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Clip on veneers have emerged as a popular alternative to dental veneers in recent years.
But…. Are they safe? Should you get them, or are there better alternatives? What do our dentists have to say about clip on veneers?
In this article, we’ll answer these questions while providing you with everything you need to know about clip on veneers.
What Are Clip On Veneers?
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Clip On Veneers - Dr. Niall Vallely
Clip On Veneers - Dr. Niall Vallely
Clip on veneers, also called snap-on veneers, are dental fittings that snap onto your natural teeth. They serve the basic function of veneers, which is to hide teeth imperfections like stains, chips and cracks.
Some people even use them to hide missing teeth.
Benefits Of Clip On Veneers
At first glance, clip on veneers have certain benefits that make them appealing. These are:
- Cheap: A full set for both your upper and lower teeth costs around €500, while porcelain veneers can cost up to €500 for a single tooth.
- Quick: Once they arrive at your door, you can get your desired smile within a couple of minutes.
- Easy: Snap-on veneers are generally easy to attach. It’s a non-invasive process that doesn’t require the assistance of a dentist. All you need to do is press the fitting onto your teeth until you hear a snap. (We feel that this is also a disadvantage! We'll revisit this point shortly.)
However, clip on veneers are also dangerous, ineffective and a waste of money. Dr. Niall Vallely
Let us explain why:
Disadvantages Of Clip On Veneers
1. They Are Bulky
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As snap-on veneers sit on top of your existing smile, they can appear bulky and take away from the improved smile that you were hoping to achieve in the first place. This is particularly true if the patient has large teeth to begin with.
2. You Can’t Eat With Them
People report eating to be very difficult while wearing clip on veneers.
As the veneers sit on top on your natural teeth and can feel quite bulky, eating with them on can be a labourious experience and not something we recommend.
3. They Are ‘Potentially’ Harmful To Gums
Due to the veneers touching your gums, they can potentially cause irritation and cause your gums to recede.
4. Results May Appear 'Too Good'
As clip on veneers are mainly purchased online, there is little to no customisation. So, the strategy is 'hope' that your smile will look exactly as you would like it like to look.
Thus, clip on veneers tend to look slightly unnatural.
People may not notice that you’re wearing a veneer, but they’ll notice something odd about your smile’s colour since the 'plastic-white look' can seem out of place in a person’s mouth.
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Shannon Dolan - Digital Smile Design
In contrast, our digital smile design treatment, which takes place in advance of our cosmetic treatments, allows you to:
- Describe to your dentist in detail how you would like your smile to look
- Have the dentist make a mock up of your smile that you can 'try on' and get feeback on from family and friends
- Make adjustments as necessary so that you can be sure you are actually getting your dream smile!
6. Limited Lifespan
Clip on veneers usually last for a year before they need replacing. If you take extra care of them, they can last up to 5 years.
This is way less than the 20 years of service you’re likely to get from porcelain fittings. Thus, snap-on veneers are often considered to be a temporary solution.
7. Oral Dangers
Clip on veneers pose several risks to your dental health. For instance, food and bacteria can get trapped in the gaps between the veneers and your teeth, resulting in tooth decay.
Some people also use clip on veneers to hide tooth decay, cracks, chips and broken or missing teeth instead of seeing a dentist. Since nothing is being done to treat the issue, it’s likely to get worse over time.
The extra pressure may also break a cracked tooth, and the lack of adequate cleaning will worsen any existing tooth decay.
8. They Can Look... Ridiculous!
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Clip on veneers are a very unnatural type of cosmetic dental treatment.
They are more akin to wearing false teeth - and then hoping they look great!
As a result, they can often just look quite ridiculous.
We would recommend speaking to a dentist about your options and make an educated decision on what's right for you.
The 3Dental Stance On Clip-on Veneers
So, let's get into it. Here's what we think about clip on veneers:
We feel strongly that clip on veneers are a waste of money and in the majority of cases, are detrimental to your oral health. Dr. Niall Vallely
Experience has taught us that veneers should not be worn without the consultation of a dentist. In the majority of cases that we see, clip on veneers lead to disappointment, cracked teeth, gum irritation and more.
The reality is that people's teeth are different colours and shapes and an off-the-shelf solution is far from ideal if you want to show off your best smile. Dr. Niall Vallely
You are far better off speaking to a professional cosmetic dentist about your available options. They will also advise on your dental health!
Custom Veneers - A Better Solution
The Process For Custom Veneers
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We offer a range of veneer treatments at 3Dental including:
- Porcelain, no prep, veneers in a day, minimal prep, depending on patient requirements.
Our process starts with a free consultation, after which we'll take a mould of your teeth and send it over to our in-house lab where the veneers will be made.
Your custom made veneers will arrive a couple of weeks later for you to try out.
Suzanne Jackson recently had no prep veneers at 3Dental. You can see her beautiful new smile to the right / above this section.
Alternative Solutions
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Composite Veneers - Dr. Niall Vallely - Composite Veneers
If you would like to improve your smile, there are a range of cosmetic treatments available to you.
It's beyond the scope of this post to advise on what treatment might be best for you - that's why we offer free consultations on all our cosmetic and orthodontic treatments!
We'd love to invite you in, discuss your smile goals, see what you're suitable for and then advise accordingly.
We look forward to meeting you in person in either our Dublin, Limerick or Galway clinics.
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Before & After (Click to Enlarge) - Porcelain Veneers
Conclusion
Clip on veneers can sometimes be a quick and cheap cosmetic option for your smile. However, they come with quite a list of drawbacks, which can't be ignored.
3Dental offers a wide range of effective, long term cosmetic treatments in Dublin, Limerick and Galway. Visit your nearest clinic today and enjoy a free consultation with one of our qualified cosmetic dentists.
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