I am considering getting porcelain veneers done from a friend at a local dental school. Do you think this is a good idea? She is learning cosmetic dentistry and will be supervised by a more experienced faculty person. Do you think I will still end up with excellent work?
– Shannon in Minnesota
Shannon,
I’m not so sure that this is a good idea. I’m guessing that your idea is to save money. You need to decide whether or not you want a truly beautiful smile, because that will not be your result.
“Supervised by a faculty member” is not good enough. Cosmetic dentistry is an art form, not an academic discipline. Dental schools, you have to realize, are centers for teaching science and technique, and you could probably count on one hand the number of dental school faculty members who are good artists. There is only one dental school academic that we are aware of in the entire country who is accredited in cosmetic dentistry.
If you really want a beautiful set of porcelain veneers, why would you want a smile that only looks okay enough to get a passing grade? Wouldn’t you want truly beautiful? Even if your student friend were supervised by one of the rare dental artists who grace the halls of academia, it is still your friend doing the work. Excellent cosmetic dentists like Dr. Currie will tell you that it takes years after graduation, taking continuing education and gaining experience, before they feel confident in their cosmetic dentistry skills and artistry. For even the greatest cosmetic dentists, their first case is rarely truly beautiful.
And then you have the complication of your relationship with your friend. What will be the future of your friendship if you end up with a mediocre smile and then feel that you have to go to a true cosmetic dentist to re-do your friend’s work? This is a risky proposition you’re contemplating.
Consider your decision carefully.
This post is sponsored by York PA dentist Donald H. Currie, DMD General & Cosmetic Dentistry.