In recent years, veneers have surged in popularity across America and other Western nations, becoming a symbol of beauty, success, and social capital. While often viewed through the lens of fashion or self-care, this trend is deeply entwined with broader systemic forces including capitalism, healthcare disparities, and the commercialization of health itself. 

At its core, the rise of veneers reflects the commodification of oral health under capitalist structures. In the United States, where dental care is largely privatized and excluded from standard health insurance coverage, oral health has long been a marker of socioeconomic status. White, straight, and uniform teeth are portrayed in media as the ideal, creating social pressure that links dental aesthetics with personal virtue, professionalism, and even moral worth. In this context, veneers, a cosmetic solution often costing thousands of dollars are less of a medical intervention and more of a consumer good, available primarily to those with the financial means to access them. Especially when we factor in the cost of the procedure being done domestically or abroad. 

This commodification is not coincidental but is reinforced by a healthcare system that does not prioritize dental care as a component of overall health. Despite well-documented links between oral health and systemic health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and maternal health dental care remains separated from primary care in much of the Western world. This divide perpetuates a two-tier system in which cosmetic dental procedures are glamorized and normalized for the affluent, while basic dental needs go unmet for the economically disadvantaged. We can make the argument that cosmetic dental procedures are luxuries, but basic, restorative, and preventative dental care shouldn’t be considered a luxury but for many that is not the case.  

Social media and celebrity culture have further fueled the veneer trend. Influencers and public figures routinely showcase dramatic “before and after” transformations, equating veneers with self-improvement and upward mobility. These portrayals obscure the reality that veneers often involve irreversible procedures, like enamel removal, and can require long-term maintenance or replacement. Like any other procedure there are risks and the probability of errors. An example is the veneers not being placed correctly leaving space for bacteria to grow leading to “veneer breath” which can only be fixed by replacing the effected veneers all over again. A few public figures have likely addressed this risk by now that it has been brought up more frequently, but the fact remains that having the procedure done correctly means paying more money to professionals. They also reinforce a narrow beauty standard that does not consider natural variation in tooth shape and color.  

Ultimately, the popularity of veneers is not simply about beauty it is a reflection of how capitalist systems market health, conflate appearance with worth, and deepen health inequalities. If dental care remains a luxury rather than a right, veneers will continue to represent more than a smile, they will signify the growing divide between those who can afford to embody the ideal and those who can’t.