If your teeth are cracked, stained, or otherwise damaged, cosmetic dentistry can greatly improve the appearance of your smile. Dentists use crowns, bridges, implants, onlays & veneers for smile makeovers,& many of these techniques have been used for hundreds of years. But compared to other procedures, like crowns, which have been used since as early as 200 AD, veneers are a relatively new procedure. But how did this relatively affordable option develop amongst so many other techniques?
Cosmetic dentistry has been practiced for thousands of years. Before veneers, to fix damaged teeth, people either had them filled or left them alone. Some civilizations had techniques for cosmetic dentistry. Around 700 BC, Etruscans used ivory, bone, & teeth from humans or animals for dentures, & by 200 AD, they used gold for crowns. Egyptians used to scrub stains from their teeth with pumice stones & vinegar. Later, in the 1400s, barbers were performing dental hygiene & cosmetic services, like teeth whitening with acid (which eventually destroyed the tooth enamel!).
Around 1770, the first porcelain dentures were made, & people began to focus on making prosthetic teeth look natural. Porcelain teeth gained popularity in the 1800s, & in 1903, Charles Land created a porcelain substitute for metal fillings called a “porcelain jacket crown.”
And finally, in 1928, a Californian dentist named Charles Pincus created the first dental veneers after getting a request to change the appearance of an actor’s teeth. These veneers may be the true origin of the famous “Hollywood Smile.” Pincus went on to invent veneers that were held in place by a denture adhesive, but they didn’t last very long & could only be secured temporarily.
Since they had the potential to help the general public, dentists worked on making veneers more long-lasting, & in 1959, Dr. Michael Buonocore first used etching to bond porcelain veneers to teeth more permanently. In 1982, Drs. Simonsen & Calamia found a way to increase the bond strength by using hydrofluoric acid in etching & composite resins to bond porcelain to teeth permanently. These small advances in materials & technology led to the very refined & high-quality veneers we have available now.
Today, veneers are mainly made from porcelain & can be expected to last between 10 & 30 years, depending on care & wear. The history of veneers is a perfect representation of the history of cosmetic dentistry & all of its advances—it’s a history of people innovating to help others’ smiles shine brighter!