver · 04/04/2022 17:43

I've never heard of composite bonding before and have one badly discoloured dead tooth. Would they be suitable for something like that? The rest of my teeth are quite yellow as well but very sensitive so I've not looked at bleaching.

Beautiful3 · 04/04/2022 17:44

My hairdressers niece paid thousands to have hers done, then 18 months later they started to fall off. The dentist moved away, so she ended up paying another dentist for another set of veneers. It was all a hot expensive mess.

BingoBungle · 04/04/2022 17:47

@Crimesean I know what Invisalign is, and what it’s supposed to do, but I think people - perhaps on the self-interested advice of their dentist - never know when to stop. Invisalign gives you absurdly uniform teeth, and the peculiar straight edge to every tooth that is the composite finishing gives that horrible equine look, especially when the teeth are augmented too far. As a PP said, it loses the natural character of an individual smile.

SausagePourHomme · 04/04/2022 17:50

@Mangogogogo

I think people are being a bit mean here. Some peope have them because they didn’t have another option. Most of my clients have them because previous drug dependency killed their teeth. Or an ex partner smashed them up. Hearing people say ‘horse teeth’ and stuff is awful, and I hope noone reading is in that position. Why can’t we just be kind?
quite agree

is it really so bad to want nice straight white teeth? it can be really transformative. If you're trying to move on from a bad time that's caused damage to your teeth it could be a huge deal.