14 DAY TRIAL // They say nothing makes a more lasting impression than the closest thing to a perfect smile. Today, thanks to the advances in the dental world, having a mind-blowing smile is easily attainable by means of cosmetic dentistry. This means either getting the teeth professionally whitened or having veneers put in, but what the patients don’t know – and are never warned against – are the dangers of the latter procedure, doctors in the UK point out in a new piece in the Daily Mail.
What people do not understand, mainly because there is no one to tell them that, is that having veneers put in is a painful, very expensive, irreversible procedure, as well as that it can go so wrong, so many ways, that they will be forced to pay thousands of pounds/dollars throughout their entire life.
They are, instead, presented only the full half of the glass, and are somehow deceived into having the procedure done, because this segment of the industry is a very lucrative one.
“What many patients fail to appreciate is that although veneers can provide instant transformation, they are not like false nails which can be removed when you get tired of the look. Your teeth have to be shaved and stripped of enamel to accept the ceramic or porcelain veneers. If the veneers come off, chip or crack, the tooth has to be prepared again (more stripping of enamel) and another veneer bonded on. Unlike nails, tooth enamel does not regrow.” Anthony Halperin, chairman of the Patients’ Association, tells the Daily Mail about what getting veneers really means.
Halperin also warns that, while a veneer for one single tooth can cost anywhere between £350-£1,000, they last less than they’re advertised to (8 to 10 years out of the 12-15 advertised), their cost throughout the patient’s life continues to increase. Because they are often used for cosmetic reasons, they do not solve any tooth problems, and these can only become worse in time.
Moreover, veneers can cause nerve damage, which, in turn, can lead to tooth loss and decay, not to mention chronic pain and discomfort. All in all, it’s highly advised that patients think this through before heading to the first doctor’s office to get veneers put in.
“A huge proportion of my time is now spent as an expert witness for patients claiming compensation for the fact that they were not warned of the long-term implications of veneers.” Halperin adds. “The fundamental driving force is the desire to improve the look of the teeth, not to correct any dental problems. And in my experience, people are not routinely told that this is an invasive procedure that is permanent and non-reversible.” the doctor concludes by saying.