If you've seen the 'shark teeth' trend on TikTok, which recommends teeth shaving for veneers, you're probably starting to wonder (or panic) about what it really means to get a perfect smile these days. 

The trend is all about TikTokers sharing their 'pre-veneers' smiles after having their natural teeth shaved down to pegs in preparation for a new cosmetic smile.

But one TikTok dentist, with over 25k followers on the site, says this scary trend is not the right way to prepare the teeth for veneers.

In fact, teeth shaving for veneers is completely wrong.

Dr Emi Mawson insists that teeth should not be filed down to fit traditional veneers, which are little more than a thin, shell-like covering for the tooth. Think of it like false nails, she suggests.

However, the treatment is being sold as a 'faster and cheaper' option because it means that teeth don't have to be aligned before applying a traditional veneer - therefore you don't need orthodontic treatment first.

The British dentist posted a TikTok video warning, watched over 100k times, about the dangers of having the teeth shaved down, including nerve damage, pain and massive expense.

We recommend giving it a watch.

So, GLAMOUR caught up with Dr Mawson to find out what exactly a veneer procedure should look like and why we should be wary of any other treatments being sold as 'veneers':

What is the 'shark teeth' trend and why is it so worrying?

“Something we are seeing a lot is 'crowns' being sold and marketed as 'veneers,' which can cause some confusion when considering treatment for yourself. Crown preparations require less time and skill for both the dentist and the lab technicians but they can be a lot more damaging for the teeth in the long-run. 

"Dental tourism - where people go abroad to seek cheaper or faster alternatives to UK treatments - is becoming increasingly popular and it's worrying because people don't always know the facts about what they're paying for. Once your teeth are down to stumps, there is no going back.”

What is the difference between veneer preparation and crown preparation?

“Whereas a veneer requires minimal preparation to a single surface of the tooth, a crown preparation requires a heavier preparation of all surfaces of the tooth, creating this ‘stump’ appearance upon which a crown is fitted. A crown preparation means that more of the natural tooth is removed, this significantly weakens the tooth and leaves it much more vulnerable to problems in the future.”