My Smile Transformation with Dental Boutique
Growing up, I was never happy with my smile. When I was 12 years old I got braces, which was a bittersweet experience. I had a gap between my front two teeth, which was one of my biggest insecurities. I was excited to get braces because I thought it would fix it. I still remember how I felt when they took them off after nearly 3 years. I left almost crying... and not happy tears. After years of dealing with braces and orthodontist appointments (which had also made me terrified of dentists all together), my front two teeth still had a gap between them. Due to the shape of my teeth, unfortunately braces just wouldn't be able to fix it.So my smile continued to be an insecurity of mine all through my teenage years and into my twenties. I avoided smiling in photos, which became a bit of problem as blogging became my full-time job. Around 5 years ago is when I started hearing about veneers. I started researching into them and knew that one day, this is something I'd want to pursue. In 2018, I made that decision and it is still one of the best decisions I've ever made.
Quick refresh: Veneers are very thin shells of porcelain, which are bonded to the front surface of the teeth to improve the shape, color, position, or size of them.
For someone first thinking about getting veneers, the whole process can seem kind of overwhelming. For one, veneers are permanent and can get expensive. Two, I didn't want an overly white, bulky smile that didn't suit my face. I didn't want a completely different teeth shape. So basically, I REALLY needed to find a dentist that I could completely trust. I wanted to find someone who specialises in this kind of work and dedicates all their time to it. A general dentist won't really do. This is when I discovered Dental Boutique. I first came across some of their veneer transformations on social media and loved every. single. one. Their work was truly amazing and I knew I needed to have a consultation to find out how they could help me. Because that's the thing — I didn't really know for sure what I wanted. I knew I wanted to have a beautiful smile (I mean, who doesn't), but I didn't really knew what I would need to achieve it, which is where Dental Boutique came in.On my first consultation, I met with Dr Reuben who assessed my teeth and was very transparent with me. He told me what kind of pathways I could take and how they would work out. In the end, I ended up deciding on getting 6 porcelain veneers and a gum lift.[columns_row width="half"][column]
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[/column][/columns_row]I am SO happy with the decision I made. The team at Dental Boutique did an incredible job and exceeded all my expectations, as you can see from my before and afters above. I didn't even know a gum lift is what I needed to achieve the smile I always wanted. I still can't believe these are my teeth. The gum lift and veneers were only done on my top teeth, for those wondering. Dental Boutique are the reason I smile in nearly all my photos now. They went from being my biggest insecurity to something I feel so confident about. I can't even explain how amazing that feels.It's now been over 6 months since I've had my veneers put in. I waited until now to do this blog post because I really wanted to live with them for a while before doing an honest review. I am still just as happy (possibly even more happy?), than the day I got them. I also thought it would be easier to break down this blog post into the most frequently asked questions I receive on them.[columns_row width="half"][column]
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Did it hurt and how long did it take?
After my first consultation, I came back in to do teeth whitening as I was only getting 6 porcelain veneers, the rest of my teeth had to match in colour. I came back a week later for the biggest procedure day, which was to put get my gum lift and temporary veneers put in. The gum lift was painless as it was done with laser. When it came to putting in the veneers, I had numbing cream and local aesthetic throughout the procedure so I couldn't feel anything. I was terrified I would feel something as I'm not good with pain AT ALL, but thankfully I couldn't feel a thing. It was just very uncomfortable having to sit in a chair for a few hours and you can feel pushing and pulling, but it's nothing like I'd imagined. Dental Boutique supplied headphones so I was able to listen to whatever I wanted to distract myself! They always tried their best to make me feel as comfortable as possible.
I came in about 2 weeks later and had my final porcelain veneers put in. The reason why they do temporary first, is so you can live with the smile and let them know about any adjustments you'd like to make (if any). Once you're happy with the colour, shape, etc, then the porcelain ones are made for you. Once porcelain go in, they stay in, so you need to be 100% with it all!
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How much did it cost?
The cost varies depending on the initial arrangement of teeth, the materials chosen and the complexity of your case. To find out how much it will cost for you, you will need to book in for a consultation.
Did you get to look at what your smile would look like with veneers?
Yes! That is the reason for getting temporary veneers first for a couple weeks. :)
Do they chip or break easily?
No, porcelain veneers are as strong as your normal teeth. Yes it is possible they can chip, just like real teeth!
How long do they last?
Porcelain veneers typically last 10-15 years.
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Do porcelain veneers stain?
No, they don't. Coffee, tea, red wine and other foods do not stain veneers as they do real teeth because unlike tooth enamel, porcelain is not porous.
What can porcelain veneers achieve?
• Small gaps between teeth• Chips and cracks on teeth• Discoloration that does not respond to tooth whitening• Minor crookedness or misalignment• Mismatched tooth sizes• Uneven tooth shapes
I really cannot put into words how to thank Dental Boutique enough. Not only has my smile been completely transformed, but so has my overall confidence. They are the best in the business and it's easy to see why people fly from all over to see them. If you are thinking about booking with them, I couldn't recommend them enough. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Not only am I grateful for the smile they've given me, but as a side note, I'm no longer afraid of dentists! Haha. The first time I ever met with them, I was anxious about visiting the dentist due to my previous experiences, and that's something the team at Dental Boutique completely changed. I mean you can even watch Netflix whilst you're getting your teeth whitened or cleaned!!
If you have any other questions, please ask away in the comments!