How do I make veneers look natural, not fake?

The first cause of fake-looking veneers is shade. Many patients ask for the brightest white, but very bright teeth can look unnatural against skin tone and the whites of the eyes. Natural teeth have gradation: the biting edge is more translucent and the area near the gum slightly warmer. A good ceramist builds in these details, which is one reason the veneers are made at Creative Art Dental Lab in Dubai in direct coordination with the dentist.

The second cause is shape. Natural teeth are not identical rectangles: central incisors are slightly longer, laterals smaller and softer, canines stronger. Tooth length should suit your lip line when you smile and speak. So Dr. Khalid Saeed starts with digital smile design on photos of your face, then a mock-up on your teeth so you can see, speak and smile with it before anything is prepared. Read more in digital smile design and mock-ups.

The third cause is thickness and gums. Thick shells make teeth look bulky, and an uneven gum line makes even beautiful veneers look odd. Light preparation guided by the mock-up is preferred over bulky shells, and the gum line can be shaped with the Waterlase laser when needed. Sometimes fewer veneers combined with whitening looks more natural than a full set.

See real cases with different shades and shapes in the before and after gallery and the Creative Arts smile gallery in Dubai. Feel free to ask for a softer shade at try-in; changes before bonding are far easier than after.

• A shade matched to skin and eyes, not the brightest white
• Translucency and gradation at the biting edge
• Different shapes for centrals, laterals and canines
• Thin shells and a balanced gum line
• Test-drive the mock-up before preparation