What are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are customized shells made of porcelain or a composite resin that fit over your teeth to improve their appearance. Veneers are especially helpful in improving your smile if you have teeth that are chipped, stained or misshapen. The purpose of veneers is generally cosmetic, but you may have them fitted as part of an overall dental makeover that includes treatment for gum disease.
Dental veneers are stain-resistant resin-based composite or porcelain covers that are glued to the front of the teeth. They can create a cosmetically satisfying appearance by covering teeth that are discolored, misshapen or chipped.
How Much Do Dental Veneers Cost?
The cost of dental veneers varies by type:
Composite veneers. Also known as direct veneers, these coatings are applied to the teeth in a single dental visit and cost about $250 per tooth. They usually last from five to seven years, and then need to be replaced.
Porcelain veneers. Also known as indirect veneers, these coatings are custom-made to fit your teeth, so they require two dental visits for the procedure-one to fit your teeth for the veneers, and another to put the veneers in place. Porcelain veneers cost more than composite veneers - usually at least $1,000 per tooth - but they last for at least 10 to 15 years - and sometimes even longer.
Porcelain veneers are more stain-resistant and natural-looking than composite veneers. But composite veneers are thinner, so less tooth surface needs to be removed before they are applied. Your dentist can help you determine which veneer best meets your needs.
Dental Veneers Process
Resin-based composite veneers are generally placed in one appointment. When you get ceramic or porcelain veneers, here’s what to expect:
Preliminary: You can expect to make a preliminary office visit at which your dentist will take x-rays.
Preparation: The dentist trims about half a millimeter of the tooth enamel to prepare for the veneers. Then he or she takes an impression or mold of your teeth to send to a lab to prepare the veneers, which takes about one to two weeks.
Placement: When the veneers are ready, your dentist checks the fit and color of the veneers and prepares the tooth (or teeth) by cleaning them thoroughly and then roughening the tooth surface to improve the adhesion of the veneer. The veneer is attached to the tooth with a special cement, then ultraviolet light is used to harden it quickly.
Preservation: Your dentist may schedule a follow-up visit a few weeks after the procedure to be sure that the veneers are properly placed.
Then just follow your regular oral hygiene routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing as you normally would, and you can expect veneers to last for five to ten years before you need to replace them.
