Smiling in the mirror and seeing several cosmetic flaws that need correction can be a very overwhelming experience that leaves you hiding your smile. However, the skilled team at Meriden Dental Group can eliminate this problem with the help of porcelain veneers. These beautiful, wafer-thin pieces of dental porcelain are designed to fit over your existing smile, which means that gaps, stains, chips, cracks, and other surface dental problems can be completely erased. The result will be a beautifully uniform smile that will renew your confidence.
Each set of porcelain veneers is custom-made for every patient, meaning they can give you everything from a subtle boost to a dramatic smile transformation. It’s all up to you and your imagination. The process to get porcelain veneers usually takes about 2 visits to our office, and once they are placed, they can easily last for 20 years. Wouldn’t you like to have a perfect smile that you can trust for that long? You can with porcelain veneers, so be sure to contact our office today for a consultation. You can also keep reading to learn more about porcelain veneers and how they can transform your smile.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
Veneers are thin sheaths of dental grade porcelain. Prior to placement, they resemble a fingernail. Your skilled Meriden dentist will attach these veneers to the front facing surfaces of teeth to transform your smile.
Who Should Consider Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are a great cosmetic dentistry solution for patients with chips, cracks, stains, and gaps in their smiles. However, no treatment is right for everyone. Some examples of patients who might want to consider veneers include:
- Patients with deep set stains that cannot be removed with teeth whitening
- Patients with minor tooth misalignment but a bite that otherwise fits together and functions properly
- Patients who want to correct years of wear and minor chips and cracks with one simple solution
- Patients who want to close gaps between teeth
How are Porcelain Veneers Placed?
Porcelain veneers are placed in about two treatment visits. We’ll numb the area around the teeth to be treated to prevent any discomfort or sensitivity. Then, a small amount of surface tooth enamel will be removed to allow the veneer to lay flat within the natural smile line. Next, we capture bite impressions and use them to create a smile design that will be sent to our dental lab where your custom veneer is crafted. Finally, we place a temporary to protect your prepared teeth. Once we receive your custom veneer, you’ll return to the office so we can replace the temporary with your custom crafted veneer.
Do I Need to Change my Oral Hygiene Routine?
You may need to make a few minor changes to your routine. You’ll still need to brush and floss daily and visit our team regularly. However, we may encourage you to switch to a softer toothbrush and less abrasive toothpaste, but otherwise, your oral hygiene routine will remain the same.
Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
At Meriden Dental, we offer a wide range of cosmetic dentistry services to transform any flawed teeth into gorgeous smiles, but porcelain veneers are a popular solution. Some of the benefits you can look forward to when selecting porcelain veneers include the following:
- Long lasting and stain resistant leaving you with a flawless smile for decades
- One simple solution can be used to correct or conceal numerous smile flaws
- Easy to place and conservative, these cosmetic restorations can be used to correct even advanced smile flaws
- Sometimes called instant orthodontics, porcelain veneers can be used to correct uneven tooth spacing and minor misalignments
Understanding the Cost of Veneers
Veneers are among the higher-priced cosmetic dental services. However, their cost is in line with their quality and the many benefits they offer. If you would like an estimate for them, visit us for a consultation so we can share some specific numbers with you. We will also help you understand your payment options.
Of course, veneers are not right for everyone. During your consultation, we can help you explore a number of different cosmetic treatments that come at a range of price points.
Cost vs. Cosmetic Dentistry: Which Treatment Should I Choose?
Our practice is proud to offer a number of different treatments that can help patients to enjoy confident, attractive smiles. Here is an overview of some popular services, along with general notes about pricing:
- Braces and clear aligners can cost $5,000 or more. Treatment may take several months or longer to complete. They are excellent if your dental misalignment is threatening your oral health. However, if your primary goal is to enhance your smile’s appearance, a faster treatment might be a better value.
- Teeth whitening. Teeth bleaching services are both fast and effective. They are also relatively affordable, often costing less than $1,000 (sometimes they cost as little as a few hundred dollars). The downside to whitening is that it does not change the size or shape of teeth, and its results are not permanent.
- Direct bonding. Also known as cosmetic bonding or dental bonding, this treatment looks similar to veneers at first. However, it is not particularly durable. It may need to be replaced every 3 – 5 years or so. Therefore, even though it is affordable upfront, its cost can add up to be quite a bit over the course of a few decades.
- Veneers may cost several thousand dollars, but they are a great investment for patients who want an “all-in-one” treatment that provides results that last for decades. Veneers have the potential to hide discoloration, misshapen teeth, minor misalignment, and more. Plus, the process usually takes just a few weeks to complete.
How to Make Veneers Affordable
Veneers are usually categorized as a purely elective cosmetic treatment. Therefore, dental insurance almost never covers them. However, there might be other provisions you can use to fit your treatment into your budget:
- Most patients qualify for low-interest financing through CareCredit. The application process is fast, and you may be able to choose from between several different monthly payment amounts.
- Essential Dental plan. This in-house discount plan provides reduced fees on virtually all the services available in our office.
- Treatment adjustments. We can try to achieve the most noticeable results possible using as few veneers as possible. Minor adjustments to your treatment plan may help you save some money.
Are you eager to learn more about veneers and their cost? Our team is ready to answer your questions. Get in touch with us today to schedule your cosmetic consultation.
Veneer FAQs
Are you curious about what it would take to enhance your smile with veneers? Our cosmetic dentistry team is ready to assist you. Prior to booking your consultation, however, you may want to learn more about what to expect during the days to come. To assist you in your endeavor to gather information, we have compiled the following list of veneer FAQs. If your specific questions are not included here, give us a call. We would love to speak with you!
Are Veneers Permanent?
A set of veneers can last for decades. However, they do eventually need to be replaced. In that sense, then, they are not technically permanent.
Nevertheless, the treatment itself can rightly be viewed as a permanent commitment. That is because, in many cases, we must remove a bit of enamel from the teeth that receive veneers. The enamel will not regrow on its own. Therefore, the teeth will always need veneers or another type of restoration to protect them and make them look as attractive as possible.
Do not let the long-term nature of veneers intimidate you. The vast majority of patients have no regrets about their decision to make over their smile.
What Happens to the Teeth Under Veneers?
Veneers are not harmful to your teeth. However, during the preparation phase of the treatment process, we do typically have to remove a bit of enamel. The teeth will remain functional and strong, but they will always need veneers or another type of restoration to fortify them.
The bonding agent that we use to adhere veneers to the teeth is also safe. You should not expect to have any adverse reactions to it.
Overall, veneers are a very low-risk procedure.
Will I Still Be Able to Drink Coffee with Veneers?
Veneers are usually made out of porcelain, a material that features a remarkable level of stain resistance. Because porcelain is nonporous, pigments tend to slide right off it. Therefore, you should not be overly worried about your daily cup of coffee dimming your smile’s brightness.
Of course, while veneers are resistant to stains, they are not completely invulnerable to discoloration. Try to enjoy dark beverages only in moderation. You can also drink your coffee through a straw to minimize its contact with your teeth.
How Many Veneers Will I Need?
The number of veneers you will need depends on your goals for treatment. If you have just one tooth whose appearance bothers you, you may be satisfied with a single veneer. However, if you want to completely transform the look of your smile, you might need 6 – 8 veneers to cover all of the top teeth that are visible when you smile. Some individuals also choose to get veneers for their bottom teeth.