Are Veneers Worth It? (What to Expect When Getting Veneers)

While veneers are a highly sought-after cosmetic dental makeover, first-timers considering getting them ask, ‘Are veneers worth it?’

Well, getting permanent porcelain veneers is absolutely worth it.

Porcelains are non-porous and boast greater stain resistance than composites. Due to their multi-decade durability, porcelains are worth every penny in the long run.

In this article, we’ll answer the question, ‘Are veneers worth it?’, discuss whether you should get veneers, what may disqualify you from getting them, explore the pros and cons of veneers, and explore frequently asked questions.

Are veneers worth it?

The thought of an enamel shaving to make room for new veneers on your mouth raises the inquisitive query; ‘Are veneers worth it?’ The answer is yes!

Despite being an infamous Hollywood dental cosmetic trend, veneers can conceal and resolve minor dental issues such as gaps and discolored teeth that are unresponsive to whitening procedures.

The procedure is typically painless, as the dentist uses local anesthesia to numb sensitivity to pain during tooth preparation.

Tooth preparation is the step where your enamel is minimally shaved down and roughened in preparation for affixing veneers.

Related: Do You Need to Have Straight Teeth to Get Veneers?

Should I get veneers?

Veneers can upgrade the aesthetic appearance of your teeth and significantly boost your self-esteem.

Also, you don’t have to cover the whole mouth; you may get them on specific affected teeth, such as broken or chipped front teeth.

Besides, you may choose them to match the shade of your teeth for uniformity.

You may also get them on 4-10 teeth of each jaw, depending on the broadness of your smile.

However, your dentist can advise you based on your budgets, preferences, goals, and the cosmetic dental issues you seek to resolve.

Related: First Time Braces? What to Eat With Braces the First Week

What disqualifies you from getting veneers?

While most people are approved for veneers after their initial dental appointments, some may not qualify for them at that time.

Often, this is not a permanent disqualification but rather a redirection to address critical underlying issues such as severe misalignment.

For example, a dentist may recommend getting orthodontic braces or Invisalign before veneers to straighten one’s natural teeth if they have a severe misalignment.

Who can get veneers?

Veneers are cosmetic dental makeovers, and anyone can get them, but most people get them for the following reasons:

Tooth discoloration

Teeth may become discolored due to excessive fluoride, certain drugs, such as tetracycline, smoking, and excessive intake of pigmented drinks such as tea and coffee.

Tea and coffee contain tannins, which can attach themselves to teeth surfaces, causing discoloration over time.

Irregularly shaped, chipped, or broken teeth

Broken teeth can have odd and irregular shapes, which may lower your esteem.

Veneers can conceal irregularities and odd shapes and significantly boost their appearance.

Minor gaps

While some people don’t mind a gap between teeth, especially front teeth, others don’t like them.

Veneers can close and cover the gap or any other minor gaps on visible teeth.

Quest for whiter teeth shade

Veneers, especially porcelains, are highly stain-resistant.

They’re an ideal option for people seeking to whiten their teeth, such as two to three shades whiter.

Also, they’re a long-lasting resort for stubborn teeth that are unresponsive to other teeth whitening options.

Let’s now delve into the step-by-step process of getting veneers and what to expect during the procedure.

Related: Here’s What Happens During a Composite Dental Filling Procedure

Steps to getting veneers: What to expect when getting veneers

Getting traditional porcelain veneers requires a reputable and experienced dentist due to the process’s complexity and irreversibility.

The process may take 2-3 in-office appointments. Here’s what to expect when getting veneers:

1.    Prepping teeth surfaces

Your dentist needs to prep each tooth surface that needs a veneer placement.

Prepping involves shaving down the enamel and roughening it for adhesiveness and perfect fitting.

2.    Taking tooth impressions

Afterward, your dentists may take impressions to prepare a new porcelain veneer set in the lab.

Impressions help to customize perfectly fitting sets that match your teeth and bite.

3. Fixing temporary veneers

As your impressions go to the lab for permanent porcelain set customization, the dentist may fit temporary veneers onto your teeth.

Temporary veneers are placeholders as you wait for permanent ones till your next dental visit.

4. Assessment and pre-fitting

The next dental visit typically involves assessing and pre-fitting the newly made permanent porcelain veneers on your teeth.

It also includes noting any necessary adjustments or exchange recommendations.

5. Bonding the permanent porcelain veneers to teeth surfaces

If the newly made porcelain veneers fit perfectly and are an appropriate shade, the dentist may proceed with the makeover on the second visit.

They can replace the temporary veneer placeholders with the permanent set by bonding them on teeth surfaces using dental cement.

However, if the custom-made porcelain set needs adjustment, you may need a third in-office visit to finalize your cosmetic treatment.

Taking care of veneers

After getting veneers, you may need a follow-up dental appointment with your dentist.

The appointment is for assessment, sharing feedback, and raising any concerns such as discomfort.

If the veneers don’t feel okay, they can check and correct that.

You may detect rough patches on the veneers; the dentist may polish them for a clear, smooth appearance.

However, they often fade away soon afterward and are caused by leftover surplus bonding material on the veneers.

The dentist may also give you tips on veneer maintenance and care to maximize durability and optimum appearance.

The durability of your veneers depends on how well you care for them and the type you choose.

For example, if you have composite resin veneers, consider limiting the intake of staining meals and drinks, such as wine, coffee, and tea, in addition to maintaining peak dental hygiene.

Related: Nanohydroxyapatite: Can It Replace Fluoride In Toothpaste?

Veneers vs crowns vs implants

Veneers, crowns, and implants may confuse you as they all function to improve teeth appearance, but there are contrasting differences among them. They include:

Veneers typically conceal and cover front tooth surfaces to improve appearance, teeth shade, and minor issues.

Crowns often cover the whole tooth structure, that is, the front, sides, and back.

They’re often preferable in treatments such as root canals to salvage minimal tooth structure remainders and bolster the teeth they protect or cover.

Crowns such as zirconias, which is stronger than porcelain, may fix issues such as broken teeth and save damaged teeth.

Implants are bolt-like structures that a dentist affixes to your jawbone to restore a missing tooth.

Sometimes, the dentist uses an implant to strengthen a crown in the mouth.

Crowns can fortify severely damaged teeth, for example, in late decay stages.

Veneers can conceal and improve the aesthetic appearance of intact teeth and shade, while crowns can fortify and replace severely damaged teeth and restore functionality.

Implants replace missing teeth and serve as roots through attachment to the jawbone.

Related: Remineralizing Teeth With Gum That Contains Xylitol

How much are veneers?

The price of veneers varies in different cities and depends on the type of veneers you’re getting and the prep steps it takes, but it typically ranges from $500 to $2900.

For example, composite resin veneers cost significantly lower than porcelain veneers.

Composite-based veneers may cost $800- $1950, while porcelains can cost $975-$2900.

Also, the number of teeth that you intend to cover and conceal affects the price because most dentists may often charge it on a per-tooth basis rather than an all-inclusive price.

The expertise of the dental provider or dentist may also skyrocket and affect the price.

Getting veneers done in Turkey is a growing dental makeover destination choice due to increasingly positive online reviews from cosmetic tourists in recent years.

In addition, getting veneers is a cosmetic dental makeover, therefore, most insurance companies don’t cover the procedure costs.

Pros and cons of getting porcelain veneers

Below are the merits of getting veneers:

1. Improve teeth shade

Teeth may discolor over time due to smoking tannins in coffee, tea, and other foods.

Despite constant whitening efforts to restore appearance, you may seek a long-lasting solution to discoloration.

Porcelain veneers, being stain-resistant, offer a long-lasting solution to persistent discoloration without the need for regular in-office whitening appointment schedules.

2. Resolve minor dental flaws and issues

Minor gaps, chips, and misalignment in visible teeth may be dissatisfying, but a veneer makeover can resolve that and transform your smile.

In addition, they’re a permanent solution, so you don’t have to worry about them falling off or costly regular maintenance.

3. Restore and fortify damaged enamel

While enamel is the hardest substance on the body, poor habits, lifestyle, drugs, and hygiene can wear it down over time, causing it to weaken.

Enamel degradation and demineralization can kickstart tooth decay.

Porcelain veneers can shield and fortify teeth surfaces that are prone to abrasion and erosion, offering a long-term remedy.

Cons of getting veneers

Here are the demerits of getting veneers:

1. Discomfort and sensitivity

While getting veneers doesn’t hurt, you may experience heightened sensitivity and discomfort afterward in the initial days of the process.

You may feel this in response to hot or cold temperatures, but it’ll cease after a while.

However, sensitivity and discomfort may vary from person to person, and there are diverse methods for easing sensitivity in the first few days.

2. Costly price

While veneer prices vary across various cities and locations, the average cost is expensive, considering that the price is often calculated per every tooth surface.

The price is surging, given that most people may need veneers for 4-10 teeth on each jaw.

Also, getting veneers is a cosmetic makeover, and most insurance plans don’t cover dental costs, so you have to self-finance or seek other financing options.

3. Irreversible decision

Traditional porcelain veneers are a permanent decision that cannot be reversed if you change your mind after getting them done.

The dentist may minimally shave part of the enamel on every tooth surface, and the process is, therefore, irreversible after it’s done.

However, some options don’t involve invasive enamel shaving, as in the case of certain no-prep veneer types.

Ensure that you weigh veneers’ pros and cons against alternatives thoroughly before you make the final decision on getting veneers.

FAQS on getting veneers

Here are frequently asked questions on getting veneers:

1. What disqualifies you from getting veneers?

You may not be eligible for veneers if you have dental issues such as severe misalignment.

The dentist may refer you to orthodontic treatment methods such as Invisalign or metal braces to straighten teeth first before getting veneers to achieve the best results.

2. What to expect when getting veneers

You can expect to ask your dentist questions about the veneer types and any alternatives to veneers according to your budget and dental needs.

If you decide to begin the process, it may take 2-3 hours on day 1 and need 2-3 appointments to complete.

3. Why is everyone getting veneers?

While everyone might not be getting veneers, their popularity is rising and becoming widespread as more celebrities embrace cosmetic dental makeovers.

However, other people may be getting veneers due to the bandwagon effect, while others opt for them to resolve persistent issues such as discoloration.

4. Does it hurt getting veneers?

No. Getting veneers doesn’t hurt, as the dentist uses local anesthesia to numb the pain if they need to shave the enamel down for traditional veneers.

However, you may experience slight discomfort or sensitivity to hot or cold stimuli in the next few days, but it’ll subside and be manageable.

5. What is the process of getting veneers?

The process of getting veneers varies depending on the veneer types, though it typically involves:

• Prepping tooth surfaces
• Taking tooth impressions
• Fixing placeholders
• Assessment and pre-fitting
• Bonding the permanent porcelain veneers

6. How much does getting veneers cost?

Getting veneers depends on your city and location, but the price of composite resin and porcelain veneers ranges from $500 to $1900.

The takeaway

Veneers are a long-term solution to dental issues such as discoloration.

While some skeptics argue that they create unrealistic beauty standards, they can camouflage and solve persistent dental problems among people.

Perhaps it’s time to embrace and accept veneers as a form of essential restorative dentistry in addition to cosmetic dentistry, depending on the reason for getting them.

Cecile M.

Cecile M., is a communication strategist, avid reader, and storyteller with ghostwriting and direct response copywriting experience. Besides writing, she enjoys eclipse chasing, star gazing in remote places with less light pollution, sunset chasing, bird watching, poetry, old movies, animations, bookshops, karaoke sessions, and wildlife conservation.