Everything We Know About Uveneers: The Cheaper & Less Invasive Alternative To Veneers
The standards of beauty just keep getting more and more unattainable, due in large part to Instagram, TikTok, and reality TV.
Procedures like lip fillers, botox, and microblading eyebrows — which used to be something that only Real Housewives could afford — are now considered just part of a normal beauty routine. In the past five years, having perfect teeth has become another cause of anxiety — especially for young people. In my day, it was all about getting braces, but these days people are resorting to costly porcelain veneers, which have exploded in popularity in recent years.
Every influencer seems to be repping a mouthful of bright white veneers, to the point where it’s almost a prerequisite for social media fame: build a following, get a blue tick, then do spon-con for a dental company in order to receive a free set of veneers. Rinse and repeat.
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Veneers have become so popular that last year a TikTok trend called #VeneersCheck was leaving the internet (and dentists) baffled, as people uploaded pics and videos of themselves preparing to get veneers by having their teeth filed into tiny points, looking like swamp goblins.
@taysb16Had to jump on the wagon. #teeth #veneerscheck #crowns #foryou #foryoupage #fyp #crowns #turkeyteeth♬ original sound – Skylarcrenshaw
While most porcelain veneers don’t call for such an extreme transformation, they do require some filing of the tooth enamel — which is something that is irreversible. Porcelain veneers are also expensive, costing over a thousand dollars per tooth. If you’re looking to improve the aesthetic appearance of your teeth without damaging your original teeth or coughing up thousands of dollars, then Uveneers could be a game-changer.
Uveneers are an Australian invention, created by Melbourne dentist Dr. Sigal Jacobson, as an innovative alternative to veneers that corrects cracked, gapped, chipped, discoloured, and missing teeth. Dr. Jacobson boasts that the treatment is so fast that it takes the same amount of time as applying a set of acrylic nails at the salon.
The results can be super dramatic.
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Dr. Jacobson’s invention is now used by thousands of dentists globally. The treatment involves using a composite template kit to create a resin veneers that can be bonded, hardened and polished in just one visit, generally without the need for any injections or drilling the enamel. I had a consultation with Dr. Jacobson, where she assessed how my teeth’s shape could be improved. It was painless and super easy. The best part was that with Uveneers, you can test out how you like your new teeth shape without making any big commitments. Unlike veneers, the composites are easy to remove — and don’t leave any permanent damage.
We spoke to Uveneer inventor Dr. Sigal Jacobson about the process, the results and the cost.
What are Uveneers?
“The Uveneer is a unique, composite template kit that the dentist uses to create beautiful long-lasting composite veneers in one appointment. There is no need for injections and no cutting or drilling the tooth and the results are long-lasting, beautiful and an affordable option to the patient.
“This invention came from my own need as a cosmetic dentist. I was frustrated with the time it took me to build in-chair composite veneers, as the results were not always predictable and solely relied on my artistic skill. I started looking for an efficient way to do them, as I knew it can help so many people to smile again. So I decided to invent an ideal template system that creates the perfect shape and size of those composite bonded veneers.
“How it works? The dentist bonds the resin (with the right shade) to your teeth, presses the Uveneer template on the resin to mould the ideal shape, then the dentist hardens the resin through the clear template with a special light, removes the Uveneer template and then they do some minor final individual touch-ups. It is fast, conservative and an affordable procedure.”
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How are Uveneers different to porcelain veneers?
“Uveneer creates a high-end aesthetic composite veneer with a finish that is superior to the free hand-made composite veneers. In dentistry, a veneer is a name for a layer of material that the dentist places over a person’s tooth to mask anaesthetic shape or discolouration. Like a contact lens.
“There are two main types of materials used to make a veneer — composite resin (white filling) that is done in the chair in one visit and porcelain veneers (ceramic) made by the lab technician. The main difference is that composite veneers are a more conservative option and do not require injections and no removal or drilling of the tooth structure. This is because they can be made super thin.
“If you decide to do porcelain veneers, this will take at least two visits. The dentist will numb your teeth and remove a thin layer from the enamel, take a mould and send it to a lab. Meanwhile you will have a set of temporary veneers for a week or two while the lab prepares the porcelain veneers. When the veneers are made by the lab, the dentist will remove the temporary veneers and cement the final porcelain veneers.
“The aesthetics of both types of veneers can look amazing and depends on the dentist’s level of skill and years of experience. The main difference is that porcelain veneers are resistant to stains and will not show any future surface changes because of the nature of the material, so if you want white teeth forever this is the best option for you. On the other hand, composite resin will stain like the natural teeth and it is recommended to have a yearly follow-up appointment to maintain its beauty, colour and shine. However, the new advanced composite resins show less staining and [they] are more wear-resistant.”
Unlike porcelain veneers, do Uveneers require patients to have their teeth filed at all?
“In most cases no, due to the ability of the resin finish being very thin. It is called an additive dentistry and is great for sensitive teeth, as it doesn’t require the removal of enamel-like porcelain veneers and adds a protective layer over the tooth.”
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How long do Uveneers last for?
“Studies shows that both types of veneers — porcelain and composite — lasts more than 10 years, however composite resin material may show future surface changes over time and will need once a year visits for maintenance. The maintenance required is generally a simple visit for polishing and touch-ups. Although with the new improved composite resin material, we see less staining and less surface changes.
“Another important thing to note is if a porcelain veneer chips, it has to be replaced. In other words, it can’t be repaired. If you chip a composite veneer, the dentist will be able to repair it easily in the chair.”
How does the cost differ between Uveneer and porcelain veneers per tooth?
“Porcelain veneers are more expensive than composite veneers. The reason is because the placement of porcelain requires more visits, lab expenses etc. Porcelain veneers cost between $1500-$2000 per tooth and will require a full set so that all your teeth match. Composite veneers and Uveneer cost between $500-$1000 per tooth and allows you to just have individual teeth treated and matched to your original teeth. It will stain like the rest of your teeth.”
How many clinics around the world offer Uveneers?
“More than 40,000 dentists are using the Uveener system now globally.”