In her hit song "Bodak Yellow," Cardi B proudly declared that she got a bag and fixed her teeth, and that it wasn't cheap. Many still believe she's wearing dentures, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. In fact, she has porcelain veneers.
Veneers are personalized and often pricey tooth coverings that have simplified transforming smiles, and Dr. Michael Apa, one of Hollywood's top cosmetic dentists and a founder of the Apa Rosenthal Group, is all too familiar with the practice. He's the man our favorite celebrities and influencers look to when they want to upgrade their smiles, and he's built a dentistry empire that's not showing signs of slowing down any time soon.
I spoke with Apa about his pricey services and got the inside scoop on things to think about before getting veneers. I even got a personal consultation, in which he crafted my perfect new smile. After this, let's just say I'm ready to elevate these teeth.
Apa is a world-renowned cosmetic dentist responsible for your favorite celebrity's or influencer's smile.
Working with everyone from Ashley Benson to Huda Kattan to Nikkie de Jager, he's the man behind smile upgrades that have left the mouths of celebs basically unrecognizable. With more than 16 years of experience and a beyond-impressive track record, Apa has become one of the most sought after dentists of our time.
Performing what he calls "smile makeovers," he's changing the game of cosmetic dentistry one mouth at a time.
In his state-of-the-art facilities filled with smile "architects," as he affectionately calls his staff, Apa delivers an experience just as powerful as his results. When seeking Apa's services, most look to his world class porcelain veneers, a set of "fake teeth" that takes smiles to levels never before seen.
For veneers of any kind, keep in mind, you might have to spend a pretty penny.
These aren't your grandmother's dentures. These personalized yet pricey tooth coverings (that begin on average at $925 per tooth) have seen a rapid popularity increase in the past year. More and more, people are investing in cosmetic orthodonture, and Apa is one of the dentists they look to.
Apa's veneers, however, cost about triple the average price. At $3,500 per tooth, his average patient spends a whopping $20,000 for a full set. But before you freak out over that price point, listen to Apa's breakdown of what a veneer actually is.
"A dental veneer (better known as a porcelain veneer) is an ultra-thin piece of porcelain, which, when bonded to the tooth, can change the shape, color, texture, and overall appearance," Apa said.
"Dental veneers typically require very minimal tooth reshaping and typically last between 15–20 years when done properly. A veneer is a dental restoration, just like a filling or a crown, but more minimally invasive."
So, what sets Apa's veneers apart from the others?
"Our process starts with the face," he said. "In the initial consultation, I use the patient’s face as our guide to map out the strong and weak sides where we can create balance and harmony that complements the facial features — I coined this process Facial Aesthetic Design. The goal is to enhance your facial features while taking the best characteristics of your smile and enhancing them, rather than giving you too-big, overly white, or unnaturally straight teeth. We create lifelike temporaries that mimic the final restorations in shape and allows the patient to, in essence, test drive their smile and make any adjustments in this phase. Each porcelain veneer is brought to life and is handmade in our New York or Dubai office by a ceramist who custom blends the porcelain match to the facial features, skin tone, and overall direction of the design. No two patients will have the same smile."
The US isn't the only place you can get one of Apa's state-of-the-art treatments.
In 2015, Apa opened a practice in Dubai where he serves dignitaries, celebs, and influencers of the region. "What is great about having two locations is that patients seek us out because what we are doing and how we are doing it is different from how it has been done traditionally," Apa said. His practice has become the premiere location for cosmetic dentistry in the United Arab Emirates, and it continues to grow rapidly.
Think that teeth like Huda Kattan's are what you need?
The decision to transform your smile is one that shouldn't be taken lightly. And even if you don't want to take the plunge and spend $20,000, there's still a lot more to be considered when choosing to alter your smile.
This is what Apa says should be on the top of your list of priorities when asking yourself if you want veneers.
_"_One of the most important things to consider when getting veneers is they are dental restorations. and over time will need to be replaced. I always advise my patients to treat them like real teeth — anything that will break your natural tooth will break a veneer," he said. "Being diligent about at-home oral care and seeing your dentist biannually for in-office cleanings will help you to maintain your restorations."
Like with any procedure, you get what you pay for with cosmetic dental practices.
Well-done veneers should look realistic. From the shape to the color, no one should be able to tell that your teeth aren't real.
Ever spotted a celeb with brick-shaped, thick teeth that resemble chiclets? They probably should have paid a visit to one of Apa's offices.
Don't let that be you! Like you would with any other dentist — or any other medical professional — do as much research on local dentistry practices as you can before booking a consultation for veneers.
And if you feel like now isn't your time for veneers or you just don't need them, you can always amp up your smile with the Apa White Duo ($150, Dermstore), an at-home whitening kit that's to die for.
The 90-minute-per-use treatment reveals noticeable results in just three days. And unlike most whitening strips, these stay right in place, ensuring that the treatment penetrates the teeth and not the gums. Trust me, I know. I swear by them.
Did we mention that Kim Kardashian swears by the Apa Beauty Lip Loofah and Lip Oil?
We've basically given you all the tools to have a Kardashian-level smile.
What's most rewarding for Apa, however, isn't the celebrity clientele — it's the restored confidence he sees in his patients.
"Many of our patients seek us out because there’s something about their smile they want to 'fix,' whether it be from a structural or aesthetic level," he said. "Being able to give them the confidence that comes with a new smile is one of the most rewarding parts of the process. From the moment they witness the change, they can’t stop smiling, and the change in confidence is immediate."
A confident smiles makes a world of difference, so make it count.
What you're looking at above is what Apa has determined as my ideal set of veneers. I had no clue until our consultation that my jaw tilted more to the right, therefore it offsets the angle of my teeth. Because of that, he suggested making the right side of my veneers longer. Even more, due to my "small teeth," caused by excess gums, I would need to have my gums pushed back for a fuller looking smile.
This is why Apa is in such high demand.
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