Made from porcelain, dental veneers are thin, laminate coverings attached to the front of your teeth. Veneers allow a cosmetic dentist to change the size, shape and color a tooth. (In contrast to Invisalign, which can only move a tooth and not change the shape of the size and shape of the tooth). In the hands a skilled dentist, they are one of the most powerful tools we can use to create a “perfect smile”.

We can accomplish a variety of things using dental veneers. By placing veneers on top of the teeth, we can close gaps, make teeth even in length, cover dark stains and create a uniform looking smile. We also use dental veneers for restorations. When teeth become cracked, chipped or broken, a veneer can restore the tooth to its full functionality. As long as the tooth structure is intact, we can restore the appearance of a tooth while making it possible to eat and speak without feeling any discomfort.

During the consultation process, we take pictures of your teeth from all angles, scan them with a laser, and take impressions of your teeth. These tools allow us to perfectly match the shape and size of your teeth. To get the color to match, we rely on an aesthetics lab for manufacturing and Dr. Mitchell’s experienced and artistic eye for installation and final touch ups.

A crown covers the entire tooth. Veneers cover the front and bottom of the tooth. This is one reason veneers take more skill to install than crowns – you need to be much more precise.

Absolutely! By focusing our efforts on the teeth in the “cosmetic zone” we can put a majority of our veneer investment where it will do the most good. So what is this “cosmetic zone”? In terms of the smile, the “cosmetic zone” can be defined as the area taken up by the upper 4-8 front teeth. These are the teeth that most define the smile and determine whether your friends and colleagues will judge your smile to be lacking, average, or exceptional.

When looking into porcelain veneers, you will find a wide range of prices. Common prices range from around $800 per tooth to $5,000 per tooth. This discrepancy comes from both the materials used and the skill of the dentist. Ultimately, you get what you pay for. Like with most goods, there are cheap services available…and they look cheap. The difference is: porcelain veneers are going to be a part of you – your face and smile – for the next 20-30 years. With those kinds of stakes, getting it right is worth the investment. Read more about Veneer Cost >

It depends on how the veneers are being treated. If you take care of your veneers, including getting them cleaned and wearing a night guard, they will last 20-30 years. If, for example, you’re getting veneers because of clenching or grinding your teeth and you don’t wear a night guard, you can break them much faster.

Yes, but significantly less than natural teeth.

The biggest downside is the cost. Because getting porcelain veneers requires both specialized training and artistic skill, getting veneers that will really enhance your smile costs a lot. However, the results can transform your looks (and your life).

In general, you need healthy gums and teeth to get veneers, which are used for cosmetic or restorative treatments. If you have poor oral health, other treatments may serve you better than dental veneers. Otherwise, porcelain veneers are great for treating: minor chips or fractures, miss-sized teeth, misshapen teeth, gaps, mild alignment issues, tooth discoloration, and grinding or clenching damage.

Once your veneers are in place, most insurance companies cover 50% of any repair costs. However, as a cosmetic procedure, insurance companies usually don’t cover the initial installation. One neat trick that many of our patients use is creating an HSA (Health Savings Account). This money is tax free and can be used to pay for veneers. This means you are paying effectively 20-40% less (depending on your tax bracket).

The closest alternative would be Artistic Bonding, which is sometimes called “Composite Veneers.” Essentially, a dentist can rebuild your teeth out of the same composite material used in white fillings. The benefit of this method is that it’s cheaper. The drawback is that the procedure itself is much longer and the composite material is softer than tooth or porcelain. This means it won’t last nearly as long, likely somewhere in the ballpark of 2-10 years.

As with most cosmetic procedures, there can be some discomfort associated with getting dental veneers installed. We do our best to keep patients comfortable during the procedure so that you will not experience any pain while the veneers are being placed or your teeth are being prepared. The preparation process can take several weeks; there will be a period where you need to be careful about what you eat and what activities you engage in. In other words, do not play football after getting temporary veneers placed onto your teeth. You should schedule the procedure for a time where you will be close to home and able to take it easy.