How much do veneers cost?
How much do veneers cost? The price of veneers depends on a number of factors. “First, the treating dentist and the patient need to discuss the reason veneers are needed,” dentist Dr. Kartik Antani, DMD of Rio Rancho Smiles in Rio Rancho, N.M., tells Parade. “Is it from full mouth tetracycline staining, or is it just one or two teeth?” Additionally, as with most other things, you get what you pay for—so beware of veneers that seem like too much of a bargain. “The expertise of the dentist and the ceramist who works with them counts,” Dr. Antani said. “An experienced dentist who only uses the best materials and the best ceramist may charge around $2,000 a tooth; a boutique or celebrity dentist may charge around $5,000 a tooth. There are numerous budget offices too, but the way the patient is treated, how well their concerns are addressed, the finesse the dentist has, the materials they use, as well as the expertise of the ceramist are usually compromised when finding a budget solution. On average, paying $1,500 to $2,500 per tooth for a decent set of veneers is common. Anything lower is usually going to have quality issues.”
How long do dental veneers last?
Diamonds are forever (according to James Bond and De Beers, anyway), but veneers? Not so much, Dr. Antani says. “As much as we wish and hope, nothing lasts forever. A set of veneers done well, using good materials, a proficient dentist, and proper bonding protocols should last about 10 years,” he said. “There are many factors though, such as how well is the patient taking care of them—are they flossing and brushing regularly, as well as getting their biannual cleanings? Are they eating hard and crunchy foods? Even parafunctional habits such as grinding and clenching, biting nails, and opening things with their teeth can change the prognosis dramatically. Some things that are out of the patient’s control, such as obstructive sleep apnea, dry mouth syndrome, and autoimmune issues can lead to increased caries (tiny holes in teeth from damage), mechanical wear, and debonding. It’s a wide range, as some patients will break their veneers each year due to these circumstances, and some have had them since the 1990s and they still look and function great.”
Are full veneers worth it?
Whether veneers are worth it is subjective and truly up to the patient, but they can be absolutely life-changing for some. “For most, veneers are an elective treatment option, so they are looking to make a change,” Dr. Antani says. “They have had aesthetic concerns about their teeth for a long time and have thought about veneers, perhaps even had multiple consultations and have saved up money for them. Some people need veneers, perhaps due to parafunctional habits or staining that is extremely unsightly. For them, they are a necessity to have normal self-esteem and to function in life. In my humble opinion, yes, they are worth it—if you’ve taken into consideration all of the risks, benefits, and options.”
Do teeth rot under veneers? Do veneers get cavities?
One giant reason to take care of your teeth, regardless of whether they’re natural or veneers, is because if you don’t, you’ll pay for it later: Veneers do not make your teeth invulnerable to cavities, stains or other damage. “Most adults will experience tooth decay in their lives, whether it is a single cavity every decade or two, or full mouth rampant caries,” Dr. Antani says. “Having veneers does not automatically guarantee cavities, however, just like any other filling, crown, inlay, onlay, or even natural enamel, caries can occur. This is why it is very important to have your dental checkups and cleanings every 6 months, and follow good homecare protocols, such as flossing and brushing.”
What can’t you eat with veneers?
Essentially, you can eat almost whatever you want with veneers, but if you’re in doubt about a specific snack, you may be wise to skip it. “Our teeth are like little hammers and grinders—they are usually under a lot of stress. Have you ever tried to break a carrot with your fingers? You can’t, but you can easily break off a piece with your teeth,” Dr. Antani explains. “Veneers are little facings covering healthy teeth, which are bonded on. Overall, you should take care not to eat foods which are hard, crunchy, sticky, too cold or too hot. With veneers, this care should be continued. Most normal foods are fine to eat, but don’t abuse your teeth.”
Do veneers pop off easily? Can veneers fall off?
If your veneers are done well and your oral health is intact, you shouldn’t have to worry about losing them, Dr. Antani says. “Properly designed and bonded veneers should not pop off easily. The bonding process has to be immensely accurate and properly done to ensure this,” he explained. That said, accidents and anomalies do happen, he notes: “There will always be circumstances where veneers, crowns, or even fillings, may come off but not routinely.”
Are veneers painful to get?
Veneers shouldn’t be painful to get, but it also may depend on your dentist and your tolerance of anesthetics, as well as to your oral care after the procedure. “A good, conscientious dentist who cares about patients will ensure safety and comfort. Examples of things I use to make sure my patients are as comfortable as can be are locally compounded topical anesthesia (it’s a very strong gel that we rub on the gums and tissue to reduce the ‘pinch’ of the anesthesia syringe), stable and steady hand skills to slowly numb, buffered anesthesia, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), single-tooth anesthesia machines (a computerized way to numb, without any pain, as the machine finds the best way to numb), and even sedation options,” Dr. Antani noted. Be sure to discuss your options ahead of time with your dentist to determine the best and most pain-free methods for you. That said, the period immediately after getting veneers may not necessarily be a complete cakewalk, but it shouldn’t be excruciating — and any discomfort is temporary. “Afterwards, you may notice some sensitivity or soreness, which typically reduces in time,” Dr. Antani says. “Gone are the days of thick porcelain veneers for which a dentist had to cut the tooth down a lot; nowadays veneers can be paper-thin, which means less tooth is cut down reducing post-operative pain and discomfort. Once the area has healed, everything should go back to normal.” If you experience any pain or discomfort after getting veneers, be sure to let your dentist know!
What is better, veneers or crowns?
Whether you get veneers or crowns depends on your specific needs and on your dentist’s recommendations because they’re used in completely different ways. “A veneer is a thin facing that covers a mostly healthy tooth to improve aesthetics and function. A crown is a restoration that completely encircles the tooth and is used to improve function, replace missing tooth structure, or to resolve the pain from cracked tooth syndrome,” Dr. Antani told us. “Based on the extent of damage a person’s teeth has, a dentist may use a combination of veneers and crowns to fix the issues. What is better depends on the patient, their condition, and sometimes even the dentist’s philosophy.”
Can I glue my veneer back on?
If you need a fast, temporary fix after losing a veneer, you do have options — but for the love of all that is holy, please stay away from Elmer’s or Gorilla Glue. “If a veneer comes off, as a temporary fix to resolve an emergency until the patient can get in to see their dentist, they can use ADA recommended and FDA approved temporary cements,” Dr. Antani says. “These are usually found over the counter at most grocery stores and pharmacies. A patient should not use things that are not approved for the mouth, like glues and cements for paper or hardware.” (We shouldn’t have to tell you that part, but just in case!)
Do veneers smell?
Your veneers won’t smell bad if the rest of your mouth doesn’t, Dr. Antani says. “Veneers do not smell any more or any less than other parts of the mouth, except if there is a lot of tooth decay under, or the veneer was not bonded properly enough to allow the patient to clean,” he explained. “Most of the time, if a patient has well-made veneers and is good about home care, odors are not an issue.” Now you can breathe easy!
Do veneers stain?
Just like natural teeth, veneers may be prone to stains from dark-colored foods and drinks, like coffee, tea, wine and even certain berries (as well as bad habits like smoking), Dr. Antani says, but not necessarily as much. Still, be careful not to overcorrect, he warns: “Brushing aggressively can damage enamel, and it can damage veneers, so care should be taken to follow proper home care without overdoing it, and most importantly, see the dentist or hygienist every six months.”
Do they shave your teeth for veneers?
The short answer: Yes, but not as much as you think—and sometimes not at all. You can thank modern advances in dental science and technology for that! “Back in the day, veneers were thicker and the teeth had to be shaved to make them work,” Dr. Antani tells Parade. “With modern types of cements, bonds, and ceramics, veneers can be made very thin. Furthermore, with proper planning of the shapes and contours, a good dentist using a good lab technician can make a reduction guide that allows them to visualize on a model how much or how little tooth structure has to be reduced. They can make very minimal changes to your teeth, and sometimes, ’no-prep’ veneers can be made where nothing has to be shaved down at all.” Your individual needs may vary depending on a number of factors, including the shape, size and degree of staining on your teeth. Talk to your dentist about your options and needs to determine the plan that works best for you and your cute chompers.
How long does it take to get veneers?
If you thought you could pop into your dentist’s office and leave with a brand new smile in one afternoon, you’d be very wrong. A reasonable timetable can range from two to three weeks to a couple of months depending on the patient, Dr. Antani says. The general timeline starts with a consultation, followed by the planning phase. “Some dentists use wax models, some use digital models, but planning is the key to success. Then, an appointment is made where the teeth are recontoured if needed, and a trial smile is put on,” Dr. Antani told us. “The patient is then provided time to test-drive these temporary teeth. Once the patient is satisfied with the temporaries, the dentist can then order the final teeth.” How long all of that takes can vary based on your needs. “This process can take some time, especially if the patient has to have multiple trial smiles in order to achieve what they want. Some patients are not picky at all and just want nicer teeth, whereas some need more attention,” he said. “Some people who have had a lot of damage and need their jaw muscles re-trained, their facial symmetry re-established, may undergo multiple sets of temporary teeth to slowly reduce the damaging habits and to train the jaw. This can take a few months to a year.”
Does getting veneers change your face?
Getting veneers will absolutely change your face—in part because if they’re done well, you’ll be smiling a lot more confidently! They can impact your overall appearance in a huge way and even make you look younger by eliminating some wrinkles (seriously). “It can be something as simple as hiding some of the gumminess of your smile by a few millimeters, to increasing your bite size and the corresponding facial symmetry and alignment,” Dr. Antani says. “Even something as simple as a person feeling more confident and smiling more freely without restraint will change your facial aesthetics. Often this facial change is minor and uplifting, and sometimes if the damage was heavy and the repairs extensive, the changes can make you look years younger by reducing wrinkle lines from a collapsed bite, creating more full lip lines, and even adding vibrance to your overall aesthetic.” Next, find out how burnout can impact your teeth — and how to fix it.
