Dental veneers have become so popular that it is easy to think that they are a relatively recent invention, perhaps even something that emerged alongside social media and celebrity culture.
In fact, the basic concept of veneers has been around for almost a century. What has changed dramatically is the way they are made, how they are fitted and, perhaps most importantly, what patients expect from them.
These days, most people who enquire about dental veneers are not looking for a ‘Hollywood smile’ at all. If anything, they want the opposite. They want their teeth to look natural, albeit, of course, improved in appearance. They want friends and colleagues to notice that they have a nice smile without necessarily being able to work out why that is.
Back in the 1920s and 1930s, cinema was growing in popularity and films were becoming increasingly sophisticated. Cameras were improving and audiences were seeing actors in much greater detail than before. Producers quickly realised that a bright, attractive smile looked good on screen.
A dentist called Charles Pincus began experimenting with thin coverings that could be placed over actors’ teeth during filming. These early versions were never intended to be permanent. In fact, they were often attached only for short periods of filming and then removed afterwards. By modern standards they were extremely basic, but the principle was there.
By using this method, dentists could improve the appearance of teeth, but only for a limited period of time. For veneers to be more widely used, this needed to change.
Dentistry in the middle of the twentieth century did not have access to the sophisticated bonding systems available today. Materials were certainly improving, but there was still a considerable gap between the idea of veneers and the predictable treatment we are familiar with today.
With research and testing, adhesives gradually improved and dentists became better able to attach restorations securely to teeth enamel. Ceramic technology was developing around the same time. Porcelain became stronger, more attractive and more capable of replicating the appearance of natural teeth.
By the 1980s and 1990s, veneers were beginning to be used more widely. They were still regarded as a cosmetic treatment, of course, but they were no longer viewed as something reserved exclusively for actors, television personalities or the wealthy. Patients started seeing veneers as a genuine option for improving their smile.
What is perhaps most surprising is how much the treatment has continued to evolve over the last twenty years. When people think about veneers, they often imagine very white, very uniform teeth. This was especially popular for a period and, to be fair, some patients actively requested it, and some still occasionally do.
Today though, most patients are perhaps more ‘conservative’ in their requests. They want their smile to be improved but don’t want it to be as obvious as it often used to be, with overly white teeth. The emphasis today among patients of the Smile Dental Practice then tends to be on subtlety.
A slightly worn tooth might be improved. A chip that catches the eye every time somebody smiles can be disguised. Discolouration that has resisted a teeth whitening treatment may be addressed. Sometimes the changes are quite small individually, but together they can alter the overall appearance of a smile significantly.
The reality is that natural teeth have character. They vary slightly in shape, reflect light differently and they contain subtle colour variations. Good cosmetic dentistry usually respects those details rather than trying to eliminate them.
Another change that has taken place over recent years concerns the way dentists approach treatment planning. Years ago, it was not unusual for healthy teeth to undergo relatively extensive preparation before veneers were fitted. Dentistry has become increasingly conservative since then.
Most clinicians would now agree that preserving healthy tooth structure wherever possible is a sensible goal. As a result, many veneer cases today involve considerably less preparation than patients expect. In some situations, alternative treatments may even achieve the desired result without veneers being required at all.
A patient might arrive for a consultation at our local dental clinic convinced that they need veneers and leave having discovered that orthodontic treatment, whitening or composite bonding is actually a better option in their situation. There is no universal solution because every smile presents different challenges. Understanding aftercare is also important as well.
Our patients who enjoy the best long-term outcomes with porcelain dental veneers are usually those who continue to look after their oral health just as carefully as they did before treatment. With good care, veneers can usually last around ten years before they need to be removed and replaced with new ones.
From their origins on Hollywood film sets to the highly refined restorations available today, veneers have undergone an extraordinary transformation. Yet the basic aim remains surprisingly similar to what it was almost a hundred years ago; helping people feel more comfortable about their smile. If you would like to discover if veneers would enhance your smile, or if other treatments would be more appropriate, why not contact us to arrange a consultation with one of our cosmetic dentists? You can do this by calling the Smile Dental Practice in Bromley on 020 8462 2473.
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