If you wonder how much veneers cost, you do not need to think too much. Veneers are mostly for you who have issues with the color of your teeth or the overall appearance or want a complete smile makeover. Read on to know how much they cost and if your insurance covers the cost or not.
Why choose veneers?
Before discussing how much veneers cost, let us focus on why veneer treatment is encouraged.
Veneers are artificial fixtures that come in diverse materials. One of them is the porcelain veneer, which looks like a thin shell and is as thin as a contact lens. They can cover semi-crooked teeth, prevent orthodontia, and serve aesthetic purposes.
They are a permanent option for bad teeth and can improve your smile while boosting confidence. Most persons who opt for a full smile makeover purchase a full set of veneers, usually 6-8 veneers, with some others getting up to 12 veneers.
To get veneers done, schedule an appointment with your dentist for a consultation or contact the Dentakay dental clinic for further explanation. If there are issues with your gum, they have to be rectified before the fixing of veneers can commence.
Your dentist will also let you know the cost of your veneers and other appointments like the x-ray, dentist consultation fee, etc.
How are veneers applied?
Before the procedure, the dentist will profile the patient and know their needs. After commissioning some custom set of porcelain veneers, the dentist will proceed with the installation. Patients typically have to return after the operation for follow-up appointments.
In fixing porcelain veneers, the dentist has to follow these processes:
- performing local anesthesia or local freezing in the first appointment
- enamel removal (less than 1mm)
- mold creation
- commissioning the custom set of veneers with mold
- while waiting for them to be ready, you may wear temporary veneers
- on the second appointment, the dentist will replace the temporary veneers
- the dentist will first inspect the size, shape, and fitting of the veneers
- finally, the veneers are applied via a composite resin cement (like glue)
- this glue-like substance is sealed with a bright light (UV light)
For composite resin veneers, the dentist first selects veneers that match your natural teeth color and commence the procedure by applying composite resin in layers. After each application, UV light is applied to attach them to your teeth.
After the last layer, the dentist then shapes and polishes your veneer to match your tooth.
How much do veneers cost?
Wondering how much veneers cost? According to Authority Dental, the average cost of veneers is between $500 and $2000 per tooth. Authority Dental gets most of its information from dental technicians and dentists.
Although veneers are expensive, how much you would have to pay depends on several factors. Factors that will influence cost are:
- the number of veneers you want to buy
- the type of veneers you choose to purchase
- Presence of any prerequisite treatment before veneer placement.
Most clinics give a total cost to patients, which covers examinations and lab or x-ray fees.
How much do veneers cost with insurance?
Most dental insurance does not cover veneer treatment as it is seen as a cosmetic procedure. However, in a situation where someone mistakenly chipped her tooth while younger and had it restored, dental insurance may cover paying for a new veneer.
Some dental insurance comes with an annual maximum amount or an amount spent on dental care per year. Unfortunately, the annual maximum on most dental plans cannot cover veneers in most scenarios.
This is because most dental plans have an annual maximum range of $1,000 to $2,000, and the cost of veneers may exceed the maximum amount.
To know more, check with your insurance carrier to confirm if the dental insurance can cover veneer placement or not. If it does not, another option is to talk with your dentist and seek discounts or any dental plans the clinic offers to patients.
How Long Do Veneers Last?
How long veneers last depend on how the patients care for them. If the patient does not practice proper oral hygiene, the veneers may not last as long as they should.
With proper dental care and regular checkups, porcelain veneers typically last from 15 to 20 years. On the other hand, composite veneers last from 5 to 7 years, with lumineers lasting up to 10 years.
Of the three, porcelain is the best veneer type as they are most durable and resemble natural teeth. They also do not cause harm to the gum tissue.
What happens after veneer installation?
After fixing veneers on your teeth, you would have to visit the dentist on some follow-up appointments to ensure that they are placed correctly and not causing you pain or discomfort.
Aside from that, your dentist will also give you a list of do’s and don’ts as veneers require care, just like natural teeth.
Your veneers can become stained with improper care and maintenance, and cavities can form underneath them.
These can also happen when veneers are improperly placed. For starters, do not use your teeth for forceful activities like opening bottles or clenching hard on some nuts. When chewing, grinding, or chewing, hard surfaces can damage the veneer material.
Please take note that veneer placement is an irreversible procedure as veneers practically replace your enamel, so bear in mind that it takes time to replace them; you will have to spend again. However, this time the cost will be minimal.
Alternatives to veneer placement
If you find veneers to be a bit too much outside your budget, consider going for any of the following options:
Crowns: Veneers cannot be placed on a tooth that already has an existing crown. If your tooth has a large filling, crowns are a better option to go for than veneers, as they cover not just the front surface of the teeth but also the back.
Teeth whitening: If the specific reason why you wanted to fix veneers was your teeth’ color, you could consider this option. You can book teeth whitening sessions in the dental clinic so your teeth can look brighter.
It may not give you the same results as veneer placement, but it will help your smile look better.
Braces: This is especially for people who have teeth that are not straight. Braces usually stay for a year plus and help with teeth straightening. Invisalign is a form of clear braces attached to the teeth to correct underbite or overbite, straighten uneven teeth or fix gap teeth.
Before going for this alternative, ensure to perform proper research, as the cost for this procedure is almost the same as veneers.
Reference website: https://signalscv.com/2021/09/dental-veneers-piece/