Dental Veneers: Veneer Treatment & Cost

Veneers are a form of cosmetic dentistry in which a shell or layer of tooth-colored porcelain or composite is placed over the facial surfaces of your teeth to correct the appearance of worn tooth enamel, uneven tooth alignment or spacing, discoloration and chips or cracks. Porcelain and composite veneers are made by dental technicians in a dental laboratory, but composite veneers can be made directly inside your mouth by your dentist.

Dental Veneer Procedure

If your dentist determines that teeth veneers are a good option for you, treatment will involve choosing the appropriate length, shape, width and color for your restorations. Your dentist will use a color chart to help you select the best veneer shade. In order to place veneers, your dentist then will shape and prepare your teeth, which involves permanently changing them in order to fit the custom-made porcelain or composite restoration.

If your veneers are made by a dental laboratory, your dentist will make an impression of your teeth and create a model of your mouth for use by the laboratory when customizing your restorations. You then will need to wear temporary veneers until your permanent restorations are ready to be placed. Composite veneers (direct bonding) created in your mouth by your dentist do not require you to wear temporaries.

Veneers created by a dental laboratory are bonded to your teeth using different types of resin cements. Porcelain veneers typically are more costly than composite, but last longer.

Benefits of Dental Veneers

Not only are veneers esthetically pleasing, they also protect the surface of damaged teeth and may eliminate the need for more extensive treatments, such as crowns. Other benefits of veneers include durability, an improved appearance to your smile, and the need for little-to-no removal of tooth structure compared to crowns.

Dental Veneer Cost & Insurance Coverage

The cost of dental veneers per tooth varies depending on factors that include the quality of the veneer material, the dentist performing the treatment, whether your dental insurance covers cosmetic treatment, the location in which treatment is performed and whether any restorative dental work is first required. (Common oral health problems such as gum disease, oral thrush, root canals, burning mouth and TMJ should be managed first before considering cosmetic work.)

On average, the cost of traditional porcelain veneers is between $900 and $2,500 per tooth. If your teeth are not misshapen or otherwise damaged, teeth whitening may serve as a cheaper cosmetic alternative. During your initial consultation, your dentist may provide veneers before and after photos to help you evaluate the potential results. Considering the cost, this can be a helpful tool.