I am considering getting a smile makeover and really like the idea of no-prep veneers, like Lumineers. I see that some people warn against them and say they end up bulky, but I saw on another blog a picture of a woman who had no-prep veneers and had gorgeous results. Can this happen with any patient or was that specific to her type of teeth, like maybe her teeth were smaller than other people’s? I also noticed he (the dentist) said that he used his own personal ceramist. Does that make a difference?
Kelly
Dear Kelly,
What a great question. Let’s start with the ceramist issue. Having his own ceramist works well if the ceramist is skilled, but the dentist will also need to be skilled. You can have a great cook who follows the instructions to a terrible recipe and guess what? The dish will not taste good. In the same vein, you can have a great recipe but a cook who does not have the skill to follow through well. You will still end up with a yucky meal.
It is the same with a ceramist. You need a skilled, artistic cosmetic dentist as well as a skilled, artistic ceramist in order to produce beautiful results. If the dentist whose blog you read used his own ceramist, then he did not use Lumineers. This is one of the drawbacks to that particular brand. They insist you use their lab. Unfortunately, their lab is notorious for creating bulky, and sometimes even chalky-looking results. The dentist you read about probably used a different brand of no-prep porcelain veneers.
Your Best Strategy for a Beautiful Smile Makeover
When it comes to smile makeovers, it is better to focus on choosing the right dentist and not the particular brand of porcelain veneers. Finding the right dentist means, he or she has the skill to create a beautiful recipe and he understands which ingredients (ie. the brand) will bring the flavor you want to your smile. In addition, he will know which ceramists are able to put his recipe together to perfection.
So where do you find such a celebrity chef? I would look for a dentist who has reached accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists have proven technical skill and artistry. You will love the results they get.
This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.