As much as smiling on candid camera is part and parcel of celebrityhood, it's par for the course among famous people to have a full set of white and shiny teeth.
Many of them use dental veneers.
Notably, showbiz celebrities Iñigo Pascual, Derrick Monasterio, Rhys Miguel, Elle Villanueva, and Daniela Stranner have enhanced their smiles through this cosmetic dentistry treatment.
Add to the count the beauty queens who have also benefited from the transformative effects of dental veneers—Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados; Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Bea Luigi Gomez; Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez; Miss Multinational Philippines 2021 Shaila Rebortera; Miss World Philippines 2022 Gwen Fourniol, and Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2022 Chelsea Fernandez
Curious about this dental marvel, Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph) asks Dr. Franklin Vicoy, the founder of Smile Creations, about everything there is to know about dental veneers.
WHAT ARE DENTAL VENEERS?
According to Dr. Vicoy, dental veneers are "custom-made shells designed to cover the front surface of your teeth, effectively enhancing their appearance."
These shells can be fabricated from either porcelain or composite resin material, and are bonded to the front of the teeth to keep them aligned, intact, and free from discoloration.
How does it differ from dental bonding and teeth whitening?
Dr. Vicoy says all three procedures can "enhance the appearance of teeth," but they differ in terms of "materials used, the process involved, and the specific dental concern of the patient."
He elaborates, "Dental bonding involves the application of tooth-colored resin to correct a single tooth or fix a tiny chip,
"Teeth whitening focuses on lightening the color of natural teeth.
"The choice between veneers, dental bonding, or teeth whitening depends on the specific dental concerns and desired outcome."
THE PROCESS OF GETTING DENTAL VENEERS
The procedure differs across clinics.
Dr. Vicoy explains that his clinic first conducts an online consultation with the patient then proposes a treatment plan—which, if approved, an in-person appointment is set.
He says, "During the first meeting, we take pre-operative dental x-rays and photos of their teeth, do teeth reduction (if necessary) then we proceed with getting the mold of their teeth.
"And lastly, I make my mock-up design as their temporary veneers.
"Doing a mock-up design is very crucial, so the patient can have a feel and see what their permanent veneers would like.
"Then we send the mold and instructions to our in-house laboratory for processing.
"Here, I communicate closely with my laboratory team and relay all the necessary details that they need to fabricate the porcelain veneers.
"This process in our laboratory takes about six to eight days, after that we have the patient come to our clinic for the final meeting or the installation of their veneers."
Dr. Vicoy stresses the importance of the mock-up, which allows patients to experience and visualize their permanent veneers.
"This is why we’re different from other clinics, it only takes two meetings to process our veneers.
"We skip the trial part of the process since we already did the mock-up which helps us avoid mistakes like ill-fitting porcelain and generic-looking veneers that sometimes doesn’t look good on most patients.
"The veneers that we make at our in-house laboratory are handcrafted, meaning it was layered manually by our ceramists to match the desired shade of the patient and not just machined processed, or monolithic."
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT VENEERS
One prevalent myth is that veneers look unnatural or fake.
Dr. Vicoy assures that advances in dental technology and materials have made it possible to create custom veneers that closely match the natural appearance of the teeth.
In his words, "Some people believe that veneers always look unnatural or fake.
"However, advancements in the dental technology and materials have made it possible for veneers to be custom-made to match the natural appearance of the teeth.
"As a cosmetic dentist, I work closely with the patient and my laboratory technician to ensure that the shape, color, and translucency of the veneers match with their face resulting in a natural-looking smile."
HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?
According to Dr. Vicoy, veneers cost from PHP6,000 to PHP22,000 "depending on the material that we use."
"If porcelain veneers aren’t fitted properly, they can create small ledges around the veneer that allow for the accumulation of food particles and oral bacteria making your breath smell.
"But if done well like we do at our clinic, these can be avoided.
"Of course, we can only do so much. We also need cooperation from the patient’s side to make sure they’re also maintaining their veneers well."