The Forbes Health editorial team is independent and objective. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Health site. This compensation comes from two main sources. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. The compensation we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market. Second, we also include links to advertisers’ offers in some of our articles; these “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them.
The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Health. While we work hard to provide accurate and up-to-date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Health does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof. Dentalresin
Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you—that’s why so many people want to make theirs look great. Dental veneers, or thin layers of material placed over the front of the tooth, can improve the overall appearance of your teeth.
If you’ve ever considered veneers, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this simple dental procedure, including the benefits, potential drawbacks and cost.
“Veneers are a thin, custom-made tooth-like shell designed to cover the front surface of your teeth to improve your smile,” says Alex Rubinov, D.D.S., a New York-based cosmetic dentist.
Veneers can be made from porcelain or resin composite materials. Both materials work well, but according to Dr. Rubinov, porcelain veneers are touted for being a long-lasting solution to tooth issues, and have the added benefit of being very similar to natural teeth when it comes to opacity (in other words, the way light permeates porcelain veneers very closely matches the way light permeates natural teeth). Resin, on the other hand, simply isn’t as strong a material.
“Resin veneers are more likely to stain, chip and accumulate plaque than porcelain veneers are,” he says. “This commonly leads to decay beneath the resin veneer, ultimately compromising the tooth more significantly in the long run.”
“Porcelain veneers not only give you limitless freedom to improve tooth color, but also the shape of the tooth and overall oral aesthetic. With porcelain veneers, you never have to worry about staining or changing color over time,” says Dr. Rubinov.
In most cases, patients who seek veneers want to improve the aesthetic of their smile, says Dr. Rubinov. Unlike fillings and crowns, they aren’t necessarily medically needed, but can act as a cosmetic solution and vastly improve a variety of conditions that occur over time to diminish your smile.
Here are some of the most common reasons people ask for veneers, according to Dr. Rubinov:
Having dental veneers put on is a relatively simple procedure performed in your dentist’s office. However, you may need to make a few appointments to complete the entire process, says Samantha Rawdin, D.M.D., a prosthodontist based in New York. Typically, you’ll have a consultation, then a follow-up or two for fitting and applying. Below is a breakdown of the steps involved:
“The first step for diagnosis involves an intimate consultation between the dentist and patient,” says Dr. Rubinov. “I always ask my patients to explain to me in detail the insecurity they have with their smile. “This helps me come up with a plan that produces the result that they are trying to achieve.”
The initial appointment will likely involve a physical exam to assess your overall oral hygiene, spot any issues (like excessive tooth decay) before veneers are applied and discuss your goals, says Dr. Rawdin. “You should also expect to have X-rays and photos taken, and possibly even impressions of your teeth,” she says.
Once both you and your dentist have decided you’re a good candidate for veneers, your dentist will prepare your teeth. This can involve fixing cavities, reshaping the surface of your teeth and “roughing” the enamel to help the cement adhere better, says Dr. Rubinov.
Once your custom veneers come back from the lab, which Dr. Rawdin says can take several weeks, you’ll go in for a fitting appointment. Here, your dentist will test the size, color and overall appearance. If everything looks and feels right, your veneers will be bonded right away. If not, your veneers may need to be sent back to the lab for adjustments.
Getting dental veneers isn’t overly painful and there isn’t much of a recovery period. “In the hours following your procedure, your gums might be sore from the area that we administered local anesthesia,” says Dr. Rubinov, “but the next day you can expect to love your new smile.” If you do experience discomfort afterward, over-the-counter medication can help, he adds.
Your Smile, For Life You own your smile, and you should own it forever. With Byte, watch your smile transform with digital access to your doctor-directed treatment plan. $80 Off With Code FORBESBBP
You own your smile, and you should own it forever. With Byte, watch your smile transform with digital access to your doctor-directed treatment plan.
Veneers have many advantages, experts say, including:
Despite the benefits of dental veneers, there are some drawbacks, too:
There are some cases where dental veneers would not be recommended. “Someone might be a poor candidate for veneers if they have existing restorations that need to be replaced or minimal remaining tooth structure, which would require a full-coverage restoration, such as a crown,” says Dr. Rawdin.
Additionally, she says, “people with active periodontal disease are not candidates for veneers, since they would be placed on an unstable foundation. It’s important to make sure the gums are healthy before starting the process.”
Because veneers are indicated for correcting aesthetic problems, and are generally well received by a patient’s mouth, the procedure typically goes smoothly, with no real concerns, says Dr. Rawdin. “However, if you have existing veneers and they start to break down or you develop a cavity underneath your veneers, then they do need to be replaced to avoid destruction of the remaining tooth structure below the veneer.”
An Expert Dental Network Behind Your Smile The journey to a new smile starts by taking impressions of your teeth from the comfort of your home. Every smile is guaranteed for life. Grab your Byte impression kit today! $80 Off With Code FORBESBBP
An Expert Dental Network Behind Your Smile
The journey to a new smile starts by taking impressions of your teeth from the comfort of your home. Every smile is guaranteed for life. Grab your Byte impression kit today!
Veneers can be expensive—considering that they are not typically covered by insurance—costing anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000 per tooth depending on where the practice is located, what the associated laboratory costs will be and the amount of work that will be required, says Dr. Rawdin.
Dental insurance typically covers preventative care such as teeth cleanings, routine X-rays and fluoride treatments. Additionally, most full coverage plans also offer coverage for restorative care including cavity fillings, extractions, bridges and crowns. Because veneers are typically considered elective cosmetic dentistry, most dental insurance plans do not cover the procedure. However, insurance may cover veneers if the procedure is deemed medically necessary. Check with your insurance provider to determine if it offers coverage for veneers.
Veneers are a well-known procedure used to improve the appearance of your teeth. However, there are several other procedures available that may also aid improving the look and overall health of your teeth.
While veneers require an existing tooth to be applied over, dental implants are medical devices implanted into an individual’s jaw. Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth due to disease or injury, which may present complications including rapid bone loss or changes in chewing patterns.
Similar to veneers, crowns are dental restorations that look like teeth and are placed over an existing tooth. However, crowns may also be placed over a dental implant. Whereas veneers are commonly a cosmetic procedure, crowns are typically used to fix teeth that are damaged or weakened due to fillings or root canals. Additionally, they may be used on top of a dental implant to fill spaces from missing teeth or placed on each side of an implant to provide support.
Lumineers are a type of veneer that are thinner and require less preparation to an individual’s teeth than traditional dental veneers. Lumineers are made from porcelain that are comparable in thickness to a contact lens and are placed over existing teeth with a bonding agent. However, because Lumineers don’t require reshaping of the teeth to the same extent as conventional veneers, they may sometimes appear bulky.
Enamel bonding is a procedure in which a dentist applies a composite resin to the surface of a tooth to repair chips, cracks or discoloration. Once the resin is applied, the dentist will dry the material with a UV light and complete any necessary additional shaping. Bonding typically takes 30 minutes to one hour to complete and usually requires one appointment.
Impress Yourself, With Byte Teeth Aligners
The journey to a new smile starts by taking impressions of your teeth from the comfort of your home. With your purchase from Byte, receive a free retainer, free whitening treatment, and help from a clinical team.
Some individuals find that the improvements offered by veneers are worth the high price tag. However, whether or not veneers are worth it for you will likely depend on factors such as your health history, cost and personal preference.
The lifespan of veneers is approximately ten years, according to the American Dental Association.
It is generally safe to eat with permanent veneers. However, experts advise caution when consuming foods such as carrots and apples and hard candy to avoid chipping or cracking veneers. Additionally, dark liquids like red wine, coffee and black tea as well as tobacco products may stain porcelain veneers. It is generally advised to limit alcohol consumption, as alcohol may damage the bonding agent used to apply veneers.
Many insurance plans do not cover veneers because they are considered elective cosmetic procedures and are not medically necessary.
Information provided on Forbes Health is for educational purposes only. Your health and wellness is unique to you, and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment plans. For personal advice, please consult with a medical professional.
Forbes Health adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers.
Christin Perry is a freelance writer with a passion for all topics related to health and family. She has been working as a writer for seven years now, and her work has appeared in Parents, The Bump, VeryWell Family, Parade and Teen Vogue. When she's not writing, Christin enjoys spending time with her husband and four kids, walking, baking and reading. And of course, shopping.
Wax Patterns Dr. Stacey Zirilli is an experienced general dentist currently providing comprehensive care to patients in southern Connecticut. She prioritizes providing compassionate care and ensuring patient comfort through effective communication and an empathetic approach. Her skills include restorative and aesthetic dentistry, endodontics, periodontics, fixed and removable prosthodontics and implant dentistry. After practicing for several years in Manhattan, Dr. Zirilli has recently moved back to her hometown in Fairfield County, Connecticut.