Veneers are famous nowadays for helping people from all walks of life get beautiful, healthy smiles that they can show off with pride. However, this cosmetic treatment wasn’t always this accessible, nor was it as effective.
In fact, it’s taken a lot of effort to get veneers as good as they are today. If you want to know more, here’s some more information about the history of veneers.
The Invention of Veneers
Today, veneers are used by Hollywood movie stars to help beautify their smiles—as it turns out, that’s been true since their inception.
Veneers were invented in the 1920s by American dentist Dr. Charles Pincus, and they were designed specifically for movie stars. These early veneers were largely made out of acrylic, and could only be adhered to the teeth for a limited amount of time, a few hours at most. This made them good for appearing on the silver screen, but they were a long way away from being used as a long-term cosmetic.
Finding New Material
As time went on, however, it became obvious that more people than just celebrities would benefit from what veneers had to offer. At the time, fake teeth weren’t very attractive, and veneers offered a simple, beautiful way to revitalize someone’s smile.
It was during this time that porcelain veneers became the norm, which offered much more realism and durability than acrylic. However, the bonding agent was seriously lacking, meaning that they still couldn’t be used permanently.
Better Bonding
This continued until the 1950s, when Dr. Michael Buonocore discovered that applying a mild acid created a better surface to bond to. This process was called etching, and it revolutionized dental prosthetics, among other things.
Research continued well into the 80s when R.J Simonsen and J.R Calamia found that etching the veneers with hydrofluoric acid made for a secure bond between them and the teeth. For the first time, veneers could adhere strongly enough to be used semi-permanently.
And that brings us to today, where veneers are one of the most popular and effective cosmetic dental treatments. Hopefully, now that you know what it took to get them to this place, you can have a newfound appreciation for the beauty of this treatment.
About the Author
Dr. Vincenzo Artino got into dentistry because he wanted to find a profession that could allow him to help the people around him while being able to provide for his family. After a mission trip to the Dominican Republic when he was young he learned what a smile could do for someone. Dr. Artino received his degree from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine and has spent every day of his career expanding on the knowledge he attained there.
If you have any questions about veneers, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (303) 238-2800.