A 14-year-old patient with braces, a good bite, and well-aligned teeth tells the dentist he dislikes his teeth and wants veneers. What is the most appropriate immediate next step?

Given the patient's age and capacity to engage in a conversation about his own care, the appropriate immediate step is to talk with him directly, explaining the risks and benefits of an elective, irreversible procedure he's requesting — even though his bite and alignment are already good, meaning veneers wouldn't be addressing a functional problem. (Ultimately, formal consent for any actual treatment would also need to appropriately involve his parent/guardian, since he is a minor — but engaging him directly first, at an age-appropriate level, is the recognized first step in patient-centered communication.)