In this episode of the Let’s Talk Smiles Podcast, Dr. Catrise Austin dives into the viral debate sparked by Cardi B’s comments on whether women should prioritize a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) or veneers first. Dr. Austin discusses the importance of dental health, how first impressions matter, and affordable options for achieving a stunning smile. Tune in for expert insights, practical advice, and an engaging discussion on beauty standards influenced by social media.
Key Takeaways:
• A smile is often the first thing people notice about you.
• Dental health is essential before considering any cosmetic enhancements.
• Affordable dental care options are available for those on a budget.
• Social media influences beauty standards but your confidence should come first.
• Veneers can boost your confidence and open doors to personal and professional opportunities.
Segments:
• [00:00] Welcome and introduction to today’s hot topic: BBL vs Veneers
• [02:20] Cardi B’s perspective on enhancing your body vs. your smile
• [05:59] The importance of prioritizing oral health before cosmetic procedures
• [09:11] First impressions: Why your smile matters more than you think
• [12:07] Affordable dental care resources to make veneers accessible
• [17:46] Social media’s impact on beauty standards
• [20:53] Choosing the right provider for safety and long-term results
• [24:09] Dr. Austin’s personal journey with veneers and confidence
Resources Mentioned:
1. Affordable Dental Care Guide: Download the free guide
2. Careington Dental Savings Plan: Save up to 60% on dental care
3. Free Smile Makeover Workbook: Take the first step to a new smile
4. Free Before and After Smile Photo: See your potential transformation
Catrise Austin (00:03.448):
She had to go on Twitter and comment on whether women who are looking to enhance themselves should get a Brazilian butt lift first or veneers first. And Cardi B, to my surprise—Ms. Hygienist 715, to my surprise—Cardi B said Brazilian butt lift first.
No, no, no, no, no. You got it, Miss Jackson, you are correct. Teeth, definitely. I mean, I say one of the first things people will notice about you is your smile. I mean, come on, you walk into a room, you're networking, you look at somebody across the room and bam! Are they looking at the butt first? I don’t know. You say teeth too?
I want to, you know, talk to some of y’all and get you on this live we're taping. Whoo, they’re coming in strong, baby! Listen, I want to get your opinion. If you want to join this second episode of the Let’s Talk Smiles Podcast, I have to do an emergency one because, let me tell you, it was posted on Instagram yesterday.
And I had to throw in my little two cents. Afrobeat, happy new year, girl. I had to throw in my two cents. And the moment I got into that conversation, I saw Lady Joss say, "Teeth with the Colgate smile." You're darn right! When I threw in my two cents, and I was trying to defend my glorious veneers—hey, Dr. Cernapa—when I was trying to defend my veneers,
listen, the people were coming for me. So, did she say why? Now, if I recall correctly, she said that if you are, you know, a young woman and you're out there doing your thing, what she did—and I think she was just speaking from her personal experience—she said she worked on her body, and then, when she got the bag and gained more notoriety, she went for the teeth. Now her point is,
Catrise Austin (02:20.673):
being her dentist, I can speak to this. She was rocking with her teeth. It wasn’t until she knew she was going to take her brand to the next level, that she got on Love & Hip Hop, and the comments started coming in. But more so—because she’ll tell you—I was bagging dudes with my teeth. It didn’t matter whether I had good teeth or bad teeth, she was bagging them, and I believe her. So, for her, she said it really didn’t matter. However,
she said that if you work on your body, it can be the building block to getting someone to invest in the $20,000, $30,000, or $40,000 it takes to get veneers. Do y’all agree with that or not? Now, as the cosmetic dentist, I’m going to say go straight to the teeth. I mean, the first thing that people are going to see is here—
the mouth, the smile. You’ve got seven seconds, guys, to make a good first impression. Let me see. Brianna wants to chime in. Sabrina, welcome to the Let’s Talk Smiles Podcast. Let’s see if we can get you in. Come on, Sabrina. There we go. Hey, girl. How you doing? Happy New Year. Yeah, well, welcome.
I’ve been a registered dental assistant for 23 years, and I don’t think people understand that when you have bacteria in your mouth, it can affect your health. It gets into the bloodstream, travels through your body, to your heart.
Exactly. Everywhere blood goes.
So that’s kind of the first thing you want to take care of because you don’t want to have a stroke because you didn’t take care of your teeth.
Right.
And that was the comment I was getting yesterday. It was like, "Health first. What about getting a checkup and cleaning?" But we’re talking about cosmetics. We’re going to just assume…
To me, like, I’m sorry, I’m OCD because you’re a dentist.
Yeah.
All respect, but we know you’ve got to get your cleaning and all that before you even think about it. Because, listen, I do veneers, right? I can’t do proper veneers if the gums are bleeding.
Catrise Austin (04:36.045):**
Sometimes I get in there, and there are little tiny cavities that don’t even show up on the X-ray. They’re surprises. So we want to make sure the first step, guys, before you think about cosmetics, is to get your teeth checked. That means an exam and X-ray—the full set, not the little four checkup X-rays. We want to get the whole mouth every three years.
And a lot of people are like, "I don’t want X-rays. I’m going to skip the X-rays this time." No, we need to see what we cannot see. And you don’t want to have a BBL, and your breath smells like poop. That’s what I say. When you have stuff below your gums, it’s basically garbage forming underneath your gums.
You got it.
Thank you. That was the highlight of my 2021—transforming my smile after all the times I’ve fixed other people’s teeth.
It was time for Dr. Catrise Austin to get her smile done. Sometimes, you know, when you’re on camera, doing videos, and you get that one angle, you’re like, "Gosh, that’s not my side." I was tired of having that thought. So when I got the opportunity to get my smile done by a team of top cosmetic dentists, I went for it.
Shoutout to Dr. Catrise Austin getting her own teeth fixed. Now the people, the Instagrammers, would come for my teeth. They’d be like, "Well, you did Cardi B’s teeth. How come your teeth…" Listen, I am fine with the gap. I’m fine without the gap. I’m just fine. It doesn’t matter. But when it comes to confidence, I can tell you I feel so much better now that I have my veneers.
**Catrise Austin (06:51.361):**
If you treat veneers right, they could last a lifetime. If you open bottles with your teeth, chew on nuts, have a tongue ring constantly hitting your teeth, or grind your teeth, these are factors that can cause veneers to fail. If you get cavities or gum disease around them, they’re not going to look natural. You’ll need to replace them for those reasons.
But I will tell you, when you invest thousands of dollars into veneers, you’re going to take care of them. You’re going to take care of those veneers.
**Audience Member:**
So, if someone has $10,000 to spend, do you recommend they get their teeth done or go for the BBL?
**Catrise Austin:**
Teeth. Definitely teeth.
**Audience Member:**
Why?
**Catrise Austin:**
Because, honestly, the first thing people see when they talk to you is your smile. It’s the first thing they notice, and people judge you based on your smile.
They don’t just be like, "Oh, you’ve got a big booty." If you have a big booty, sure, that’s nice. But you can do exercises, get a waist trainer, or wear butt pads. You can achieve that look in other ways.
With teeth, there’s no hiding imperfections. That’s why I say go with teeth first.
**Audience Member:**
The first thing I notice when a guy talks to me is his teeth. If a guy has good shoes, a manicure, and good teeth, I’m like, "We can rock."
**Catrise Austin:**
Exactly. And breath—don’t forget breath. It’s the season to spend more time indoors and cozy up. Breath has to be perfect.
**Audience Member:**
Absolutely. The first thing I notice about a woman is her smile.
**Catrise Austin (09:11.423):**
Okay, Miss Karen, you like that? Grooming, the smile, and the breath—it’s all important.
This is the season when people are spending more time indoors, cozying up, and getting close. You want that breath to be perfect.
**Audience Member:**
It’s true for men and women. Anytime I see someone, the first thing I notice is their teeth.
**Catrise Austin:**
Exactly. The dudes are chiming in, too. Teeth matter for everyone.
**Rebecca:**
I applied to go live with you because I have a couple of questions about veneers.
**Catrise Austin:**
Sure! Welcome, Rebecca. How can I help you?
**Rebecca:**
I like my teeth, but they’re not the whitest, and I’ve been experiencing breakage, especially with my back teeth. I could be eating something, and it just breaks off.
**Catrise Austin:**
How long has it been since you visited a dentist?
**Rebecca:**
I went to a dentist about three months ago, but I didn’t have insurance. The out-of-pocket charge was over $10,000 just for a simple cleaning and fixing two teeth.
**Catrise Austin:**
You would be a perfect candidate for the Carrington Discount Plan I’m sharing. Click on the link in my bio to get up to 60% off, so you can get everything you need done. You can also ask about payment plans and financing options to break down those costs.
**Rebecca:**
Thank you. I have another question. Is it better to do the top or bottom teeth first if you can’t afford both at the same time?
**Catrise Austin:**
Your dentist will analyze your bite and recommend the best approach. It’s always great to do top and bottom together if possible. However, if you’re missing teeth on the upper right and lower right sides, for example, your dentist might suggest starting with one side and moving to the other.
**Catrise Austin (13:32.363):**
Once you’ve had an exam and X-rays, your dentist will create a detailed plan. They’ll tell you how much it will cost, how long it will take, and the best order to proceed. Think of it like shopping for a house or a car. You get quotes, compare options, and make the best decision for your needs.
**Rebecca:**
You mentioned posting a link on your page for more affordable options?
**Catrise Austin:**
Yes, it’s already in my bio. If you click on the link tree, you’ll find the third option, which talks about low-cost discount plans for health, medical, and dentistry.
It also includes teledentistry and telehealth options. If you’re sitting at home and notice something unusual—maybe a rash—you can call a professional 24/7. They can even write prescriptions for you. You don’t have to take time off work to visit the doctor.
**Rebecca:**
Can Carrington be used if I’m already in the middle of dental work?
**Catrise Austin:**
Yes, it can. If you’re in the middle of dental work and need to find a more affordable dentist, you can sign up with Carrington. Many dentists across the U.S. accept it.
If your current dentist doesn’t, you can ask them to consider joining the plan. Sometimes, dentists are open to these plans if their patients request it. If not, you can use the Carrington network to find a new dentist.
**Catrise Austin:**
You’re listening to the *Let’s Talk Smiles Podcast* with Dr. Catrise Austin. Is your smile holding you back from living your best life? Take the first step toward a new smile and a new you by downloading the free *Pre-Smile Makeover Workbook* at letstalksmiles.com.
**Catrise Austin (15:49.185):**
Yes, my middle school homie. Happy New Year, homie! Thank you, Jesse. Did I satisfy all your questions?
**Rebecca:**
Yes, ma’am.
**Catrise Austin:**
You can always come back. This was an emergency podcast because Cardi B stirred up Twitter, had the internet going crazy, and got me in trouble. I was cussing people out! They were telling me I was unprofessional yesterday on the internet.
You know, when you come for me—I’m from Flint, Michigan. Yes, I’m a doctor, but I have feelings too. When you insult my intelligence, the Flint, Michigan, comes out. I’m sorry. I try to keep it classy, but thank you so much for tuning in.
And if you forget anything I said, you can always DM me. I’m very responsive.
**Rebecca:**
Thank you so much. Have a Happy New Year!
**Catrise Austin:**
You too. I love talking to my people.
**Catrise Austin (17:06.163):**
All right, anyone else want to chime in? This is the top of the year. We’re thinking about how we can improve ourselves.
If you had a choice, ladies—getting a Brazilian butt lift or porcelain veneers to advance yourself—what would you do first?
Cardi B says, "Get the BBL, the Brazilian Butt Lift."
**Audience Member:**
I would choose veneers because the smile is one of the first things people notice.
**Catrise Austin:**
Exactly. You’ve got seven seconds to make a good first impression. If you’re wondering whether you’re a candidate for veneers, head to the link in my bio. From there, you can see what your teeth might look like before stepping into a dental office.
Head to mypartners.thefrontiersmile.com, upload a selfie, and you’ll get a free before-and-after picture.
I do two things, veneers and teeth whitening. That’s it.
**Catrise Austin (18:54.477):**
But I primarily do smile makeovers. For 20 years, I was stuck in the office doing regular schmegular dentistry—going all crazy, stressed out. I don’t want to do any of that anymore. I’ve paid my dues.
I want to make it pretty, get y’all out of there, and send you back to your dentist for cleanings, root canals, and all that other stuff. I don’t want any part of that.
Just come to me when you’re ready to get it pretty. If you head over to Frontier Smile, you can get a sneak preview of what your smile could look like. Upload your selfie, and within 24 to 48 hours, they’ll get back to you with the results. Let them know your girl, Dr. Catrise Austin, sent you.
**Catrise Austin (19:55.981):**
Yes, yes, yes! You’re listening to the *Let’s Talk Smiles Live Podcast.* This is not your average podcast. We’re talking about hot topics, like the one that made me go live today—BBL versus veneers.
When I get a hot topic, I want to talk to y’all. I’ll be popping up, recording live podcasts, and you guys can be a part of it.
My podcast is available everywhere podcasts are found. Are you team Brazilian butt lift, team porcelain veneers, team braces, or team keep it natural? I want you to chime in. If you want to go live, hit the button to join me.
Cardi B says, "If you’ve got a choice, ladies, work on your body first. Get that peach. Once your body is right and you’ve got that peach, you can attract someone who might sponsor your porcelain veneers."
**Catrise Austin (21:23.821):**
I honestly thought that, given how much she loves her smile, Cardi would say her smile was the first thing she would recommend. But no.
**Audience Member:**
Why do you think she said that?
**Catrise Austin:**
For Cardi, her body was her moneymaker in that line of business. People were coming hard for her, but she explained that when she worked on her body, it helped her earn enough to later invest in her veneers. She said she made enough money to buy her own veneers without needing someone to sponsor them.
But she also told people not to go for cheap veneers. Veneers can cost $20,000, $30,000, or even $40,000. If you go to the Carrington discount plan I have in my bio, you can save up to 60%. She got her bag and fixed her teeth, and she told y’all, "It’s not cheap!"
**Audience Member:**
Do you think cosmetic enhancements are becoming more common for younger people?
**Catrise Austin:**
Absolutely. Social media plays a huge role. People want to look good and feel good. But I always say, make sure you’re doing it for yourself first. If it helps attract others, that’s a bonus.
**Audience Member:**
What’s your opinion on people going overseas for cheaper cosmetic work?
**Catrise Austin:**
I get it—it’s tempting because it’s cheaper. But there are risks. What happens if something goes wrong? Are they going to fly you back for corrections? Do they have a dental board or similar authority to hold them accountable? Many of my colleagues and I won’t even take over cases where things went wrong overseas because the liability falls on us.
**Catrise Austin (25:59.415):**
When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, I can speak for my industry. Many of my colleagues and I won’t even take over cases where something went wrong because the moment we touch your teeth, we’re liable for everything. If there’s an issue with the work, it becomes our responsibility.
That’s why I feel terrible when people call me and share stories about botched veneers or dental work done overseas. I’ve had people tell me about infections, misaligned veneers, or materials that weren’t durable. It’s heartbreaking.
Choose your provider wisely, and make sure they’re qualified. Cosmetic enhancements, whether it’s for your teeth or your body, should be done by professionals who prioritize safety and quality.
**Audience Member:**
What made you decide to get veneers after all these years?
**Catrise Austin:**
Great question. I had two rounds of braces—traditional braces in high school and Invisalign as an adult. Like many people, I didn’t wear my retainers, and my gap reopened.
On top of that, my teeth were short and stubby, and I had white spots from my braces that wouldn’t go away unless I covered them with veneers. The color of my teeth was also not as bright as I wanted.
Most importantly, my girlfriend needed a patient for her advanced cosmetic dentistry course, and she called me. I thought, “This is my chance!” I trusted her and the team at NYU, so I went for it.
**Catrise Austin (30:23.925):**
When I got my smile makeover, I was nervous, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Now, I can confidently tell my patients what to expect. I understand everything from wearing temporary veneers to the sensitivity and adjustments involved in the process.
It has made me a better dentist because I’ve experienced it firsthand.
**Audience Member:**
It looks great! But didn’t you feel like your gap was a signature look?
**Catrise Austin:**
Absolutely! The gap was a huge part of me, and some people still say they miss it. But for me, getting veneers boosted my confidence. I no longer worry about angles or lighting when I’m on camera.
My patients often ask me about the process, and now I can give them the full rundown based on my own experience.
**Audience Member:**
What advice do you have for people considering veneers?
**Catrise Austin:**
Start with a consultation. Get your X-rays and a full dental exam. Work with your dentist to create a plan that fits your needs and budget.
And remember, veneers are an investment. Take care of them, and they can last a lifetime.
**Catrise Austin (35:06.293):**
Thank you all for joining this live episode of the *Let’s Talk Smiles Podcast.*
We covered a lot today—from Cardi B’s BBL versus veneers debate to the importance of choosing the right provider. I hope this discussion inspired you to take your smile and confidence to the next level.
If you enjoyed this episode, like, comment, and subscribe. Visit our website for more smile tips, consultations, and resources. Remember, tune in for the dental knowledge and stay for the fun and confidence boosts.
See you next time!