How Much do Porcelain Veneers Cost?
When you imagine a celebrity smile, you’re probably imagining a smile with veneers, but veneers can help anyone, celebrity or not, achieve a whiter, straighter smile. Veneers are thin sheets of material, either porcelain or composite dental resin, that are bonded to the fronts of the teeth, masking imperfections like cracks or discoloration and revitalizing the appearance of somehow substandard teeth. The cost for composite veneers starts at about $500, while porcelain veneers average $1,500, and there are other factors that influence the cost in addition to the material used. Because veneers are a cosmetic procedure, it’s very important for the results to look good, so you’ll want to work with a reputable, expert dentist, and the extra cost for this expertise is well worth the impressive results. The location of the dentist and complexity of the procedure also influence the cost.
Different types of composite veneers can be made in a dental lab or crafted and applied directly in the dental clinic. These range in price from $500 to $2,500, depending on whether a dental lab was involved. Porcelain veneers average $1,500 and range in price from $850 to $2,500. These prices are for each tooth. If you have a damaged or irreparably discolored tooth, a composite resin veneer or porcelain veneer can repair a single tooth, and if you want to brighten your smile and create an even, uniform appearance, porcelain veneers on the front teeth are unbeatable, so make sure to factor in the number of teeth you’re treating as you calculate your costs.
In addition to the cost of the veneers themselves, additional dental visits and treatments are part of the overall treatment with dental veneers. Dental exams range in price from $50 to $250, and your dentist will need x-rays of your mouth before placing veneers, which will add anywhere from $25 to $50 for a traditional x-ray to $150 to $250 for a panoramic x-ray. In order to sculpt your veneers perfectly before they’re placed on your teeth, your dentist will make a wax model of your teeth, called a diagnostic wax-up, that lab technicians will use to perfect the size and shape of your teeth, and these wax-ups cost anywhere from $50 to $300. If you have gum disease, your dentist will treat this inflammation before placing veneers, and you may be referred to a periodontist for additional treatment, depending on the severity of your gum disease. Each of these treatments will add to the cost of veneers, and your dentist will help you understand their importance to the overall success of your dental veneer treatment.
Because dental veneers are rarely medically necessary, they are unlikely to be covered by insurance. It’s likely, however, that your dental insurance plan will cover dental exams and treatment for periodontal disease, and it’s a good idea to address these issues regardless of your dental veneer plan. To assist with the cost of the cosmetic aspects of your treatment – the veneers themselves – ask your dentist if they’re affiliated with a third-party financing or dental discount plan, which can help defray the costs of cosmetic procedures and make them a reasonable, accessible option for more than just celebrities.