Will porcelain veneers look like my natural teeth?

Most people have veneers to improve the way their natural teeth looked. They are used to correct chipped, worn, discolored or misaligned teeth. If the question is, " Will they blend in with the rest of my teeth and look like they belong there?"  the answer is  yes.

Does a veneer protect the tooth from decay?

The veneer will protect the teeth from decay, provided that one brushes and flosses daily and avoids an excessive amount of sugars. They cannot substitute for proper care and diet.

What is the average cost of a veneer?

As veneers are custom made for each individual tooth, they may vary in fee , depending on many different factors, from the number of teeth, training of the dentist, to the overhead costs , lab fees, etc. Currently they can range from $1,500 to $ 1,800 per tooth.

Do Veneers cause any risk to a tooth' s structure?

Depending on why they are being done, this too can vary. If the tooth is chipped or has large filings, the veneer will make the tooth stronger. If the veneer is being done to change the shape or position of the tooth, some tooth structure will need to be reshaped, which does mean that until the veneer is placed the tooth is more fragile. Once the veneer is bonded to the tooth, it is almost as strong as a virgin tooth.

How long does applying veneers take?

It depends on the number of veneers. One would take about 40 minutes, each additional one - about 10 minutes.

How long do porcelain veneers last?

With proper care, they can last 15-20 years. Proper care means the usual ( brushing and flossing ) as well as not using your teeth as tools - no biting fingernails, or opening packages or cutting off price tags, or biting on frozen power bars or candied apples- and wearing a night guard . After that time, the issue may be that the gum tissue has receded, so that the juncture of the veneer to the root ( which is much darker) may become visible and therefore a cosmetic ( not functional ) concern.