About Me – Why I had Veneers

After years and years of hating my teeth and dreaming of having a proper smile  like everyone else, I am now in the process of getting a set of veneers. I have decided to write a blog as I go through the veneers process for the benefit of other people, as I found it difficult to get accurate information or any real insight before I signed up. I didn’t really know what to expect.

I started suffering from fluorosis at the age of about 8 due to living in a high fluoride area. This left me with brilliantly white teeth in places, with patchy yellow areas and sporadic eroded enamel in others – particularly my front two teeth.  I also have a crossbite:  one of my top canines sits behind the bottom row of teeth, so the top row always had a dark gap where one of teeth was recessed.

I spent my teenage years developing a special way to talk and smile that hid my teeth as best I could. I rarely smiled in photographs unless the camera was a certain distance away which hid the discolouration. I tended to pout a lot as a disguise and always covered my teeth when I laughed. I have been convinced that  everyone is judging me based on my less than perfect teeth – which in reality, they are probably not – but you can’t always change the way you feel.

If someone even brought up teeth or smiles in conversation I was convinced it was a sly dig at me. I would become uneasy and change the subject in case anyone commented on my teeth. I have hated social situations or meeting new people ever since I can remember because I have been crippled with self-confidence over my teeth. I have masked this by being overtly loud and confrontational, so no one would dream to comment on my teeth for fear of the retribution I would unleash on them. People with perfect teeth will never understand this, but I know many people will probably relate to this.

First I tried professional teeth bleaching from my dentist. This was a 5 day treatment for about £150. It used gum shields and a syringe full of, basically, peroxide. You filled the gum shields with the peroxide and slept with them overnight. The pain from this was unbelievable. I managed about 3 days and gave up. Due to the fluorosis, it was always going to have a poor results. The white areas became neon white and the yellow areas lifted slightly, but it was still contrasting in colour. For anyone with general discolouration issues – this would be a good starting place. It is not ideal for anyone suffering from fluorosis though and is particularly painful due to the eroded enamel that we suffer from.

Example of teeth whitening kit. Not the exact one I used:

About 12 months ago I was brought to tears after seeing  a photo of myself in my company magazine with my full smile on display for everyone to see. It was like being caught naked and it was that which spurred me to actively seek professional help for my teeth.

I started by researching before and after smiles on google, people such a Cheryl Cole, Tom Cruise, Martine McCutcheon, Carol Vorderman to see what a difference it would make. I have added a gallery of celebrities with veneers in the top menu.

I spent months searching for the right dentist online and finally found one, in Haverstock Hill, London. I believed this was the right place for me after all the rave reviews and magazine articles I had read, in addition to their impressive resume. The clinic had clients such as Gordon Brown and Carol Vorderman, I thought this would be a pretty good indication of the standard I would receive.

Making the first appointment was nerve-racking and very emotional. For anyone who has truly hated their teeth, the first appointment is the hardest. It is like going to a counsellor and telling them your very darkest secret. I booked a 10 minute free consultation to discuss the feasibility of getting veneers, to see what/ how many would be required and get a quote.

The dentist was very friendly and asked me several non teeth related questions just to get me talking and view my mouth properly. The hygenist was also in the room and this made me very uncomfortable. After 28 years of hating my teeth and never talking about them,I then had to open up in front of two strangers. This felt very embarrassing and emotional. If I could go back in time, I would ask to do the first session privately with just the dentist present, to put me a little more at ease.

The dentist told me I would need 9 veneers at the top and one crown where I had previously had a root canal treatment. Then whitening on the bottom row to match up. I was quoted £1,200 per tooth plus all the extra costs taking it to about £14,000. I advised I would not be able to afford this and asked if there was room for negotiation. The dentist offered me a deal of £9,00 for all 10 teeth, the whitening, impressions and temporaries. This seemed a good deal for such a reputable dentist. I asked how he would deal with my cross-bite (a top tooth that sits behind the bottom row), he said it wouldn’t be a problem and he had dealt with them before.

Although the dentist was very friendly and professional, I felt a bit rushed. It was a case of lying on the chair, being told I needed 10 new teeth and then signing up to £9,000 finance without any real understanding, information or plan about what was going to happen. I felt uneasy. What I really wanted was someone to spend some time with me, sit down and tell me exactly what to expect. What the new teeth would be like, look like, how they would feel, exactly how they were going to deal with my cross bite etc. I sat on the decision for several months and eventually didn’t go through with it. It just didn’t sit right with me.

I began looking for a new dentist. I came across Lumineers and other ‘snap on’ teeth. I watched a video of Tina Malone on You Tube getting veneers from The Hospital Group among other videos. I thought this might be the way forward as they claimed to do minimal – if no- prep for them.

I also came across another dentist in London who seemed very thorough and got excellent feedback from the patients. I got in contact with the London clinic after reading every single article, feedback and ‘before and after’ picture I could find. I booked a consultation.

I have chronicled my experience from the initial consultation

Click here to read: My experience

Hopefully this will answer some questions for other people. At the very least it has been quite cathartic for me to write it all down!

 

 

 

 

 

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110 thoughts on “About Me – Why I had Veneers”

  1. Hi

    Thankyou so much for doing the blog it was really useful.
    can you email me the actual name of the dentist who did your veeners,
    They look great.

    Also would love a update on how they are going, like have you got any sencitavity still.

    frankie00@hotmail.co.uk

    A big thank you in advance

  2. Hi,

    this is a really useful and insightful story of you getting veneers. Thank you. I have had a consultation and due to get treatment in a few weeks in the States but am now getting nervous because I am not sure I have fully explored the negative consequences of getting veneers as am so focused on ‘fixing’ the problem (which is entirely aesthetical and a true vanity project). So your story is really useful. I am certainly now thinking that given one may need follow up treatment it would be better in the long run to find a dentist in London. are you able to share the name of your dentist? word of mouth is such a helpful tool in researching dentists! my email: andreamd80@gmail.com

    Thanks a lot.

  3. Hi, your smile looks fantastic! could you please tell me which clinic in London you went for your veneers? I am trying to find a good one…but its so hard because they all look good and professional! Thanks

  4. I’m British but live in Malta and looking to get veneers for which I would fly back to the UK. Please advise which clinic performed your work as I too want to keep the natural shape of my teeth and most dentists seem to want to give me gravestones!
    I really appreciate that you took the time to create this blog – it’s always comforting to read someone else’s experience especially when dentists tend to downplay the pain/discomfort.

  5. Hello, i found your blog related with my experience of having veneers put in last year- i found the experience traumatic, and still regret it.I had my treatment at a london clinic and probably should have done more research. It probably comes down to where you had your treatment, and how the dentist treated you. One year on, and i still havn’t got used to the change in my mouth.
    I havn’t even gone back to the dentist for follow-up appointments as the trauma is too much. The veneers affected my speech and my bite, and am not looking forward to the future when they have to be redone. I’m so pleased you had a great outcome in the end, and would appreciate it if you could forward me details of where you had your treatment as i’d like some reassurance to put this matter to rest. I want to thankyou for your blog as i felt there wasn’t anyone else who could understand how each stage felt and how it can affect your life, so reading it was a consolation.

  7. oh my God i am actually suffering from this…only i have a chipped tooth ..this makes me so insecure and i have been dreaming of the day i would get veneers..hopefully when i save enough money i will get one..thank you so much for posting this! and congrats

  8. Thank you so much for this blog, I just got my two front teeth done, I had one mishapen and one was perfectly fine. I had braces done several years ago which didnt do much for one of my teeth. After straightening them one was grinded down and mishapen due to my grinding my teeth. I had spoken to two dentists about fixing the one but they pretty much dismissed any other option and suggested that I have veneers done on both teeth. I just had it done this January, I now have an infection on one of them and have to go back for a root canal. I’ve been so depressed, after all I had been insecure all my life because of my crooked front teeth and now this. I did some research before I decided but have to admit that I didnt do enough…now I am reading nothing but depressing stories which were making me regret my decision. However, after reading this blog..it’s like a ray of sunshine…things don’t always go horribly wrong. Your smile looks awesome…and it’s certainly helpful to know what to eat and what not to eat and drink. I am smiling with more confidence though and I will just have to learn to live with my new teeth and be extra careful rather than live in regret.

    • Hi. Thanks for your post, it sounds like you’ve had a rough time! Sorry about your root canal, those are never much fun. If you want the name of my dentist for some impartial advice I can PM you (although you may not be in the UK). Good luck, hope you get fixed up.

    • Hi. I think there are some quick same day turn around services so you dont need to have temp veneers, I can’t advise whether this is a good option or not as I dont know enough about it, or who specifically does them. I think from what Ive read, that these usually sit OVER the top of your existing teeth (I think one brand is called Lumineers??) – so they actually feel bigger in your mouth. You should do some good research before diving in to these and look for reviews and feedback in forums from people who’ve had them. The veneers I had were made in Italy and so my impressions were sent off and it took 2 weeks to have these made and sent back to London. I would advise going to the best place for you, which may not neccessarily be the quickest. Regards before pics, under the My Experience drop down there is a page called ‘Before and After’ which contains pics. I can’t even look at them, they make me cringe 😉 Thanks

  10. Hi, how long your dentist say it will last? I researched and found that average time is 10 years and maximum is 20 years. This freak me out because i wonder how many times i will need to replace them. I will not think twice if i am in 40’s but i am 26. I read each time it’s need to be replaced, the dentist need to file down a little part of the real teeth. Is this true? Why can’t they clean the glue without the need to file down again T_T

    • Hi Ely. As far as I am aware with my dentist anyway they last for about 15 years. I know my dentist started doing veneers about 15 ago and hasn’t had to redo anyone’s yet, but I suppose anyone getting veneers needs to factor this in: replacement or some kind of upkeep after 15 -20 years.

      Thinking about this part of the process I suppose it really depends how unhappy you are with your current teeth. I was so miserable with mine that if I had to redo them every 10 years, but they look like they do now, I would do it. But then I hated my old teeth. If your teeth aren’t that bad then maybe it would be best not to make that commitment. From my experience and speaking to others, I know those who truly hate their teeth will take the upkeep any day in order to get rid of what they have. Hopefully yours aren’t that bad and you can learn to live with them.

      With regards to the filing down, I think this process has had a lot of inaccurate press, where people think the original teeth are filed down in to pegs. This is not the case. They only file off as much thickness as the new veneer. This is less than the thickness of an eggshell.

      Personally, I have no idea about whether they would need to file down each time, but I imagine if they did it would be minimal. The filing in the first place is basically to make sure that when the new veneer is bonded on the old tooth, it is still only the same thickness as it was before. If you bond the veneers on to your existing tooth it would feel bulky.

      Maybe you should book an appointment with a veneers specialist to have a chat about your concerns so they can give you the correct info, before you look in to anything further. There are a few very good places in London or I can private message you the details of where I went if you’re struggling to find somewhere. Then you can make an informed decision – maybe you don’t need veneers at all and they can suggest something else.

  11. Hi, great blog, thank you for all the helpful advice. Having researched lots of dentists and types of veneers i’m finding it difficult to know which cosmetic dentist is good or reputable. Could you tell me the name of your dentist and where you got your treatment done? Thank you.

  12. Hi. Three years ago I had 8 upper teeth in the front veneered. My dentist said he had studied this extensively and that veneers last for life. He had been my dentist for over 20 years. He always seemed careful, cautious and I liked his work and approach. I trusted what he said. I have had 3 veneers fall off in this time. Since the first 2 fell off I haven’t bitten down on anything. That didn’t seem to matter as a front tooth veneer has fallen off. This veneer experience is an emotional and financial nightmare. Meanwhile I have moved and have found a dentist I trust. Though I don’t trust the lasting ness of veneers. The last veneer fell of on a holiday just a few hours before we were having a cookout with a lot of friends. Every day, every where I go locally and on vacation I wonder if I will lose a veneer. Needless to say I would now have preferred to keep my old smile even though I didn’t like it. Some of my friends have said they miss my old smile even though it was quite flawed.

    • Hi Tina. I’m really sorry to hear about your experience, that sounds dreadful. I think your original dentist telling you that the veneers would last forever was misleading as no dentist can predict this. They are generally thought to have a lifespan of about 15 years. People need to go in to veneers with caution but also reseearch the dentist and their work extensively before committing. The dentist I chose had masses of press write ups, hundreds of before and after pictures, written testimonials from patients and extensive medical accreditation. Without this, I wouldn’t had gone near him – or any other dentist. It just isn’t worth the risk.

      I hope you get your problem sorted and can live life without the constant dread you are feeling now. Good luck.

  13. HI. thanks so much for this blog. Ive had my temps for about 6 days and am going back this coming week for a checkup. I have some questions that im wondering if you may know the answer.
    1.)I thought it was just me, but did your temps feel thicker than what the actual veneers with be? It feels like
    2.)Were the length of your temps, the same length as your final veneers? is it too late to ask about making them slightly shorter in length? i feel as if my temps are really long, but that may be that im not used to “normal” sized teeth, however, i wish they were a millimeter shorter.

    • Hi Mike. Thanks for your comment. In response to your questions:

      1. Temps def did feel thicker. Thicker, rougher, horrid composite. Plus they are smothered in bonding agent so even if this is a hairs width, it will still feel a lot bigger in your mouth. The final veneers (mine at least) felt the same as my old teeth, but slicker, like glass.

      2. The temps were pretty much the same length as my final veneers. My final veneers look longer and more ‘aesthetically pleasing’ because I had gum reshaping at the same time as my final veneers. So more of the tooth in my gum area is visible, making them appear longer, but they are actually not physically longer in my mouth.

      You can ask for them to be adjusted in length and shape once they have been fitted. I had quite a lot off of mine to make them sit right with my bottom teeth (not in length specifically) but this can be done.

      Definitely go back to your dentist to discuss.

      Hope everything works out for you.

  14. Thanks for writing the blog! I wish I had found it a bit earlier, as I just had major work done on my uppers and had all my fronts done. (NOTE: I needed lots of work, so this wasn’t just cosmetic and some are crowns too). However, the aesthetic process started out absolutely terrible, and did not turn out at all like I thought it would. First, I chose a shade that was just too white, BL2s which are not as bright as they could have been but still too noticeable, I think. Second, the day the veneers were put on, I felt like they rushed it; they looked great with the temp glue in, but when the final was complete, two of the teeth were lower than the rest and rolled a bit. Needless to say, I was horrified that they didn’t turn out like I wanted. Overall, my teeth looked too big and too bright and totally fake. See Flickerman from the hunger games!

    Now, I will say that the shade was my choice and the dentist did try and talk me down a shade or two. I am not sure I would have listened to any dentist, b/c I wanted them white! I am just so very thankful I didn’t get the brightest color! As for the shape of the teeth, I started looking around at everyone I knew and many actors and actresses, and I noticed that most of them did not have a perfect smile (although it might appear that way until closer inspection) and that a lot of them had what I call “character” in their teeth. That said, I decided that it was an excellent opportunity for my dentist to shape my teeth and give me “character” too. FYI, he could do that b/c the teeth I chose were a bit big (Again, see Fickerman). Luckily, I know Photoshop well and was able to take a photoshopped image of myself into the office and show him how I wanted the teeth to be re-shaped. He gladly did it by shortening the eye teeth and k-9s and he added some grooves to a couple of the teeth to make them look more realistic; it looks much better! They look like real teeth that are really white. He said that he would gladly continue shaping them if I wanted more, but I think I am very happy with the final “shape” result (might have one k-9 shaved a hair more, though). It’s just the color that bothers me, but that is my fault, and I will just have to live with Simon Cowell white teeth.

    I will soon have my bottoms done to match the top, but I think I might have him overlap or roll a couple of them to make them look real…not sure yet. Also, for anyone who reads this, I forgot to mention my dentist did not add translucency into the tips of my uppers, so it is very important to me that he do that to my lowers to make them look more real. Also, by NOT adding translucency into my uppers (which make teeth look real) led to the reason I needed to get them re-shaped to have “character” in order to offset the bright white color. Not everyone is going for the “real” look, and I understand that, but people do need to know that the “toilet bowl” opaque white teeth can sometimes make one look really fake.

    The moral of the story to anyone who needs/wants work done…DO YOUR RESEARCH, find the RIGHT dentist, and know what you want and the processes to make that happen before your start this path. Reading this blog thoroughly is a great start!!!

    Again, thanks for your blog! I wish I had found it sooner, but will gladly direct anyone I know to read it before they begin this process.

    • Hi Bryan. Sounds like you’ve gone through the mill a bit. A very good point about opacity and translucency, it really does make a difference. Hope your bottom ones end up as you want them. Take care.

  18. Hi,

    Nice blog–very thorough and detailed.

    I can relate to you about hiding your smile and the sheer embarrassment that arose every time a conversation about teeth started. Ever since I was in my teens I became self-concious about my crooked teeth. I always wanted to get orthodontic work but the cost made it nigh on impossible.

    It wasn’t until 18 months ago I finally bit the bullet and had braces fitted. There is still a tiny bit of work to be done but the happiness and confidence I now have is priceless. I’m so close to getting them off and having them whitened that I can hardly wait. It is the best thing I have ever done.

    I’ve gone from liking my teeth on a scale of about 2/10 to around 8/10. I am considering some veneers later on but not sure if I really need them as my natural teeth are very healthy and now almost perfectly straight (they will never be 100% perfect naturally).

    Oh, and your teeth are beautiful! If anyone is considering fixing their teeth I think your story will appease any angst or doubt that people may have.

  19. Hello, I’m currently choosing a dentist for my veneers… Could you message me the name of your dentist. I’m in London too. As everyone’s already said your teeth look beautiful. Thanks for all the great advice.

  21. Great blog, which will help lots of people.

    Results are great. How have you been since? Can you email me the name of the dentist you used?

    Thanks in advance

    • Hi. Thanks for the message. I’ve been totally fine since having them fitted, took a bit of getting used to and sometimes got a bit of sensitivity between my bottom teeth (I think because some are dual nerved – on me – unlike my top teeth which are not) but I haven’t had any pain, they’ve stayed on with no movement or speech issues and they look great! Can’t ask for much more than that I guess! I have PMd you the details you requested.

  22. Fantastic blog, thank you so much for sharing your experience !!! It has definitely motivated me as I have been thinking of getting veneers for quite some time now,
    If it’s not too much troubles I would be very grateful if you could share the practice name and the name of the dentist as well, many thanks xxx

  23. Hi! Great info. Had veneers years ago and need replacing now w discolouration. What tooth shade did you choose? They look healthy and white, without being too too white. Would love to hear as choosing the right shade is tricky.

    • Hi. I had the third whitest, i think that is b3 but not sure, basically, third from the brightest white. Sorry to hear you are having to have your redone. I hope you get the teeth you want.

  24. What an interesting blog you’ve written. Could I, too, ask for the details of your dentist? I visited one today – via a Guardian recommendation – and it’s been decided that I need teeth straightening first. I’d welcome a second opinion. Thanks for such a helpful resource.

  25. It’s brave of you to go through this process, and to share it with us. You’ve got some great insights so far, and I hope you keep it up. Our dentist in venice beach did veneers for my dad, and he was extremely happy with them.

  26. Hi – I am thinking of getting veneers but went to see a dentist and he was very off putting which has scared me off the idea. After reading your blog I feel like I know a lot more about the process and am more confident about going ahead. Please could you let me know what dentist you used? Thanks x

  27. Hello.

    Thank you so much for your blog! I had my front four veneers done 10 months ago and reading your blog has made me feel more at peace with what I experienced, before I felt like I had been invaded and maybe I hadn’t been treated correctly but reading you going through the same has made me feel better knowing that what I went through was normal… Also I have experienced popping/shifts with my veneers which at first made my whole body turn and I was nearly in tears worrying they would fall out or pop off so its a great comfort that other people have commented experiencing the same thing and again this is considered normal 🙂 for 10 months I have had a lot of anxiety even though I love my veneers so I’m very pleased to feel comforted by this blog and the people commenting 🙂

    Just out of interest could you email the name of your dentist please?

    Thank you x

  29. Hi, great blog and your teeth look great. Would also love to know the name of the dentist you chose, sorry I know you’ve been asked this a million times already!

  31. Your teeth look amazing i relate to your before story so much as I am paranoid to smile. Please share who your dentist was. Many thanks

  32. Thank you for sharing your experience. I would really love to know who your dentist is as I am looking to start the veneer process. Thanks

  33. Hello, great blog!! I am in the UK, could you please email me your dentists details? peripeymani@gmail.com is my email address. Thank you!
    Ps. you should maybe look into showing your dentist your blog, it seems like you have referred quite a few people 🙂

    • Hi there. I have PMd you the details. My dentist has seen the blog… Wasn’t too happy at first but I’m sure they must be getting some extra work out of me now!!

  36. Hey, fantastic blog ! I am just about to undergo this but could you let me know which cosmetic dentist you used ? Thanks 🙂

  39. Hello!

    I hope you still check this blog site.
    Your blog is amazing… I am blown away by your detailed and honest description of your experience. Thank you so very much for the info. I would really like to know if are still happy with your decision to get Veneers.

    I don’t have any where near the finances to invest in this type of procedure… but, I am starting to do research to see what it all entails.

    Mostly, for the time being, I would like to know if you are still happy with your decision. I ask… because I am, LITERALLY, terrified of doing anything permanent to my teeth… such as filing them down. I am afraid that the sensation will never go away and that it will always be uncomfortable.

    The problem with my teeth is that there is very little enamel left. I don’t know if it is my fault for eating foods with a lot of acid or if it is hereditary. But I am so embarrassed by how they look. I don’t even smile anymore without covering my mouth… forget about photos.

    Anyway, I am also technically challenged so I don’t know how to send you a private note. If you have any extra insight you can give me I would be so grateful. Thank you for your time.
    Elizabeth

  40. Thank you very much. Your blog is so useful. Please can you let me know where in London you had your veneers done? My email is arohtelp5@hotmail.com I have done a lot of research but would like to go to a dentist that has been recommended by somebody else. Happy smiling!

  41. Hi
    I am motivated by your story.
    Could I please ask you to send me email about the
    dentists details?
    And where in exact do your dentist buy the veneers?
    Thank you so much 🙂

  43. Hi, what a fantastic blog! I’m setting up a new beauty website and would love to run an extract (with link back to your site of course). Not sure of blogging etiquette (I’m a print journalist by day), but if you’re interested, please message me. Thanks!

  44. You are a very fine writer, thank you for this informative blog. I will be getting my temporaries ….sigh of relief …..taken off this week and the final veneers put on. I find myself constantly thinking of my teeth, I will be so very thankful when this is over and I have a lovely smile. Thank you again, you have helped many people with your blog!

  45. Hi, can you please suggest the shade of your final veneers? As my temps look as yellow as yours but I am not sure which colour to go for as others may appear “too white”. Thank you!

  46. Hi there, I loved your blog post, I have been for 1 consultation in London however I didn’t feel they were right for me, would you mind giving me the details of your Dentist? Many Thanks –

  47. Hi, I just want to praise you for starting this blog! You have been a great help to me through this harrowing process! I just got my temps yesterday and I can’t remember the last time I felt so panicky and unhappy. I’ve been utterly depressed, sobbing, and it’s day two. I have no pain, just shock and discomfort over how different I look. I didn’t hate how I looked before I just wanted to fix the areas where my teeth were missing and destroyed. This is so hard.

    I would have never gotten veneers if I was born with a full set that weren’t shaved down a little bit (very little bit, it was only very noticeable to me because they destroyed my original front teeth — slightly, but ruined my smile, especially from the side) by a different dentist years ago. I never had incisors, so I’ve always had gaps between my teeth that were only made worse by the partial surface shaving to prepare for veneers 7 years ago. My teeth weren’t horrendous they just were not very nice and not even my original teeth anymore, so I’ve been wanting this for a while.

    So far I go from regret for betraying my face (I have a tiny face and naturally fairly small teeth) with slightly larger front teeth to help close the gaps a bit to thinking this is something I’ve wanted and praying I will like the final veneers a ton more. Is it normal to hate and regret this whole thing after getting temps? This process is devastating! I feel like a pet died or a friend (not a best friend, but a good friend) and have panic attacks and can’t sleep. I really appreciate this blog, so few people have detailed their experiences honestly. It’s easy to find glowing reviews from temps to finals all over the internet, but nothing about feeling shellshocked or hating temps because you look so different. Did you feel that you looked too different initially? I have a very tricky situation with my gaps because there’s too much room that needs to be filled, but I’m remedying that by creating some small natural looking gaps where my gaps naturally were. I’m just sad though and want to get the teeth I want soon. I can’t even work I’m so upset over getting my teeth shaved! It’s nice to know I’m not alone, but did you go through even more shock than you detailed in your blog? I feel abnormal.

    May I send you a pic to get your opinion? I feel like I need an outside person that doesn’t know me to give me some real feedback.

    Thank you! You’re a blessing and your teeth look beautiful!

  48. Thanks for this hilarious and refreshingly honest blog. Your teeth look amazing – the best cosmetic work I’ve seen. Would you please send me a PM with the dentist’s name? I’d be so grateful. x

  49. Hi there,
    Thank you so much for sharing your veneer experience. It has been very helpful to me and answered a lot of questions I had. And your veneers look amazing, well done! Would youd mind sharing the details of your dentist with me?
    Thank you

  50. Hi I am considering having veneers about having terribly bad teeth for years…could I trouble you to email me details of the dentist you used? Thank you x

    • Hi. Can you send me your email address please and Ill PM you the details of the dentist who did my veneers. Thanks 🙂

  51. Thank you so much for writing this amazing blog. I’ve had two quite negative experiences of getting veneers done. Entirely down to not having done the sort of through research you were wise enough to do. I wish I’d found this blog ages ago. My second set (15 years after the first) I am particularly unhappy with and I want to get a second opinion (and maybe have them redone if that’s advisable). I would love to get the name of your dentist – if you would be happy to share.
    Thanks so much in advance 

  52. Hello
    I just wanted to let you know that I found him!! I saw another comment saying she found your photos on his website – it took me less than 10 minutes from there!
    So thank you, but no need to message me.
    Thanks again for taking the trouble to write this. It’s so so helpful. Just wish it had been here 15 years ago!

  53. Hi thanks for sharing your story. what shade did you choose? i’m trying to decide between BL3 and B1, yours look great.

  54. Your veneers look so good! I just booked my session! I cannot wait, I went back and forth on the shade to go with, wanting a nice white but not an artificial look. I am really looking forward to this being done. I ended up going with a local place here in Scranton, Hazzouri Dental. I would love to know how long it took for you from start to finish?

  55. Hello there,
    First of all thank you so much for sharing your experience. It really helped me to go through the process as the surgeon kept very quiet about how painful and brutal the procedure was.
    I just got my permanents put in and I regret so much. I even miss my yellow uneven natural smile pre-op.
    I went a shade too bright and am unhappy with the finals, my teeth look huge and i am ashamed and self-conscious to smile in public.
    If anyone is reading this wondering to get veneers, I would suggest to think about it for years before actually committing to this final procedure.

    • I’m so sorry you feel this way. Can you go back to the dentist and explain how you feel? They may be able to correct them slightly to make you happier? You are the customer and ultimately, the Dr will want you to be happy with their work. I hope at least they do not cause you any pain any more. Please contact your dentist to explain your feelings x

      • Thank you for your kind answer.
        I have gone back for follow up appointment and he reassured me that he wouldn’t leave me until I am 100% satisfied. That said, I will never be able to get my old enamel teeth back.. I feel like the stupidest person for destroying healthy teeth.
        I hate the tint, I told him I wanted natural looking teeth and i find them very unnatural, uniform and am worried to smile in public because I think people will notice they aren’t real. He offered to remake a new set and do it again. But I have read in one of the comments here that it destroys the natural teeth underneath everytime this process is done. I am 26now, worried to have all my teeth falling by the time I am 40. Does anybody know more about this? I am really tempted to get them out and redone to have a tint that makes me feel more comfortable and more natural to me.
        Also, may I ask how did you feel the days after the permanents? I have a lot of pressure in my jaw and in my gums, similar to invisalign which I had for few years. It might be because of the anesthetics that he had to use a lot of, but worried this pain is here to stay for the rest of my life.
        Thank you for being here for people in my position

        T

      • Honestly, I would let him redo them. This is a great thing that the dentist is so professional that they are willing to redo the until you are happy – you went to someone good. They don’t need to file down the teeth any more than they did originally. They are literally just stumps used to attach the veneers now, they don’t need correcting more than they are. They will just chip away any of the cement/bond used and start again.
        Do some really good research and look at loads of pictures of celebrities teeth. In detail, find the particulars that you think make them look more natural. For example, I wanted to keep my incisors pointed, where as most veneers have those teeth as square. I feel this makes mine look more natural. The shape of those teeth is also rounded (the face of the tooth) rather than a flat veneer. My front 2 teeth are also slightly longer than the ones to the left and right of them, rather than all one level. Again, less “perfect” but more natural.
        You could have the odd one angled slightly along the bottom so they are not perfectly flat/level. But YOU will need to identify these and request this. Your dentist is in the market of making perfect teeth, as that is what the majority of people want. If you want some “imperfections” to make them more realistic, you’ll need to be prepared to find out exactly what that should look like (your preference) and present this to your dentist. They will then do their best to recreate this for you. The same with the colour. Just google celebrity teeth and save all the teeth you like, and maybe adopt of couple of features you think will help your teeth be more ‘you’. Does your dentist have a CAD-like computer programme to plan the teeth in 3D? This would be the best time to draw up what you want and talk through everything. Best of luck and keep us posted x

      • Sorry, I didn’t reply about the pressure. Personally, I had no pain after the permanents. I can’t remember if I felt pressure (it would be in my blog if I did so have a look) but it’s 10 years ago now so cannot remember. Definitely no pain though X

      • Have you got an update on your situation Tom? I would completely let the dentist do them again so you are happy. The stumps underneath will be fine, they only shave a fraction of a mm off your original teeth.
        Keep us posted 🙂

  56. Hi – great blog! I am looking at the colour for my new veneers (I’m on the temporaries currently). What did you go for? I am undecided whether to go for a BL4 or a BL3. My natural teeth were quite white anyway (B1) and I feel that the BL3 might be good but not sure if its too white! Best wishes. x

    • I think I picked B3 but can’t remember from memory – it’s definitely listed in the blog somewhere near the beginning 🙂

  57. Hi! I currently have my 16 temporary veneers (day 7) and the pain has surprised me so much. Your blog has been the only thing to bring me peace. I had cosmetic bonding on my top teeth so he had to do a ton of drilling. I just have this slight constant ache in my teeth and the sensitivity on bottom is killing me. I thought I was alone! Thank you for easing my mind. Hopefully only another couple weeks before I get the permanent ones and I can get on the road to recovery!

    • Best of luck with your veneers. It’s one of the best things I ever did. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly for you x

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