When men sit in my chair, the request I hear is rarely "whiter." It is a sentence closer to this: I don’t want it to look done.
Good. Neither do I. Natural looking veneers are the whole point, and for men that comes down to a few design choices.
What men often come in with
Worn edges. Teeth that have gotten shorter and darker over the years. A front tooth chipped a long time ago and never quite fixed. Old bonding. Sometimes a smile they have simply never liked.
What they want is to look rested, healthy and like themselves on a good day.
How I design natural looking veneers for a man’s face
A smile is designed for a face, not a gender. But a few choices come up often.
Edges that are a little more defined. Proportions that suit a stronger jaw. Color that is natural, not bright. Surface texture that reads as real tooth instead of polished glass.
The goal is a smile people notice without knowing why. "You look great." Not "nice veneers."
Wear is part of the plan
When teeth have worn down, I want to understand why. So your bite is part of the conversation from the first visit, when I examine your teeth, gums and bite. On insert day, I check your bite in the chair and scan you for a custom nightguard to protect the porcelain.
The process, start to finish
- A ninety-minute consultation, with an honest answer about what is possible.
- Prep day: you are numb and comfortable while I design your teeth by hand and place your temporary smile.
- Two to three weeks to live in your temporaries. We review color, shape and proportion together, and I adjust until you sign off.
- Insert day: your final hand-layered porcelain, a bite check and a nightguard scan.
For the full picture of how I plan a smile, read my guide to porcelain veneers in Beverly Hills.
The takeaway
A great smile on a man is not a bright one. It is one that makes you look like the best version of yourself, and nobody can tell what you did. I’m based in Los Angeles and take one trip a month to our New York office.
Continue reading: Why a natural smile isn't perfectly symmetrical · How long do veneers actually last?
Common questions
Can veneers look natural on men?
Yes, when they are designed for your face: natural color, defined edges and real surface texture.
Can veneers help with worn-down teeth?
Worn teeth are something I look at closely. Your bite is examined at the consultation and checked again on insert day, and I give you an honest recommendation for your mouth.
Do I need a nightguard after veneers?
On insert day I scan you for a custom nightguard, to protect the porcelain.
How do I know what my veneers will look like?
You live in your temporaries for two to three weeks. They are a real preview of the final result, and we adjust them until you sign off.
This article is general information only and not a substitute for a personal exam and treatment plan from your own dentist.
Cosmetic dentist at Apa Aesthetic in Beverly Hills and New York since 2015. NYU College of Dentistry. Founder and Chief Education Officer of Stribe, where she has trained more than 1,000 dentists.
About Dr. Andi
