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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – You need new teeth, but can you afford them? One option is to buy veneers. Dentists often recommend these when the work you need done isn’t extensive or is primarily cosmetic, with minor structural issues.
Here’s what you need to know about them and whether they’re right for you.
Basic Costs
According to Monrovia Family Dentistry, the cost of Porcelain veneers tend to be more than indirect or direct composite resin veneers. Traditional porcelain veneers cost between $925 and $2,500 per tooth, and can last 10 to 15 years. Composite veneers cost between $250 and $1,500 per tooth, and last between 5 and 7 years.
Cost Factors
The cost of dental veneers is driven by a few things. First, the fees of the cosmetic dentist are a huge part of the cost. The artistic and technical skill of the ceramist that makes them for you also factors into it. Where you have your treatment done matters a lot too. Costs for veneers and all cosmetic procedures vary widely by the state, country, and even from metropolitan to rural areas.
Many dentists offer payment plans for cosmetic and restorative procedures, so ask your dentist about financing. Some dentists don’t offer financing, in which case you will probably have to pay out of pocket for those procedures. Unless you have an HSA, and your insurance covers it, it can be rather pricey.
Finally, another factor that gets factored into the total cost is how many teeth you need this done to. One tooth may cost $250, but if you have 10 teeth, suddenly, the bill becomes $2,500.
Consultation and Treatment
To see if you qualify, schedule a preliminary consult with your dentist. Your basic health will be evaluated and all available treatment options will be discussed. Veneer treatments involving tooth preparation are irreversible so you need to be sure that you really want it before the treatment begins.
During your consult, you’ll participate in the “smile design process,” which is a process of sharing your preferences for the shape, length, width, and color of the veneers that will be put in your mouth.
To help you, your dentist will go over all available options. It’s important that your dentist understands your objectives and tastes because the process is, more or less, permanent. Even though veneers do wear off over time, the underlying tooth structure will be “fixed” so that you will always need veneers or some type of cosmetic application to protect it.
The Procedure
The dental veneer procedure is completed in two visits over six weeks. These visits are comprehensive and may require several hours of examinations and preparation. Dental offices are usually fully prepared for these extensive visitations, and boast amenities like sedation dentistry, and audio/visual distractions. Some dental offices are even made up like spas to help you relax while the procedure takes place.
This is all in an attempt to get you to relax.
The diagnostic phase of the treatment is essential and will identify any oral health concerns that need to be taken care of before veneer placement. Your dentist also needs to work with you to select the best tooth color for you. All of this is based on a shade chart. Imaging technologies give you a preview of your results, before and after images let you see what the tooth color will be, and treatment starts when the exam is done and you have a customized plan designed for you.
There are several steps in the procedure. First, your dentist administers and local anesthetic to help with the procedure, make you comfortable, and to prevent you from feeling pain during the procedure. Your natural tooth is prepared by reshaping it with a small, handheld rotating cutting device, which is called a “bur.” This device helps make sure the veneer is properly placed and fits exactly. The bur comes in various shapes and sizes, allowing precise and minimal shaping of your tooth prior to the veneer being installed.
Recovery
Veneers are durable dental products and shown to last many years before they require maintenance or replacement. Seeing your dentist and hygienist regularly and getting regular cleanings is important for maintaining your dental health, however. And, it may prolong the life of your veneer.
Some objects, like nut shells and bones will crack certain veneers so you should not eat them. Your dentist might also advise you to avoid certain foods that can damage the porcelain or composite material.
Lydia Gray is a student who is at dental school. She finds all the recent dental innovations fascinating and can’t wait to qualify as a dentist and get on with her career. Until that time she keeps herself busy with study and writing dental articles for the world wide web!
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