Porcelain Veneers

Q. Are Veneers covered by insurance?
A. Generally no. In most instances it is considered an elective treatment and therefore not covered. Some plans may allow for veneer treatment in special circumstances.

Q. Will it hurt?
A. No. During the procedure you should experience very slight discomfort. Only a thin area of your teeth will be shave off. Thus pain is really not an issue. After the first visit a patient can experience a slight degree of discomfort, but nothing that couldn't be handled with ordinary Aspirin or Tylenol. Of all the cosmetic treatment a person can undergo, this is the least uncomfortable and results are immediate.

Q. How long does it take?
A. It takes just two visits for the entire procedure. The visits are lengthy, several hours each.

Q. How will my teeth look between the two visits?
A. In the first visit we do the necessary preparatory work and create a provisional or temporary installation that comes as close as possible to the look we will be working to achieve. But usually for veneers we dont place temporary already because only a thin layer was shaved off. Your smile always looks better after the first visit and after the second visit it will look great. Unlike other forms of cosmetic treatment, there is no healing time at all.

Q. How many teeth do I need done?
A. That varies from patient to patient. If you look in a mirror when you smile, see how many teeth actually show. You should keep in mind that people often smile wider when they have no concerns about the look of their teeth. For many patients it may be six teeth, for some eight and for others more.

Q. If just my upper teeth are done, won't my bottom teeth look strange or as if they don't match?
A. That also depends on the patient and how they smile. Usually the bottom teeth are only partially visible and don't need to be addressed. In cases where the lower teeth are more visible whitening is usually enough to handle any contrast. In some situations, both upper and lower teeth need to be done. We have also had some patients opt to have both uppers and lowers done because they wanted a complete change.

Q. Are there any risks to tooth structure?
A. Generally no, although there can always be an exception. The procedure is not reversible and approximately one half of a millimeter or less is removed from the tooth to make room for the veneer. The porcelain veneer that replaces the removed surface is incredibly strong, bonds tightly to the tooth and protects the treated area. The amount of tooth removed is significantly less than the amount removed for any ordinary cap or crown. There is always risk in any procedure, but this treatment method has been proven to be extremely reliable.

Q. What does a veneer cost?
A. The cost of one porcelain veneer is approximately the same as that for a crown.

Q. Does the veneer protect your tooth from decay?
A. No. The veneer itself will not decay, and the surrounding tooth is no more prone to decay than any of the surrounding teeth. Good oral hygiene will prevent any decay from occurring.

Q. How long will a veneer last?
A. It will last even up to 15 years but it will depend on how you'll take good care of you veneers.