Age 23 and Was Recommended Veneers; Is This a Good Idea? (photo)

Veneers are certainly one option to close the space, however it should be the last resort.  If you have not already looked into orthodontic movement of the teeth with Invisalign, I would recommend doing that first.  Even if the spaces can't be fully closed that way, the teeth can be moved into a position where the minimum loss of enamel is required for veneers.  It may also be possible to leave the spaces in select areas where bonding tooth colored filling material can close the spaces left and still yield a very esthetic result.  The concern about the loss of tooth structure is real given that you will need the veneers replaced several times over your life and each time a little more tooth goes with them.

You MIGHT have the option of No-Prep Veneers (I would need to see a direct profile shot with you smiling really big to know for sure).  We do cases like this all the time and get great results -- but you have to go to someone who has some very recent continuing education.  I personally recommend someone who is DURAthins certified (has taken the course from Dr. Dennis Wells in Nashville) -- If your case is done correctly it will achieve your goals, look gorgeous, and last a long time.  DON'T let a dentist prep your teeth down using the traditional veneers tooth-preparation...my honest opinion.

You could certainly have veneers that require minimal preparation and get a great result.  The no prep veneers like Lumineers would probably look too bulky from seeing your photographs.  If your primary concern is the gap between the front teeth and the small size of the laterals and you like the general appearance of your teeth, bonding would be a great option.  Its lifespan would be less than veneers most lilkely but no tooth structure would be removed and you could still have the smile correction you desire.

We have patients with the same situation all the time, even youunger than you. You do not have to do veneers , you can try Invisalign to fix the shifting. Now, if you are unhappy with the small lateral incisors then you need to consider some  cosmetic work. The most aesthetic result will be with some sort of porcelain veneers, the have different ones available that you can have a conservative approach and look great, they are called Crystal Veneers, The preparation of this is less agressive like traditional veneers. We had a patient that got 4 of them at age 20 and was selected as a model because of her smile. You can also consider composite veneers.

Teeth bonding is done with a composite resin that can restore both aesthetics and function to your smile. Placed on both the front and back of teeth, the composite resin used in teeth bonding provides a strong, long-lasting, and seamless appearance to smiles impacted by decay or marred by cosmetic imperfections such as:


Chipped teeth

Misshapen teeth

Gapped teeth

Severe discoloration


Teeth bonding also requires very little of your natural tooth to be removed for these procedures, allowing more of your natural tooth to be preserved. Moreover, teeth bonding is done in one office visit, making it a much simpler and faster procedure than other forms.The material used in teeth bonding is not as strong as other restorative options, and may discolor, chip, or break over time. but they can last a long time too.

With lateral incisors that are too small, porcelain veneers are a great choice having long lasting properties to correct the poor proportion between your central incisors (front teeth) and the much smaller lateral incisors (side of the front teeth). The orthodontic issues (relapse "all your teeth shifting again") should be addressed prior to preparation of your teeth as teeth that are malpositioned would require additional prepping (filing) of your healthy tooth structure.