The Dangers of “Veneers-Tech": Why Should You Always Choose a Certified Dentist

Dentistry is a complex but necessary practice. Although teeth seem highly resistant, they’re prone to damage, decay, erosion, and even professional malpractice if you don’t get veneers in Coral Gables from a qualified dentist. This last thing can be truly damaging, especially when the ones offering these treatments aren’t even dental professionals per se.

Lately, so-called “veneers tech” with no medical background have become extremely popular on social media. This is a dangerous and concerning trend, but it also reflects the common public's clear lack of knowledge in general dentistry and the consequences of failing to protect your teeth properly.  

To help fight that, we created this article.

What Are Veneers-Tech and Why Are They So Dangerous?  

Not everyone’s a fan of dentists, and we can see the reasoning behind that—even if it pains us. Everyone has had at least one negative experience on the dental chair, and in some cases, these were caused by a professional’s error in judgment or lack of experience.

It can be especially frustrating when you have to suffer from a painful treatment or conduct several visits afterward to solve an issue that would've been resolved easily if it had been identified by your go-to dentist earlier.

We, too, were only patients before being dentists, so most times, we understand and share that common feeling of distrust dental professionals have gained through the years. And we, as professionals, have always strived to be better to combat this image.

Nevertheless, if we thought unprofessional dentists were the biggest concern in our field of work, we were wrong. Now, the same errors are being made by individuals who haven’t even received proper training in medicine and dentistry, putting patient's oral health and even their life at risk.

That’s the case for the recently popularized “veneers techs.”

Are Veneers-Tech Legal?  

No. The viral “veneer techs” have no legal nor medical fundament to proclaim themselves like that.

A two-day or online training course may be all that veneer techs have completed, while dentists must go through at least eight years of rigorous education, pass national board examinations, and meet state-specific licensing and continuing education requirements.

If that was not enough, it’s often another self-proclaimed “veneer tech” who offers these certificates for around $2,000 to $3,000, and they may have no medical or dental recognition whatsoever.

As a result, these technicians are doing dental work without authorization and the specialized knowledge dentists possess about the importance of sterilization and other dental health issues. This puts patients at risk for future major health problems.

This, of course, is an illegal action. Besides facing criminal charges for practicing medicine without a license, patients who have suffered from unsatisfactory dental work can also file lawsuits against these illegal technicians for assault and battery.

However, nothing can give you your dental health or the blood and tears you shed back.

What Are Veneers?

Dental veneers are specialized coverings that fit over the surface of teeth and are usually used to treat discolored teeth.

Composite veneers are usually made of tooth-colored composite resin, which is also utilized for dental bonding. They have an approximate 10-year lifespan. Meanwhile, porcelain veneers are a highly durable alternative.  

No matter what type of veneer you choose, it is an easy, accessible, and attractive solution to improve the aesthetic appearance of your smile. This has become a growing concern among many patients lately, fostered by the influence of social media.

OnePoll and Forbes Health conducted a survey of 2,000 American social media users, and they discovered that social media use can negatively impact one's confidence in one's smile, especially among younger people.

According to the study, 53% of people compare their smiles to those of others on social media. 56% of those surveyed attempt to cover their smiles in various real-life contexts, with 34% of them doing so also in pictures. Furthermore, 15% of individuals have altered the way their teeth appear in a picture before sharing it on social media.

The Process for Getting Veneers—And How It Shouldn’t Be  

Getting veneers typically involves a few key steps spread across a couple of dental visits.

During an initial consultation, your dentist will discuss your goals alongside you to decipher what you want to achieve. Then, they will evaluate your teeth, discuss the options, and may take X-rays or impressions of your mouth.  

This initial consultation is key, as dental professionals will evaluate your current dental health and fix any issue that could make getting veneer dangerous. For example, cavities must be eliminated from any teeth before placing the veneer. If not, the infection will be encapsulated and left to fester.

In the same way, if you were to have gum disease, this dangerous illness needs to be eliminated before undergoing any cosmetic procedure.  

Based on the consultation, your dentist will create a treatment plan and select the appropriate veneers according to your needs, including shade and style.  

Then, a small amount of enamel must be removed from the front surface to prepare the teeth for the extra space the veneers require and ensure they bond properly. This is typically about 0.5mm.  

After preparation, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth and send them to a dental lab. Your custom veneers will be made in about 1-2 weeks there. When purchasing supplies and equipment from authorized dental supply stores, licensed dentists utilize their National Provider Identifiers.  

Once your permanent veneers are ready, you’ll return to the dentist. The dentist will temporarily place the veneers on your teeth to check the fit and color. They may need to make minor adjustments to ensure a perfect fit.

However, "veneer techs" might purchase prefabricated, one-size-fits-all kits from websites like Temu and Amazon, which are not legally recognized as medical providers and do not verify NPIs. Some veneer techs even use nail supplies like acrylic for their procedures.

Needless to say, this can be very dangerous for your dental health.  

What Are the Dangers of Veneer Techs?  

Veneer techs aren’t properly trained to examine a patient's teeth, and because of that, these technicians could seriously endanger the lives of the people they “treat.”

When a technician places a veneer on an infected tooth, the infection can only spread internally. Then, it can enter the bloodstream and, due to the mouth’s proximity, ascend to the brain.  

Antibiotics can treat dental infections if they are discovered early on, but if not, they can be fatal.  

Without going that far, recent research has revealed that individuals with dental infections are much more likely to experience issues with their arteries and heart valves. Oral infections have also been connected to the hardening of the blood vessel system that supplies your essential organs with oxygen-rich blood.

Even if there was no underlying infection before the placement, one may emerge due to the usage of non-medically approved materials. There’s no way of knowing how veneers bought from Temu are made or what kind of materials they possess.

The veneers eroding quickly or falling down is, honestly, one of the best outcomes you can expect.

Because they’re using the wrong materials—and due to their lack of technique—veneer techs may also place them wrongly, leaving spaces in between the veneer and the tooth. This leaves a space for bacteria and plaque buildup to accumulate easily out of your toothbrush’s reach.

All of this may result in serious side effects like infections, tooth damage, or even hospital stays. Patients getting veneers should avoid putting their own safety at risk and make sure that they are seeing a licensed and qualified professional for this cosmetic work.

Why Are People Even Considering These Veneer Techs?  

Some people choose uncertified veneer techs because they are less expensive than traditional dentists. Their service can cost one-third to one-fourth of what a certified professional asks for.

However, these false professionals achieve their lower costs by foregoing crucial sterile instruments, buying faulty materials, and lacking complete knowledge of the proper protocols. In the long run, the damage done by someone like that will be much more costly to fix than the initial costs of well-done veneer work.

Even if the end prices are completely inaccessible, you can consider other options, like dental bonding. Esthetic bonding is a cosmetic dentistry technique that uses tooth-colored composite resin to close gaps, change the shape of a tooth, and repair chips and cracks, fixing the appearance of one or two teeth

That way, bonding can be an accessible alternative that won’t make you put your health on the line.

Find a Certified Professional Before You Get Veneers in Coral Gables  

In this day and age, where "lash techs" and "nail techs" advertise their services on social media, it's easy to believe that "veneer techs" could also be a viable option for getting the smile makeover of your dreams for an accessible price.  

But they’re not. If you want to improve your smile and overall appearance, there are ways to achieve it that don’t put your overall health at risk. Here at Coral Gables Dentistry, we can help you, so reach out!