Dental Veneers: A Quick and Easy Solution

If you’ve lived your whole life with less than perfect teeth, you might be interested in a technology that can improve your smile without pain or inconvenience. Dental veneers have been around for many years now and are quite effective in helping people with chips, cracks, stains, or other dental problems. Cosmetic dentistry offers several options, and many people find that having veneers placed upon their teeth gives them just the right amount of social confidence and eating function.

It's easy to become confused when looking over the myriad choices available to fix dental problems today. What exactly are dental veneers? They are an extremely thin layer of porcelain, ceramic, or a resin composite that is attached to the front of one's teeth. Once applied, they look exactly like real teeth, and a skillful dentist can easily make them match the surrounding teeth in color, size, and placement. Veneers are great at improving one's smile and they excel at creating the desired dental look. Even if a tooth needs to be lengthened or reshaped, veneers can do the job.

One of the nicest aspects of having veneers applied is the ease of the procedure. Rather than a long series of dental appointments, veneers can become a reality in one's mouth in as few as three or four quick visits. After a thorough initial examination to look for periodontal disease or other issues which may complicate the process, the dentist will apply a numbing agent or anesthesia. Then the outermost layer of enamel will be shaved or sanded away and an impression of the mouth taken to be sent off to the lab. The lab will then create personalized dental veneers for the patient, often in one or two weeks.

While these veneers do a marvelous job of covering over imperfection in the mouth, people often want to know how much they cost. As might be expected, they do not come cheap. Depending upon one's insurance plan, it is likely that the entire procedure will be considered cosmetic and will be an out-of-pocket expense entirely. Aside from the initial office visits, the session to create the mold, and the final fitting, the biggest expense are the veneers themselves. The patient has a couple of choices when deciding upon the kind of veneers to get. Porcelain is a material very much like human teeth, and brings with it the benefit of many years longevity. However, this will be the most expensive choice. On average, porcelain veneers can run from between $1000-$2500 per tooth. A less expensive option would be a resin composite that might cost as low as $250 per tooth, but it will certainly not last as long as porcelain. Well cared-for porcelain veneers can last up to fifteen years or more, though many will need repair or adjustment after about ten.

Dentures and implants are not the only solution available to people who are unhappy with their natural teeth. Dental veneers have proven to be a popular and uncomplicated alternative in the world of dentistry. The process works well for busy people who do not have the time, money, or need for more drastic procedures. A simple maintenance routine just like one would use for original teeth will ensure many years of smiling confidence. Despite what some might consider a high initial cost, having the ability to chew without trouble and laugh without self-consciousness is well worth the price of the dental veneers.