They really don’t have much to smile about.
Veneers, once a closely guarded Hollywood secret, are now widely viewed as a standard for beauty, standing alongside Botox and fillers. But the reality is, failed veneer procedures have left many in tears, suffering pain, and struggling with debt.
Stars like Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, and Simon Cowell showcase their gleaming white smiles on the red carpet, dazzling fans. Yet some celebrities have become the target of jokes and memes – Jojo Siwa’s smile has been compared to chiclet candy, Steve Harvey’s teeth likened to onion slices, and former New York Jets coach Rex Ryan’s veneers criticized as looking like Halloween props.
But not everyone finds this situation funny.
Take Alixar, for instance; for her, getting veneers has turned out to be a regrettable decision. In a poignant TikTok video from July, she wiped away tears as she attempted to “fix” her chipped veneer, meticulously filing it down while issuing a warning to her followers.
She revealed feeling pressured into getting more veneers than she originally desired. What was intended as a minor cosmetic improvement has morphed into an ongoing struggle to maintain them.
Celebrities like Demi Lovato, Bad Bunny, and Kehlani have openly admitted to their regrets regarding veneers. Regardless, many people still rush to the dentist, eager to address what they perceive as small imperfections.
Taylor Brazinski turned to social media, hoping to caution others after spending an astounding $30,000 to rectify a $10,000 veneer mishap.
Having previously worn braces twice, she wasn’t satisfied with her teeth’s unevenness. At just 19, she began exploring options online and ultimately chose veneers, thinking they would grant her the perfect smile. Instead, she ended up disappointed.
“My mouth is a mess forever,” Brazinski confided, conveying her frustrations regarding her teeth.
“Because of everything that happened, I still feel uneasy about my appearance.”
Initially, she intended to get only four veneers to address her concerns, but when a Miami dentist offered ten for $10,000, she decided to go for it.
Looking back, that should have raised a red flag.
“I was 19, so it felt like, ‘Oh my god, I’m getting veneers, let’s just go for all of them,’” she recalled, reflecting on her naivety.
But what seemed like a straightforward fix soon spiraled into a nightmare.
Following the procedure, she endured typical swelling and discomfort, but a year later, she began experiencing gum issues, including bleeding.
Experts indicated that she developed a black triangle gap between her teeth.
As complications worsened, Brazinski was compelled to undergo several painful dental surgeries, which involved invasive procedures like cutting into her gums and reshaping bone structures.
This stemmed from improperly applied veneers. When gums react negatively to veneers, it can lead to significant issues.
Despite returning to the dentist for help, her concerns were dismissed, leading to a painful gum infection.
Eventually, she realized the dentist responsible for her veneers had rebranded their practice and was no longer communicating with her. Attempts to report this issue to the Florida Department of Health proved fruitless.
Brazinski’s correction process ended up costing three times what her original veneers had. Yet, she still wasn’t satisfied with her smile.
“Without actual dental issues, veneers aren’t worth it,” she concluded.
Although veneers are often promoted as a quick solution for achieving a perfect smile, Brazinski’s experience showcases how disastrous the wrong steps can be.
Dr. Clement “Dr. Clem” Kairose, based in New York City, reported a steep rise in the popularity of veneers since the Covid-19 pandemic, as people spent more time on video calls and became self-conscious about their appearance.
“Everyone was staring at themselves on screen, so people started nitpicking their looks,” Kairose explained.
As a result, many new patients come in with unrealistic expectations, and while some genuinely require fixes, they often lack the necessary information to make informed choices.
Jennifer Peralta, a 41-year-old from Long Island, has been struggling with dental issues since childhood, and she thought veneers would help. However, after poor work by a previous dentist, she found herself with more problems than before.
“It didn’t match the rest of my smile, so it looked terrible,” she admitted.
This situation significantly affected her confidence, causing her to avoid smiling altogether for five years.
Ultimately, she saved enough money for a correction procedure with Kairose.
“It’s truly life-changing,” Peralta reflected. “But if I hadn’t needed them, I wouldn’t have gotten them.”
Dr. Brian Cantor, who has transformed smiles for numerous high-profile individuals, emphasized that one size does not fit all when it comes to veneers.
“Having a veneer is like having artwork in your mouth,” he said, noting that each veneer should be tailored to fit the individual’s unique facial structure.
Most importantly, he stressed that the right dentist should be able to discern when a patient doesn’t actually need veneers.
“If you don’t need them, you don’t need them,” stated Kairose.
