Are GlamSmile Veneers Worth It?

According to 2015 research from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, it is appearance (99%), cost (88%) and longevity of results (77%) that are the three overwhelming factors that you, the patients, consider when thinking about cosmetic dentistry.

These three factors are also the reason the GlamSmile innovation, and the trade-offs it offers against other dental veneers, is so tricky to talk about.

GlamSmile opinions and facts

In any cosmetic dental procedure, there are bound to be differing viewpoints on whether something is right for you, your circumstances and your teeth. Often, patients like you have done a lot of research. We encourage this. However, it can also mean that some patients come around to firm ideas on what they need before they’ve had a smile consultation to tell if it is even feasible.

The reasons we are saying all this is that GlamSmile and other types of veneers are something we get asked about daily. What are the differences? Why do some cost so much more than others? In some cases, patients have even come to us to redo their cosmetics because the result was not what they had expected…

We wrote this blog to help patients with their research. It is so important before undergoing any medical procedure that you asses all your options and we want to try to give all the facts to help you choose what is right for you.

What is GlamSmile?

GlamSmile is essentially a brand name for a type of porcelain veneers which is licenced to associated dentists.

Through streamlining production, GlamSmile can discount much of the manufacturing cost and skip the intensive dental preparation work and customisation of other veneers. The result for most patients is a straight white smile achieved quickly and simply and for lower immediate cost.

However, remember above when we said that that appearance, cost and longevity of results was a trade-off? Well, it is during and after the procedure that these factors come together.

4 Things to know about GlamSmile

1. It is a product with more mass-production than, say, Lumineers. So, while many people are pleased with their new GlamSmile smile they also report feeling as if they were “wearing a mouthguard”. Others, report that the more standardised GlamSmile veneers made their teeth appear much larger or “like dentures”.

2. While a GlamSmile smile won’t generally appear unusual, at the same time many patients report that they don’t think their smile looks like them anymore. It seems to be a case not of enhancing your natural smile but replacing it with a different look altogether. For some patients that is a great result, for others it is an unwelcome change.

3. Fitting GlamSmile veneers only takes two appointments. The first is to take moulds of your teeth that GlamSmile’s dental ceramists will use to craft your veneers. The second is to have those veneers fitted. However, those ceramists have no contact with you. Their information on your face shape and lip function is limited and, of course, there is no direct consultation with you about the results you want. So, while the GlamSmile technicians are trained professionals, the simple lack of contact introduces a degree of randomness into the process.

4. GlamSmile is often billed as reversible. This is true in the best-case scenarios where the absolute minimum of tooth preparation needs to be undertaken. However, many people require more intensive preparation and permanent changes to their teeth. Often, this makes GlamSmile as irreversible as any other veneer.

Is GlamSmile worth it?

That’s up to you. At Advanced Dental Artistry, we have built our practice on an ethos of longevity and quality above all else. Our verdict on the GlamSmile offering as it currently exists?

No.

Dentistry is an extremely competitive business. Neither we, nor our fellow dentists, can pad prices. Even for procedures that seem expensive, the equipment, materials and training that lets us offer it to you all build up the cost base.

Minimising the cost base is the major innovation that makes GlamSmile such a promising idea: veneers that are easier for the dentist and cheaper for you. But we believe the end result is not something that we would want to put our name to. We believe having in house labs is one of the best things about our practice, it means everyone involved in crafting your new smile is under one roof and that is what makes us so different.

Your GlamSmile choice

In the end, your decision about GlamSmile should come from talking to a range of knowledgeable and trustworthy dental professionals about the results you want from the teeth you have. Don’t prompt them about GlamSmile – or any other procedure for that matter. Instead, tell them the results you want and listen to what they have to say.

Once you have all the facts about your individual case, you can make a judgement call on which are the most important factors to weigh up. Know what the pros and cons are of all your options, be aware of any limitations and research thoroughly the kind of results you can expect. Ask friends, watch videos, look at case studies, and most importantly ask your dentist about similar cases, before and afters – 1,2,5,10, 15+ years after treatment. Ultimately, we want patients to make informed decisions. You have to weigh up what exactly your dental goals are and say to yourself, is that treatment plan the best fit?