Trendy Teeth: Teens shirking braces - Corrective Dentistry (Orthodontics) Articles

Trendy Teeth: Teens shirking braces
December 07, 2007
By Sylvia Perez
abc7chicago.com

Fashion savvy teens want an accessory just about everyone in Hollywood seems to have - a dazzling smile.
It's a look they want right now. And some dentists say they can make it happen.
Braces in high school were once accepted as an awkward rite of passage. But, with new technology and a boom in cosmetic dentistry, many teenagers are no longer willing to wait it out. Now, they're getting a superstar smile in a matter of days. But, at what cost to the long term health of their teeth?
High school football player

"I smile all the time. Everyone is like, 'You look so happy now.' It's changed my life," he said.
It took just two visits to suburban dentist Zack Zaibak. Dominick says his family was behind the somewhat radical idea of him getting veneers instead of braces.
"They want it to be fast. They're looking for fast results, and with the advancements in dentistry and technology, there are options we can give them," said Zaibak.
Bleaching can give a dull smile a shiny boost. And there are even braces that are nearly invisible. But for some teens, It's not enough. That's why veneers are an enticing option.
Veneers are porcelain overlays bonded onto existing teeth. They may seem like a drastic step for a teen, but Doctor Zaibak says he's doing this procedure because in some cases, braces won't produce what patients really want. He uses Lumineers. They are veneers billed as extremely tough but as thin as a contact lens.
"Their natural tooth underneath is preserved," Zaibak said. "That allows us to place Lumineers on top of your teeth with minimal, if any, drilling on your teeth."
He says they can reshape misaligned teeth, cover discoloration and fix any gaps between the teeth. But in some cases, the existing teeth do need to be shaved down to make room for veneers. That's among several concerns many other dentists have about adolescents going the veneer route instead of braces.
"If you are doing a cosmetic fix by slapping a veneer on there, that could be just a little Band-Aid fix without addressing the root cause of the problem," said Gregory Jackson, DDS, orthodontist, UIC School of Dentistry.
Jackson says a 14-,15- even 16-year old's teeth can still be moving and erupting. That's why he and other dentists say parents should think twice and even get a second opinion. Once a person gets veneers, it's a lifetime commitment with no guarantee the overlays will last forever.
"They do need to be replaced and restored. It's not just a quick fix for that moment. You are married to it then," said Robyn Silberstein, DDS, orthodontist, UIC College of Dentistry.
Fifteen-year-old Chris Casper says his eighth grade graduation present was a new smile. The change was dramatic. Now a high school freshman and an aspiring actor, Chris says it took a few days to get used to talking with his new veneers, but after a few months he feels it was the best choice for him.
"Yeah, it's young, but you know, I'm going into high school now. That's the time you have to look good, you know," he said.
Many dentists say veneers are not a solution for everyone and will not take the place of braces, especially for those who need to correct problems with their bite.
And the cost can be higher than braces. Veneers run anywhere from %500 to $1,300 *a tooth.* The average cost for two years of braces is about $5,000.

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