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Pinay dentist raises concerns over veneer craze fueled by social media

Filipina dentist Sam Bernardo cautions that while veneers offer aesthetic enhancement, improper application and lack of proper dental care can result in gum disease, bite issues, and long-term damage.

Article (news)

Josh Mercado

<div> </div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754012216069image0 (11).jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Kim Rodriguez and AweSam Smile founder Sam Bernardo in Marikina. Josh Mercado " style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Kim Rodriguez and AweSam Smile founder Sam Bernardo in Marikina. <em>Josh Mercado</em> </span></span></span></div><p>Flashy, perfectly white teeth are currently all over television screens and social media profiles, from famous stars to influencers. The secret behind those pearly white smiles? Dental veneers. </p><p>However, the veneer trend that these personalities follow has become so “unrealistic” that viewers find it “disturbing,” saying they no longer look like themselves. </p><p>One netizen commented, “Nakaka-distract minsan ‘yung ngipin ng mga artista or kahit sa mga beauty pageant. ‘Yun lang naman ang napansin ko.”</p><p>In a veneer-obsessed world, Filipina dentist and AweSam Smile Dental Clinic founder Sam Bernardo warns the public about the potential risks of having veneers.</p><p>Bernardo told ABS-CBN News, “Veneers are mostly for aesthetic purposes, but getting them depends on the patient&#x27;s situation. Hindi nila alam, dapat tama pa rin ‘yung bite. Dapat maayos pa rin ‘yung speech nila.”</p><p>She added, “‘Yung iba, maganda ang ngipin nila, naka-veneers, but upon checking, marami rin palang kailangang ayusin. Gusto ko, dapat maayos talaga bago mag-veneers.”</p><p>Going deeper into the negative impacts of dental veneers, the Philippine Dental Association member shared with ABS-CBN News, “Nagpapagawa na agad sila ng veneers dahil uso. Hindi nila alam, nagbabawas tayo ng ngipin. Kapag hindi talaga okay ‘yung fitting, magkakaroon ng gingivitis. Eventually, masisira rin. Pero kung okay naman ‘yung gawa, wala namang mangyayari.”</p><p>The owner of AweSam Smile recalled a patient telling her about getting veneers after seeing the trend on TikTok, adding, “One time, may isa kaming patient, kailangan ng calcular deposit, meaning hindi pa nagpapa-cleaning pero gusto ng veneers kasi nakita sa TikTok. Ako naman, kailangan ko muna siyang i-educate. Kailangan munang ayusin ‘yung gingivitis. Kasi kung hindi natin maaayos ‘yan, magpi-fail din ‘yan. Puwedeng mag-enjoy ka lang. Ilang months or puwedeng umabot ng year. Pero hindi mo alam, kapag tinanggal ‘yan, sira na.”</p><p>She went on to say that placing veneers is not a simple procedure since patients must have their teeth prepped by shaving off half to one millimeter from each tooth to make room for the veneer. After shaving, each tooth can be covered with a veneer, which is applied to the front of the tooth.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘Ngiti Mo, Sagot Ko’</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754012315692image1 (8).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Dr. Sam Bernardo, Boss Toyo, and Kim Rodriguez lead a dental mission in Marikina. Josh Mercado " style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Dr. Sam Bernardo, Boss Toyo, and Kim Rodriguez lead a dental mission in Marikina. <em>Josh Mercado</em> </span></span></span></div><p>Meanwhile, Dr. Bernardo recently conducted a dental mission in Marikina City with her celebrity endorser Kim Rodriguez to raise public awareness about the significance of oral health.</p><p>“The most common issue I notice is that people are unaware of the importance of oral health. They only visit the dentist when their teeth ache. Now, if we increase the spread of dental health education, we can reduce dental issues. Another thing I constantly emphasize is that the longer we wait, the worse things will get,” she emphasized.</p><p>“When a toothache occurs, the individual suffering from it will also experience a headache and be unable to sleep, as well as impaired speech ability. The same holds for eating and chewing, which reduces the body&#x27;s nourishment. You&#x27;ll also lose your desire to work. You&#x27;ll lose your mood,” she added.</p><p>The Pinay dentist and oral health advocate has been on a dental mission since 2017. In fact, her dental trip to Manila in 2024 was one of the country&#x27;s largest.</p><p>When asked about the fulfillment she gets from doing dental missions, Bernardo told ABS-CBN News, “Kapag may mga ganito kami, sobrang saya ng puso ko. Ako ang first dentist in the family kaya mahalaga ‘yung purpose.”</p><p>“Masarap sa pakiramdam na nakikita mo ‘yung mga bata at matatanda na ngumingiti. This mission is for everyone,” she added. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:957px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754012384269image2 (5).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:957px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Josh Mercado</em></span></span></span></div><p>Following their oral health mission, Bernardo announced that they intend to open their first branch inside the mall, in addition to their other clinics. She also stated that they have updated their app, which allows patients to earn points.</p>

<p>Filipina dentist Sam Bernardo cautions that while veneers offer aesthetic enhancement, improper application and lack of proper dental care can result in gum disease, bite issues, and long-term damage.</p>