What are porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers, alternatively termed dental veneers or dental porcelain laminates, are wafer-thin shells of porcelain that are bonded onto the front side of teeth so to create a cosmetic improvement for a tooth. Porcelain veneers are routinely used by dentists as a way to make cosmetic changes for teeth that are discolored, worn, chipped, or misaligned.

How long do porcelain veneers last?

There are no hard and fast rules about how long you can expect your porcelain veneers (porcelain laminates) to last. You can certainly expect that they will remain cosmetically pleasing and structurally sound for many years, but it is unrealistic to expect that they will last forever. With good home care and by exercising good judgment, it seems likely that a porcelain veneer could last well in excess of ten years.

Will porcelain veneers look like my natural teeth?

The glass-like ceramic that forms porcelain veneers closely resembles natural tooth enamel. This is because, much like real tooth enamel, porcelain veneers are translucent. When light strikes a natural tooth's surface, it is not immediately reflected off. Instead, it penetrates the tooth enamel and reflects off the opaque tooth dentin that lies just beneath. This translucent effect is what gives teeth their luster. By replicating this, porcelain dental veneers provide patients with bright, natural looking smiles.

Does a veneer protect the tooth from decay?

No. The veneer itself won t decay, and the surrounding tooth isn't under any additional risk of decay, but clients will need to practice proper oral hygiene, just as on any other tooth, to prevent any decay.

What is the average cost of a veneer?

Fees for porcelain veneers will always vary depending on the area you live in and the difficulty of your case. Fees vary significantly based on the experience of the cosmetic dentist, location of the country, number of restorations and the challenge of a specific patient's cosmetic case. The cost of getting porcelain veneers largely depends on how many veneers are required to produce the desired results. In most cases, a minimum of six veneers is needed, and is usually placed on the upper six front teeth, from the canine to canine. The cost of each individual veneer significantly varies with figures ranging from $1000 to $2000 per tooth.