Are ‘veneers’ losing their sparkle?

When the trend changes, but the teeth are permanent

It’s curious how often trends and permanence clash—especially when it comes to our appearance. Every year there seems to be a new irreversible aesthetic trend that people rush to get done. Microbladed eyebrows. Tattooed makeup. Fox-eye lifts. Buccal fat removal. 

Perhaps we know deep down that these procedures are only passing fancies, like a pair of shoes you were desperate to buy then hardly ever wear. But, in the heat of the moment, it can still be tricky to differentiate between our fleeting and long-term desires.        

Anytime I despair at my thin, mousey eyebrows, for instance, I know I only have to tap the words ‘microblading regret’ into TikTok to be set right again. Hindsight is a wonderful thing—especially when it’s someone else's. As with all aesthetic procedures, the more we know, the better off we are. But when it comes to ‘perfecting’ our teeth, does more knowledge signal the end of the trend? 

Are ‘veneers’ as shiny as they seem?   

Back in 2020, model and TV personality, Katie Price went viral for sharing a picture with her real teeth shaved down to ‘pegs’ in preparation for getting artificial replacements. The UK was in shock. Who would agree to have such an invasive and permanent procedure done to them? The answer, of course, is thousands. Hundreds of thousands.

Dr Rosie Sutton, qualified dentist, medical aesthetician and Director of Tweak East - an aesthetic clinic that specialises in natural-looking procedures performed in line with a holistic, healthy approach to living - told me, “There’s a common misconception among the entire general public as to what a veneer actually is. A veneer is a very very thin piece of either porcelain or composite that covers the surface of the tooth. What people are often getting instead is full coverage crowns.”     

Scarily, people are saying yes to this procedure without understanding the sacrifice. Crowns like these come at the cost of your real teeth. You can never go back. And while many people want a glow-in-the-dark Barbie smile right now, will they still want one in ten years, or in fifty? What’s particularly concerning is that full coverage crowns are frequently done on people with visibly and physically healthy teeth. Perfectly good teeth are being sanded away to make way for large, luminous replacements—the fakeness often part of the look. But, as we know, desired looks rise and fall like waves. 

Katie Price shows off the extent to which her teeth were shaved down in preparation for crowns

Jack Fincham, winner of the 2018 series of Love Island, was known for his dazzlingly white ‘veneers’ (although, like Katie Price, Jack’s were actually full coverage crowns) but has since come to regret them. In a conversation on This Morning he said, “There’s a lot of stuff I didn’t know.” And when speaking of his old teeth, he confessed, “There was nothing wrong with them…People just go for a cosmetic thing – to have the perfect smile, I suppose.”   

Similarly, in an interview with The Guardian, Catherine (not her real name) describes the process: “The treatment was so rough and I was so upset because I knew I’d made the biggest mistake of my life.” Again, she mentions, “With hindsight, my teeth weren’t actually that bad.”

Dr Rosie continues, “An ethical dentist would only consider drilling down a tooth to that extent if the tooth had already been subject to considerable damage such as trauma or fragility due to extensive past dental work. If your teeth are otherwise healthy and you’re looking for a cosmetic improvement, you absolutely should not be considering crowns as your first option. Instead, book a consultation with an ethical cosmetic dentist who will discuss alternative options which will be safer for your teeth and gums long term.”

Is ‘veneer breath’ actually a thing?     

On the other side of the coin, people with less-than-perfect teeth are hoping that crowns or veneers will offer an overnight, magical solution to poor dental hygiene and general neglect. But of course, infrequent tooth brushing and flossing will have the same effects on artificial teeth as they do on natural teeth. In fact, poorly fitted and badly kept artificial teeth can become a breeding ground for bacteria, which has birthed its own trending term: Veneer Breath. 

“Regardless of whether you’re doing a very thin veneer, composite bonding, or you’re having a crown put on the tooth,” says Dr Rosie, “if your gums aren’t happy and healthy, they are going to be a whole lot worse after you stick something artificial on them. It’s just going to irritate them even more. And if it’s not done well and the gums don’t have a chance to breathe, that leads to gum disease. And, long term, that becomes irreversible, resulting in bone loss and permanently loose teeth. It’s a horrible cycle downwards.”  

A cultural return to a more natural smile

Already, it seems, we’re beginning to see a dip in desire for inhumanly perfect teeth. The internet was in uproar when Hunger Games actor, Sam Claflin, updated his signature smile to a perfectly even alternative. A TikTok video entitled “Sam Claflin getting veneers was the worst thing that’s ever happened to me” received 45,800 likes.  

Sam Claflin before (L) and after (R) changing his teeth

Similarly, 2.4 million people have liked a video preemptively begging pop star, Sabrina Carpenter, not to cave to the typical pressures of Hollywood by replacing her natural teeth. The trend pendulum is beginning to swing in the opposite direction. So where does that leave those who have either chosen or are considering this narrow, one-way road?  

Back to…braces?

For those who have already gone down the full coverage crown path, there’s little you can do to go back. However, as they need replacing every five to fifteen years, you won’t always be stuck with the same shade or size if you want more natural results down the line. For anyone yet to take the plunge, however, alternative options may be preferable.  

Millions of people adore Sabrina Carpenter’s natural teeth

Perhaps because of the short-term look and discomfort (and our modern insistence on quick fixes) traditional braces are not always a first choice. But, combined with bleaching, they can give amazing, natural results while also being safer, more affordable and less of a lifelong commitment. And for those who can afford it, non-invasive alternatives like Invisalign can also offer a straight white smile, without compromising your real teeth. 

Dr Rosie concludes, “I’ve been qualified for seven and a half years, and in that time, I’ve had a significant number of patients ask me straight: can you just remove all of my teeth and give me implants? They’re tired. They keep getting more fillings, they’ve got gum disease, and they want an easy fix. But any good, ethical dentist will say absolutely not. If there are teeth you can easily save, you’re always going to recommend keeping them. Because nothing is ever as good as your own natural teeth.”  

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