What are veneer tech? Can you describe the basic types, composition, and durability?

Veneers are an elective cosmetic treatment.

If patients have problems with their teeth (e.g., due to shape, gaps, slightly crooked teeth, or discoloration), these can usually be covered with veneers.

There are only two main types of veneers: porcelain and composite veneers. Porcelain veneers are made of high-quality ceramic, while composite veneers are made of the same material as tooth-colored acrylic fillings.

Of the two, porcelain veneers are more stable and durable than composite veneers. Many studies show the durability of porcelain veneers: they can last up to 20 years if professionally fabricated and after a proper diagnosis by a licensed dentist. There is less information about the longevity of composite veneers; their lifespan is five to seven years, and in some cases even up to ten years with proper care.

However, the advantage of composite veneers over porcelain is that they are more cost-effective and reversible. They usually require more time in the dentist’s chair but can be applied in a single visit, with the dentist handling all the artistic work. Once they are ready, the dentist bonds them to the ground-down teeth. Since this process can take one to two weeks, temporary veneers can be used until the permanent veneers return from the lab.

IMPORTANT QUOTE Veneer Tech

“The work of a veneer technician can have serious consequences, such as tooth damage, infection, and even hospitalization,” says White. “It is important that people considering veneers prioritize their own safety and ensure they are treated by qualified and licensed dentists.”

Treatment by a veneer tech carries many significant risks that can affect your long-term oral health. The biggest risks include:

1. Severe enamel loss

Dentists are careful to avoid removing too much enamel before placing veneers. Without professional training, veneers can remove too much enamel that can no longer be repaired. This enamel loss can lead to chronic pain, persistent cavities, tooth decay, or tooth loss. To protect your teeth from this painful damage, it is best to avoid these specialists altogether.

2. Oral Health Affects Heart Health

Bacteria from your mouth can enter your bloodstream and reach other parts of your body. This bacteria can cause inflammation and infection in your heart vessels and valves, leading to heart attacks, strokes, and sudden vascular complications.

3. You are not insured

In many countries, dentists are required to have liability insurance to protect them from claims for damages or malpractice. This means that you are protected if your dentist injures you during treatment. However, a dentist who specializes in veneers is not eligible for this insurance. Since they are not professionals, they are also not covered if they injure you while placing veneers. If you injure yourself while working with a dentist, you are responsible for the costs of subsequent dental care and medical treatment. This means that you are responsible for paying for any emergency or urgent dental visits yourself.

4. They’re more expensive in the long run

Veneers are an incredibly expensive investment in your smile. On average, they cost between $925 and $2,500 per tooth, or up to $20,000 for an entire mouth. While this may seem attractive in the short term, the costs add up over time. When you add in the costs of restorative root canals, full crown revisions, or possible tooth extraction and dentures, you’ve suddenly spent tens of thousands of dollars, in some cases even over $50,000, to correct the veneer technician’s mistakes.

How do you know if your dentist is trustworthy?

If you are unsure whether you are receiving treatment from a reputable dentist, here are some things you can do: First, contact your state’s licensing board. Each state has its own licensing form. There, you can check to see if your dentist is licensed, where they trained, when their license was issued, and if there are any disciplinary actions related to their license.

Next, consider where your dental office is located. While dental veneer specialists may have the right equipment to perform the treatment, they often work in salons, spas, or rented spaces. Only seek treatment at clean, professional dental offices.

 Many states, including Utah, require dentists to display a copy of their current license at their practice. Failure to do so will be considered unprofessional dental practice. If the dentist cannot display their license and instead displays a certificate of dental veneers, they are not a licensed dentist, and you should not entrust them with any dental work.

Cosmetic Dentistry in North Ogden

Contact our team at Jenson Dental. Our team of trained, licensed, and insured dentists and dental hygienists have been providing reliable dental care to patients in the Wasatch Front region for decades, making it the best investment in your oral health.

Whether you are seeking cosmetic dentistry, scheduling a teeth cleaning, or looking for a new practice, our team is happy to help you on your journey to healthy oral health.

KEY FACTS

These technicians then receive a certificate of completion, but this does not give them the right to perform dental procedures, Jandra Korb, dental director for dental care company DentaQuest, told Forbes.

Certified dentists have a National Provider Identifier (NPI) that they can use at authorized dental stores to purchase products and instruments. However, some veneer technicians use nail supplies like acrylic in their treatments, while others purchase kits from websites like Amazon and Temu — which do not verify NPIs . Therefore, applying veneers is a “risky gamble with patients’ health” because they may not have the necessary knowledge about sterilization and dental hygiene that trained dentists have, Whitney White.

Patients could also sue them for personal injury if their dental work goes wrong.

A Las Vegas woman who runs an unlicensed business called Veneer Experts was charged earlier this year with illegal dental work after a patient lost a tooth. The patient subsequently filed a complaint with the state.

IMPORTANT BACKGROUND

An Instagram post of a veneer technician posing with his certification went viral on social media, raising questions about what a veneer technician actually does. Some dentists, like Ben “The Bentist” Winters, used TikTok to convince people not to let these technicians do their work and to warn their state licensing boards. These dental technicians can potentially put lives at risk because they are typically not trained to monitor patients’ dental health, Korb says. The infection can be treated with antibiotics if caught early, but dental infections can be fatal .