Will My Porcelain Veneers Look Natural?

Many patients considering porcelain veneers share the same concern: “Will my veneers look natural?”

It is an important question. Beautiful cosmetic dentistry should not look like dental work. Ideally, veneers should complement the patient’s natural appearance, facial features, smile, and personality rather than drawing attention to themselves.

Dr. Konig explains, “Many of our cases go unnoticed as patients as they are simply told they have a beautiful smile and not who did your veneers.”

When Veneers Look Too Bulky or Artificial

This young woman came to us after having porcelain veneers placed elsewhere. Although she had hoped for a beautiful, natural-looking smile, she was unhappy with the result.

Her veneers appeared too bulky and opaque, with shading that lacked the subtle variation found in natural teeth. The contours and proportions also did not create the softness and harmony she was looking for.

For a patient who has invested significant time, money, and emotion into changing her smile, this can be extremely disappointing.

The goal was not simply to replace the veneers. It was to understand why the original smile did not look natural and then carefully redesign it.

Creating a More Natural Smile

We removed the existing veneers and developed a new design based on her individual facial characteristics and smile.

The new veneers were designed with attention to:

• Proper tooth proportions
• Natural contours and anatomy
• Appropriate translucency
• Subtle color and shading
• The way light reflects from the teeth
• The relationship between the teeth, lips, and face
• The overall harmony of the smile

Rather than creating teeth that simply looked “perfect,” the objective was to create teeth that looked beautiful and natural.

Notice the difference in the softness of the new design. The teeth have greater harmony and proportion, and they complement her facial features rather than overpowering them.  The shine of the veneers also reflects light more naturally.

Most importantly, the patient was elated with her new smile.

The Goal: Natural Beauty

There is no single veneer design that is right for every patient. Teeth should be designed for the individual.

A smile that looks beautiful on one person may look completely inappropriate on another. Facial proportions, lip dynamics, complexion, age, personality, and the patient’s own preferences all play a role in developing the final design.

This case is a wonderful example of what can happen when art and science come together in cosmetic dentistry.

The objective was not merely to give this patient new veneers. It was to give her a smile that felt like her—only more beautiful, harmonious, and natural.

And perhaps the greatest measure of success is the final photograph: an elated patient who can once again smile with confidence.