Member Article

Clip-in veneers 'a waste of money' warns top dentist

PARTY GOERS opting for quick fix, clip-in veneers could be left with little to smile about, according to a leading North East dentist.

Social media is currently awash with advertising for a cheap way of improving teeth, including a “one size fits all” clip on veneer.

But Dr Richard Coates, of Sunderland’s Riveredge Cosmetic Dentistry warns that not only are they “not effective” and “a waste of money” but their fit is on par with teeth from a joke shop.

The current obsession for perfect, white teeth has led to a number of quick fix products, which include this style of so called veneer.

And while a number of firms are selling bespoke sets which are matched to the clients’ teeth, there has been an explosion in the number of budget kits now available.

The sets, priced between £10 - £50, feature a thermo-plastic splint, which is heated up in hot water before being moulded to the teeth.

However, far from delivering a perfect, effortless smile, Dr Coates advises that they are more likely to leave the user sporting a badly-fitting piece of plastic, which not only looks fake, but also affects their ability to speak properly.

“There’s a reason why these things are so cheap, and that’s because they really do not create the smile that they claim to” he said. “There is no such thing as one size fits all. It doesn’t, particularly not when it comes to veneers.”

“I’ve tried them for myself and all it does is give you a lisp and make you look silly. They certainly don’t mould to fit your mouth, you end up with teeth that look ridiculous and even the gum line looks wrong – it’s bright red.

“I know it sounds funny, but if you imagine those cheap, plastic fangs that children use at Halloween, then they really aren’t far off that.”

Dr Coates warns that as well as not looking attractive, the mock veneers make eating impossible, so anyone planning on wearing them for Christmas meals or even events where nibbles are served, better be prepared to take them out.

“They are purely for aesthetic purposes which means you can’t eat in them, and drinking is probably a little perilous too,” he said. “Anyone choosing to wear them for a dinner party needs to be prepared to take them out before they eat, which isn’t really an ideal situation.”

“If you do manage to eat, then you’ll have to be ready for a lot of food to get stuck behind them, and in all the cracks. It won’t be pleasant.

“As far as damage is concerned, they won’t cause any harm if worn once or twice, but I certainly wouldn’t recommend long term use, as they could irritate the gums and damage the teeth.”

Instead, Dr Coates advises that anyone who does want better looking teeth to consider the more traditional options, including whitening treatments or full, bespoke professional dentistry. This should be discussed with their own dentist.

“For those looking for a cheaper alternative, then whitening carried out by a dental professional is the best option, as long as they have good dental health. From there, we would advise clients to consider composite restoration, where white resins are used to restore the teeth, and then after that we’d look at porcelain veneers.”

Riveredge Cosmetic Dentistry is a multi-award winning practice run by Dr Ken Harris, one of the UK’s leading cosmetic dentists, with a surgery in Sunderland. For further information visit www.riveredge.co.uk or call 0191 567 1020.

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