I’m curious to know how “Press On Veneers” compare to regular porcelain veneers. My teeth are stained pretty badly and I have a large gap between two of them. I’d like to improve the look of them. However, I’m also trying to save money.
I believe porcelain veneers are out of my budget. But, I recently saw something online from a company called “Press On Veneers,” which is something I can order without the dentist and do at home. The lab just makes it for me and sends it out. The only catch is that it’s still about $1,000. So, it’s a pretty big risk to take if it doesn’t work out. Any thoughts about this product?
Thanks, Rochelle in Arkansas
Dear Rochelle,
“Press On Veneers” are not the same as porcelain veneers. For professional veneers, your teeth are prepared in the office by a cosmetic dentist. Initially, professional impressions are taken, then the smile is designed. A lot goes into the right look, color, shape and they are custom made to fit your look and personality. Once you are happy with the temporaries or mock-up veneers, a lab makes the restorations. Then, the restorations are permanently bonded in place. Traditional porcelain veneers are not removable.
The press on version is very similar to something called Snap On Smile. These types of products are designed to fit over your teeth and are removable. This particular company website is somewhat transparent about them. They even mention that some customers take issue with the added thickness and length, and that’s evident in virtually every photo they post too.
To be blunt, any reputable cosmetic dentist would tell you that the teeth look fake. While that may be good enough for some people if they’re planning to do a photo shoot, attend a special occasion or go to a job interview. However, it’s not really an ideal choice for someone to use in their daily life.
Other cosmetic dentistry options
Given the nature of your concerns, it sounds like you might be a better candidate for something along the lines of teeth whitening and one or two porcelain veneers. Depending on whether you do the take-home whitening or have it done in the office, your costs could be roughly half of the Press On Veneer. This treatment route would also be a fraction of the cost of traditional porcelain veneers.
Another option is to fix your spacing issue with dental bonding. An excellent cosmetic dentist should be able to fix your gap with composite bonding material, fairly quickly and inexpensively. Start with a consultation. You may be able to do the whitening first. Then, it would be wise to give the color a couple of weeks to stabilize before you go in for the tooth bonding. Then, as long as you see someone who is skilled with cosmetic dentistry, you’ll love the results. Your smile will look natural and beautiful. Nobody will be able to detect you’ve had work done. Plus, you won’t have to bother with a bulky thing in your mouth that looks unnatural and doesn’t feel great either.
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilios, DDS.