Still, there’s a reason why veneers, like any other cosmetic procedure, are popular in the first place: Straight white teeth are part of the ever-present, often suffocating standard of beauty. “We’ve had feedback from patients who say, ‘Yes, since I’ve had my smile done, people treat me differently,'” says Dr. Davis. “It is unfortunate that this is happening. But it seems to be happening, right? People just have this different perception.”
It’s easy to fixate on imperfections—ways in which we fall short of the incredibly high bar set by social media and celebrities. If you’re worried about how your natural teeth look to the point where you feel depressed or anxious, or you’re dealing with a condition like body dysmorphic disorder, getting veneers can seem like a silver bullet.
If that’s your mindset, however, it’s wise to reevaluate whether it’s the right choice for you. “If someone is confident and not struggling with their self-esteem, then that person is more likely to have a positive experience.” Ashley McHan, LMHClicensed trauma and eating disorder specialist and his host In our Skina body image podcast, she tells SELF. But if you’re struggling with self-image or fixating on a particular insecurity, then it’s important to remember that “procedures that change our bodies tend not to have a lasting effect on how we see ourselves.”
There’s also the worrying possibility that once you get veneers, you’ll realize that your unvarnished teeth, flaws and all, were part of what made you look like…you. Dr. Davis says that lately, he’s been seeing more people coming to him asking for minor changes to their natural smile—or even revisions to veneers done by other dentists. “Often, these are not patients with unhealthy teeth,” says Dr. Davis. “They come in and they’re just sad. They’re young, they have their whole lives ahead of them, and it’s just that feeling of sadness: “I ground my teeth and I don’t like my smile.” We hear it all the time: “I really preferred my smile before.”
Dr. Patel agrees. While patients at his Beverly Hills practice still tend to go for a bright white look, he says there’s a lot more care and concern from patients about getting teeth that fit their face, rather than going home with it. which he calls “BBL teeth” – the XL treatment that fits everyone. “Because influencers had these big, white teeth, that became the attractive thing that they had,” says Dr. Patel. “But now, more and more people are learning, ‘Oh, wow—they look good in a picture, maybe, but in real life, I can’t talk right, I can’t chew right, and you don’t look real—and I don’t like that anymore ».
Bottom line: You have a (precious) set of teeth.
BBLs and other surgical procedures are an appropriate comparison to veneers, up to a point. BBLs can be shrunk, breast implants can be removed – but once your teeth are shaved and fitted with veneers, they’re literally part of you bones they are gone “Don’t assume this is a reversible process,” says Dr. Patel. “I spend an hour during my consultations with patients to make sure they know it’s not like going to a store and buying a product that will be consistent between different stores.”
