If you’re like many people, you may not be entirely happy about your smile. Maybe your love for coffee has left your pearly whites with stains, or one or two teeth are crooked enough to cause a bit of embarrassment. Whatever the case, you may be considering veneers to fix the issue, and wondering about the price. If so, you’re in the right place!
One thing you need to know is that you shouldn’t simply go out and find the first local dentist who happens to do veneers. Once they’re placed on your teeth you’ll be stuck with them for the next several years, so you definitely want to be sure of getting a great result.
In fact, many people are fine with traveling a fair distance to see their chosen orthodontist. With the whole process taking three or four visits tops (and requiring zero recovery time), this isn’t too much of a burden if you’re talking about a procedure that’ll last for years to come.
A facility like atlantadentalspa.com will not only prioritize giving you an amazing result, but also a top-notch experience throughout the process. If you can find an orthodontist you trust, you won’t just have peace of mind about improving your smile; you’ll also feel more confident each time you return to get your veneers replaced.
Now that you’ve gotten an introduction to getting veneers in the US, you might be curious to learn about the big picture. Are veneers really worth the investment, or are they just a vanity procedure for people who want a dazzling Hollywood smile?
To give you a more comprehensive idea of what would be involved, here are some of the main pros and cons of getting veneers:
Pros
- Ease of shaping – It’s common for some enamel to be removed prior to gluing on the veneer, but usually this only amounts to a fingernail’s thickness.
- Durability – With composite veneers lasting as much as seven years, and porcelain veneers lasting as much as two decades, it’s pretty clear that they’re durable enough to stand daily wear and tear for quite a while.
- Realism – Sometimes it’s obvious when someone has a full set of veneers, but a dedicated orthodontist will also give you the option of crafting a more unique set of veneers that reflect the appearance of your own natural teeth.
This is especially true when someone’s just getting one or two veneers, which have to blend in with the rest of the smile. Some people have reservations about getting veneers because they don’t want something that looks obviously fake.
This is something that’s more likely to happen with an unmotivated orthodontist or one who’s on the cheaper side of the price range. This is why, if you want your veneers to be indistinguishable from natural, healthy teeth, you should consider spending a bit more for better results. - Improved confidence – This can be absolutely life-changing for someone who’s insecure about their smile. Whether they’ve been dealing with stained or decaying teeth, crookedness, or any other cosmetic shortcoming, veneers can restore both their teeth and their confidence.
- Versatility in shade – Another giveaway that someone’s gotten veneers is a blindingly white smile, but again, this isn’t your only option. Their color can be selected to match your other teeth, or chosen to complement your skin tone.
- Stain resistance – Porcelain veneers are pretty much completely stain-resistant, so even if you keep them for 20 years you shouldn’t have to worry too much about wine stains affecting your smile.
Composite veneers are slightly less robust in this regard, though; they won’t stain as quickly as regular enamel, but they can still be discolored over time if you frequently enjoy deeply pigmented foods or beverages. - Customization – In addition to matching veneers in color or shape with your teeth, they could also choose a shape or length that goes well with your facial structure.
Cons
- Potential for increased sensitivity – Since getting veneers will likely involve the removal of some enamel, this opens up the possibility of sensitivity to hot/cold food and beverages.
- Fragility – Although both types of veneers are meant to be durable, they (like real teeth) can become chipped or cracked upon sudden impact.
- Artificiality – Even if you get completely realistic veneers, you’ll still know that your smile isn’t 100% natural. This is a problem for some people, who prefer to find other solutions to solve their cosmetic dental issues.
- Permanence – There’s no going back from getting veneers; you’ll have to keep using and replacing them for the rest of your life.
- High cost – Even a single veneer can represent a significant investment in your smile; this can be an obstacle for some people who need extensive cosmetic dental adjustments but aren’t able to afford them.
The cost of veneers in the US
Assuming you won’t be traveling abroad to get your veneers done, you’ll be looking at prices that range from $300 to $4,000 per veneer.
Why such a broad price range? Well, there are a couple of different factors that influence the price tag.
- The skills and qualifications of the orthodontist. A dentist with a general practice will almost certainly charge less than a specialist; the same applies for higher-quality vs. lower-quality dental practices.
If you’ve found a place that offers cheaply priced veneers, just remember that you’ll probably get what you pay for in terms of service and results. - The material of the veneer. The less expensive veneers are made from composite material, and last between five and seven years. The more expensive ones are made from porcelain, and last between 10 and 20 years.
There’s also a difference in stain resistance, with porcelain veneers (once again) outperforming their composite counterparts.
So how much does each type of veneer cost? Here’s the breakdown:
- Composite veneers – From $300 to $1,500 per veneer
- Porcelain veneers – From $1,000 to $4,000 per veneer
The takeaway
Veneers definitely aren’t cheap, but then, very few long-lasting cosmetic procedures are. When you consider them as an investment that gives you your smile back, they can be more than worth the cost!