The health of your smile is essential to your comfort and general health, but your smile's appearance can be just as important. How confidently you smile can affect the way you feel about yourself and how others view you in the world. So, if you have any smile imperfections that keep you from smiling as brightly as you would like, dental veneers can be a good option for enhancing or making over the look of your smile.
Dental veneers are a cosmetic dental treatment that can have a major impact on the appearance of your smile. Individual veneers can be used to correct individual teeth for minor enhancements. An entire set of veneers can also be placed to completely transform the look of a patient's smile.
They are commonly used to:
Our dentist can talk with you about your treatment goals and expectations to help you create a beautiful and natural-looking smile.
Many patients do not realize that there are a variety of different types of dental veneers available to them. The different options in veneers vary in terms of their material composition, thickness, durability, look, and cost. Two of the most popular types are porcelain veneers and composite resin veneers. However, there are also zirconia veneers, Lumineers, and snap-on (non-permanent or removable) veneers.
The type of veneers that are right for you is a personal decision that our doctor can help you make based on your treatment preferences, lifestyle, desired results, and budget.
In order for dental veneers to fit comfortably and sit naturally on the surfaces of the teeth, a thin layer of tooth enamel must first be removed from the teeth. This natural tooth enamel does not regenerate and cannot be replaced. This means that dental veneers are a permanent treatment. Once a patient gets dental veneers, they must be committed to maintaining them for the rest of their lives.
Depending on the type of veneers you get and how well you care for them and protect them from excessive wear and tear and damage, dental veneers last anywhere from five to 30 years. They will need to be repaired and/or replaced as they wear out, become loose, or are damaged.
The only exception to this rule is snap-on veneers. Snap-on veneers are removable dental prosthetics that are designed to fit over the visible portions of the teeth. They are only for temporary wear, however. They are a good solution for patients who do not want to commit to getting veneers but would like to enhance their appearance for photoshoots or pageants.
The cost of dental veneers varies depending on the type of veneers and the type of teeth receiving the veneers. They can range anywhere from $500 to $2,500 per tooth. Composite resin veneers typically are less expensive than porcelain veneers. Despite the cost savings, resin veneers are not quite as durable as porcelain veneers which means they might need to be repaired or replaced more frequently.
Veneers are typically considered to be an exclusively cosmetic dental treatment. As a result, except in rare cases, most dental insurance policies do not include any coverage for veneers. This means most patients have to cover the entire cost out of pocket.
Dental veneers are an investment into your smile, confidence, and appearance. Depending on the type of work you do, this investment could pay off big-time. Whether you get veneers for professional or personal reasons, you can always take steps to protect your veneers, prolong their lifespan, and get the most our of your investment.
At Decker Dental, we believe every smile is beautiful. However, if you have minor or more complex smile imperfections that you would like to correct, we can help you create the smile of your dreams. We welcome you to contact our office to request a smile makeover consultation today.
Call 360.825.3191 or click the link below to schedule an appointment online.
