Porcelain veneers can take a crooked smile and make it perfect. They can change chipped, broken and discolored teeth into the smile that dreams are made of, but do the results justify the time and money that goes into getting the veneers installed? There are more and less intensive options to produce similar cosmetic results. Veneers have proven popular because they are more durable than bonding, but not quite as drastic a procedure as having crowns installed.
Cost
The overall cost of veneers can change quite a bit depending upon how many teeth need to be covered and exactly how much preparatory work needs to be done prior to the actual installation. The process of installing porcelain veneers can be pretty labor intensive depending upon the individual patient's needs, the more grinding and shaping an existing tooth needs to properly fit a veneer, the more that veneer will cost.
The experts at WebMD, one of the world's most reliable sources for medical information, estimate the average cost of veneers at anywhere between $500 and $1,300 per tooth, and experts from DentalFind, a leading source for locating dental professionals, estimate the range from $1,000 to $2,000 per tooth, but your total will truly be dependent on the amount of preparatory work required before installation.
Insurance Coverage
Porcelain veneers are generally considered to be a purely cosmetic procedure and thus not usually covered under dental insurance plans. If there is a medical necessity for the veneers, some assistance from insurance may be available but a patient should expect that he will be responsible for the full cost of the procedure.
Warning
With something that comes with as large a price tag as porcelain veneers, it's customary for some people to feel the need to get estimates and shop around for the best price. While this can be a good way to save money, remember that the installation of porcelain veneers is a serious procedure--you shouldn't necessarily sacrifice the experience of a well trained professional to save a few dollars.
Durability
One thing to consider in the cost of having porcelain veneers installed is how long they last. Under normal circumstances and wear it's possible that a set of veneers could last for nearly 10 years and though 10 years sounds like a long time, the process is not reversible because of the grinding of your teeth to fit the veneers. Once that point has been reached you'll most likely have undergo the entire process once again and have a new set of veneers made and installed.
Other Considerations
Just because porcelain veneers are a sturdier option than bonding for cosmetic repairs, it doesn't mean that your teeth are impervious to problems while they are covered by them. Your dentist will do his or her best to ensure that the tooth being covered is in optimal condition, but that doesn't mean that the tooth couldn't still be subject to decay and require further procedures after the veneer has been installed. Veneers are a fantastic option for beautifying a smile for those that can afford them, but having a set of veneers installed won't necessarily solve a patient's cosmetic dental problem permanently.
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