Home / Procedures / Hollywood smile / What to ask

Hollywood smile subtopic · Last reviewed 11 May 2025

Written and maintained by the Clinics for Kings editorial desk·Edited by Morten Andersen & Fredrik Filipsson

Fact-checked against the cited medical and cost sources by the Clinics for Kings editorial desk·General information, not a clinician’s review — always consult a licensed doctor.

Hollywood smile: what to ask.

The questions that protect your healthy teeth before you commit to a full set. Veneers or crowns, how much enamel comes off, the material, who does the work, and what the guarantee really covers. We never name a clinic.

General health information, not medical advice, and not a substitute for a qualified doctor. Always consult a licensed professional before making any decision.

£1,600+

Indicative abroad
vs £7,500+ UK

Key questions
all answered in writing

Permanent

The decision
enamel does not return

The one honest thing

The most important answer is whether you need crowns at all. Crowns on healthy teeth for looks alone is the choice people most regret.

Quick answer

Why these questions?

A Hollywood smile is permanent. Once a tooth is prepared for a veneer or, worse, ground down for a crown, there is no going back. So the questions that matter are not about the colour. They are about how much healthy tooth will be removed, who will do the work, and what happens if it goes wrong. A clinic that answers all of them clearly in writing is treating you as a patient, not a sale.

This page expands the questions from the main guide. It is general information reviewed in June 2026, not a personal treatment plan. Costs are indicative and vary.

The questions in depth

Ask all six, in writing.

Pressure to have crowns on every tooth, prices far below the market, and a full set finished in a single short trip are the warning signs that matter most. Use these to judge any clinic you are sent.

Veneers or crowns, and exactly why for each tooth?

Veneers are thin shells bonded to the front of a tooth after a little enamel is removed. Crowns cap the whole tooth and need most of it ground away first. Crowns are right when a tooth is heavily broken down or root treated, but using them on sound teeth just to deliver a smile faster removes far more healthy tooth than needed. Ask for the proposal tooth by tooth and the clinical reason for each.

How much enamel will be removed, and can any tooth be left alone?

Conservative veneers remove only a fraction of a millimetre, and some cases can use ultra thin or no preparation veneers. Ask for a clear figure and whether any teeth could be whitened or aligned instead of prepared. The less healthy tooth removed, the better.

Who is the named, registered clinician doing the work?

Confirm the dentist is qualified and registered, that they will personally do the preparation, and that there is recognised clinic accreditation and, in some countries, a health tourism authorisation you can check.

What material and shade, and can I see a preview?

Ask the exact material and brand, such as a layered porcelain or a pressed ceramic like E max, and request a natural shade matched to your face. A trial smile or mock up before any tooth is touched is a good sign. A very white, uniform look is the classic regret.

Will my gums and bite be treated and checked first?

Any gum disease or decay must be treated before cosmetic work, and the way your teeth meet has to be accounted for. Skipping this to fit everything into one trip stores up failures, sensitivity, and a bite that feels wrong.

What is the guarantee, and how are repairs handled at home?

Get the warranty in writing, including how long it lasts, what voids it, who pays, and how a chip, a failed veneer, a dying nerve, or a bad bite would be handled once you are back in your own country.

The warning signs

When to walk away.

Crowns on healthy teeth

If sound teeth are to be ground down for crowns purely to deliver a look quickly, that is more healthy tooth lost than the result needs.

A full set in one short trip

Rushing many teeth in days leaves no time to live with temporaries, refine the shape, or correct the bite before the work is permanent.

Vague answers and pressure

No clear figure for enamel removed, no named clinician, no written guarantee, and pressure to book fast all point one way.

Get Matched with a vetted clinic

Now you know what to ask, compare safely.

Send one brief and we route it to vetted clinics that answer these questions clearly. They return tailored plans and all in prices. You choose, with no pressure.

Free and no obligation. Accredited clinics only. We never sell your details.

How we make money: the guides are free and no clinic can pay to be named, ranked or recommended. We never name clinics. Get Matched is an optional service that helps keep the guides free and independent of any one clinic; using it is always your choice and you are never charged. How this works.

Common questions

The things everyone asks.

What is the single most important question?

Whether you need crowns at all. Crowns remove most of a tooth, so using them on healthy teeth just for appearance is the choice that causes the most lasting regret. Push for veneers or no treatment where the tooth is sound.

Should I be worried about a one trip turnaround?

Yes, for a full set. Rushing permanent work into a few days leaves little room to preview the look, adjust the bite, or correct problems before the result is locked in.

How do I check the clinician is qualified?

Ask for the named dentist and confirm their registration with the relevant national register, and look for recognised clinic accreditation. A clinic with nothing to hide will help you verify.

What should a good guarantee cover?

It should state how long it lasts, what voids it, who pays for repairs, and how a problem is handled once you are home. A guarantee you cannot realistically use from your own country has limited value.