A smile is often your first introduction to someone else.

Many of us care about the look of our grinsbecause we find smiles so attractive.

Our obsession with a beaming grin isn’t all vanity, though.

A woman’s perfect smile

Psychology and self-esteem are involved with the look of our teeth.

No matter how hard we try, we sometimes judge others and ourselves based on appearances, including smiles.

Looking in the mirror, you are probably the most critical person about your own toothy grin.

Young woman in front of her phone camera

“It gives us self-esteem and confidence.”

Social media may make us more self-conscious about smiles, too.

Veneers are not something you would encounter in your average dental cleaning.

Veneer installation

With the expense of this procedure in mind, why are so many people changing their smiles?

The cons of getting veneers

There are lots ofimportant things to know before you get veneers.

Veneers are not your average dental procedure.

Woman experiencing tooth pain

it’s possible for you to’t change your mind after getting these porcelain coverings.

While veneers are expensive and permanent, that doesn’t mean they are full-proof when it comes to damage.

That’s what happened toTikTokker Chelsea Smith, who shared her veneer story online.

“My veneer popped off my tooth,” she said.

Her less-than-ideal experience with veneers has her questioning whether she made the right call.

Because veneers go in front of your teeth, they are a semi-protective layer.

But that does not mean that you are guaranteed a cavity-free life.

And if your dentist does not adequately place your veneers on your teeth, bacteria can run rampant.

However, finding the right dentist may be more difficult with the rise of “mouth shops.”

These cheap alternatives to classic veneer procedures are usually outside the United States.

However, the speed at which these procedures from abroad are done concerns dentists.

That rushed timeframe can be disastrous and lead to months of complications.

“You are sold the dream and you are delivered a nightmare,” Amanda Turner toldITV.

Turner complained about her procedure, citing that it was not what she expected nor what she asked for.

Credible dentists warn that seeking cheap veneers could cost you in health problems later on.