A tooth veneer is a very thin shell or covering placed over the front part of a tooth. This is done to cover up flaws in the tooth such as stains and cracks.
There are several different procedures available to improve the look of your teeth and thus your smile.
Most dental veneers are made from porcelain, because it is strong, non-porous, highly resistant to stains, and is the best material to mimic the look and feel of natural teeth.
Since tooth shapes and sizes differ all the time, most porcelain dental veneers are made to order at a laboratory, and then bonded afterwards to the tooth after adjusting or modifying it to help it fit the tooth perfectly.
Composite Resin Bonding Is Often Cheaper
Before dental porcelain veneers became popular, the primary method of fixing imperfect teeth is through composite resin tooth bonding.
Resin is commonly used as a tooth filling to cover up holes drained by the dentist, and this is why most teeth bonding that use composite resin don’t exactly match the color of the rest of the tooth.
Nowadays, some cosmetic dentists offer different shades of composite resin for teeth bonding, and this is a cheaper alternative to getting porcelain tooth veneers, which can cost as much as one thousand to two thousand dollars per tooth. The price of these procedures often lead people to look for less expensive teeth whitening options.
Why So Expensive?
Sounds expensive, doesn’t it? The high veneers cost lies in a number of factors. Porcelain is a strong and expensive material, and it doesn’t break, chip or crack as easily as composite resin.
Getting porcelain veneers is a lengthy process that can take two or more appointments with the cosmetic dentist, for the veneers really have to be custom-fit to be comfortable. And last but not least, porcelain veneers can last more than fifteen years with careful management, while composite resin teeth bonding is good for five to ten years.
What’s Recommended?
Many health sites such as the Fitnez blog recommend resin bonding over porcelain veneers if the teeth that need to be repaired are located way back in your mouth, but if its your front teeth that need coverage, then your best option is porcelain veneers to get as natural a look as possible.
Is This Covered By Insurance?
Getting teeth bonding or dental veneers is generally not covered by dental or medical insurance since the procedure is considered a cosmetic concern and not a health problem, so if you think that porcelain veneers is the best option, prepare to spend as much as one thousand dollars for a single veneer.
To make sure you are charged reasonably and given professional service, look for a cosmetic dentist that is properly licensed and authorized to make and apply porcelain veneers, for he or she can also advise you on what procedure is best for the unique qualities of your teeth.
