A: Reality TV shows have definitely affected the popularity of dental, or porcelain veneers. One minute the contestant has the ugliest teeth on the planet and two minutes later they’re sporting a glamorous, Hollywood smile, all seemingly for free. The cost of porcelain veneers average about $1,000 per veneer, however it varies across the country. Cities such as New York and Los Angeles with a greater cost of living may charge even more, whereas a Midwestern state may be able to outfit you for under $800.

Q: I read on the internet that some cosmetic dentists charge $500 for dental veneers. How is that possible?

A: You may have read that correctly, but a word of caution about cosmetic dentistry. This professional is not legally recognized. A person can implement the procedure with dental school training and no more. Don’t go looking for bargains and don’t assume that very expensive veneers are offered by a really good cosmetic dentist. Your teeth are nothing to fool around with.

Q: I would really like to improve my appearance with veneers. Will my dental insurance policy cover them?

A: Since porcelain veneers are a cosmetic procedure, most dental plans will not cover the cost when they are applied for the first time. However, should your veneers deteriorate early due to faulty workmanship, you might find a loop hole in your policy that would may pay for a replacement, but probably not in full.

Q: How long does it take to have porcelain veneers made and applied?

A: The procedure for applying veneers is typically done over three separate appointments. The first appointment is when the cosmetic dentist will take off some of the outer enamel of your teeth – about the width of a finger nail. He will then take an impression of your mouth from which the veneers will be made. Veneers are wafer-like pieces of porcelain made by technicians at a dental lab. During the second appointment, the dentist will have you try on your veneers. This is where you get to test them out and small corrections can be made such as shortening them for proper alignment. If they are a perfect fit, they may be bonded to your teeth at this point, or a third appointment may be made for adhering them to you own teeth.

Q: Do they need any special care? Will they crack easily?

A: Keep your teeth well brushed with whitening toothpaste and continue to floss as usual. Porcelain veneers will break, just as your natural teeth would break if you bit on a hard object or played sports without a mouth guard. Don’t keep nails or pins in your mouth or open packaging or bottles with your teeth, with or without veneers.

Q: How can I find a trustworthy cosmetic dentist who will give me a fair deal?

A: References are the best indicator of quality workmanship. You can find plenty of cosmetic dentists online or in the phone book, but talking to someone who has porcelain veneers and is satisfied with the quality and the expertise of the cosmetic dentist is likely the safest way to help you make that decision. Make sure not to get caught up on the porcelain veneers cost, as quality of work should be your primary priority. If you don’t know anyone personally, call a modeling agency for a reference. Or the casting director of a reality TV show – maybe you’ll get a free make over too!

You will typically only get veneers done on a few of your teeth, as the others won’t be as in need of repair. The teeth that aren’t used with veneer may be polished if necessary to give them the some look as the ones that are. Soon, all your teeth will look bright and beautiful. This is certainly the good news, but unfortunately the price is the bad news.

The fact is that veneers, especially porcelain veneers, are going to cost you a lot. Just how much will they end up hurting your budget? This depends on several factors, one of which being where you live. Different countries, states, and cities can offer veneers at widely varying range of prices and you might be surprised at your price in comparison with those elsewhere.

Let’s look at some examples. If you lived in Chicago, Illinois, you could pay up to $2,400 to have each tooth covered, but what porcelain veneers cost would drop all the way to $900 if you lived in North Carolina. Why does this happen? It seems to be connected to population density. Four veneers in a small town might go for $3600 as opposed to being $9600 in a larger city.

Before you run out of town to get the best deal you can, remember that there’s also a downside to good prices. If you notice that someone is offering the service for much less than you’d expect to pay, you shouldn’t necessarily take this as a good thing. Remember that as nice as that price might seem at the moment, there’s probably a reason it’s low.

It’s tempting to save money, but you have to realize your taking your own mouth into account with this procedure. If you don’t have to pay a lot for your veneers, chances are they might not be done very well. There can be serious problems when you run into improperly applied veneers and avoiding these matters is much more tha what porcelain veneers cost.

Besides the money you spend, you will also need to invest a considerable amount of time to get your veneers done well. Past your initial appointment, there will be several others where you’ll need to make adjustments. If you’re not careful, it will be obvious that you’ve done something to your real teeth as opposed to having a seamless effect.

There are several people you can talk to about where to get your veneers done. Your dentist will probably recommend you get them done at your regular office, but you should look around as well. Once you’re assured of quality, you could even do some price shopping, but remember the all important rules as you look for you new veneers.

There are many different reasons to get veneers, and all will help you feel better about yourself. Whether you want your teeth to look whiter or straighter, you’ll be able to find a solution. Better than that, you’ll be surprised at how quickly the effects are seen, with your yellow teeth reaching that whiter shade you want them to be in just a handful of visits.

You might wonder just why veneers are so expensive. Typically, it’s because they’re made of porcelain, which is the best material available for making them. These offer better quality and are longer lasting than resin veneers. But this latter type isn’t a bad option at all if you have less money. Your dentist can make a good recommendation.

The price variation is huge. A whole set of resin veneers can cost only around $1,500. However, porcelain veneers cost as much as a $1,500 per tooth or more. On the other hand, where resin veneers last around six years, the porcelain ones can last for as long as 20 and beyond.

Again, it won’t take long at all for you to get your veneers. This applies both to the number of appointments you will have to make and to how long those appointments will last. The first visit only involves some x-rays and talking about what you’re looking for. Teeth whitening may be part of the early procedure, so that you can get the whitest matching teeth.  You should come up with a plan with your dentist before going further and doing anything else.

The second trip is where your veneers are actually formed. To form your teeth the way you want them, your dentist will have to file them to the right shape. You will of course be given something for pain before this so the process will still be rather easy. Then a mold will be formed and you will have to wait some hours or days before the last visit.

When you return, your veneers will be ready. Your dentist will put them on for you and look at them with you. Once he has confirmed that everything is the way you wanted it in terms of shape and color, everything is ready to go. Once you’ve checked out, you’ll be able to leave with your new smile fully completed in what is often just a matter of days.

The high cost of veneers is understandably a turn off for some. However, if you can afford the procedure, you should certainly get it. When you smile at someone, it immediately sends an impression of yourself to that person. Knowing that you have nothing to hide does wonders for your self esteem too. You want to be sure that impression is the best it can be, and with veneers you’ll be sure to achieve that.

You can improve your smile and have straight, white, whole teeth without the pain of implants and without the troubles of dentures. Porcelain veneers are a wonderful alternative to the long, painful process of dental implants. You can improve your smile in one to three visits to your dentist when you get porcelain veneers. This compared to 9 months of waiting and placement of painful screws and cumbersome implants is a real dream come true!

So what do porcelain veneers cost? Depending on where you live in the country and how much damage has been done to the original tooth, itself, porcelain veneers cost about $500-$1500 per tooth. However, that is not taking into account any dental insurance you may have. Many dentists also will reduce the price of porcelain veneers drastically when you are having several teeth veneered. Check the terms of your dental insurance policy to find out what your actual cost would be. Most dental insurance plans do not cover porcelain veneers, as it commonly falls under their cosmetic clause.

Everyone wants to be able to smile and laugh without worrying about what people think about their teeth. Odds are good that you are more self conscious about your teeth than others are, but when you are afraid to smile; it’s time to get some help. Porcelain veneers will give you a beautiful smile that you can be proud of.

You may have heard about other veneers and cosmetic procedures that can change the appearance of your teeth. There are other treatments that exist. Less expensive veneers made of inferior materials and need to be repaired and replaced frequently. When you want to improve your smile, don’t take the cheapest way out. Don’t allow your dentist to use inferior products in your mouth! Quality porcelain veneers will not only look like perfect teeth, but will last well into the future. Skimping on quality when it comes to veneers will certainly be a regret you’ll have to live with for years to come.

When you choose to get porcelain veneers, your dentist will apply glass like ceramic porcelain over your existing teeth. At your first visit with your dentist, the two of you will discuss just what you’re looking for. You’ll discuss what shape, size and color your veneers will be and what they will look like when they’re complete.

Depending on what kind of damage you have to your teeth, you may need to have other procedures, as well as porcelain veneers. This will also factor in on the final cost of your dental veneers. Make sure that your dentist or his office assistant gives you a break down of all prices for projected work. Your insurance may pay for some, but not all of the cost of your porcelain veneers.

Whether you are having one tooth repaired or ten, the bottom line is that the price you pay will be well worth it. Nothing is as wonderful as being able to smile and laugh without hiding your teeth. Get the smile you deserve, talk to your dentist about porcelain veneers today.