When someone asks how much do veneers cost, they are usually looking for a number. Plain and simple doc, what’s the cost of veneers? Right?
I know, when weighing big decisions, we often determine if something is achievable by the Price is Right style—is it below or above the breaking point. The Price is Right concept is a start for determining what’s possible, but it’s not everything. It ignores the intangible benefits. There’s a more important question. What is the value of a gorgeous smile, and what’s it worth to you?
Veneers are usually part of a smile makeover. Depending on a person’s goals the cost for the total plan can vary dramatically. A smile makeover is similar to a home renovation. It’s the difference between changing the curtains versus a full remodel that relocates walls and gives you that enormous kitchen you always dreamed of. In this article we’ll talk about it all, but first let’s get to the short and sweet of it. It’s what most people want when searching the web- the numbers first. So, without further ado, let’s talk about the cost of veneers.
How Much Do Veneers Cost?
The cost of veneers is usually done on a per tooth basis. As a ballpark estimate, you can expect an estimate between $1000 to $2500 for the cost of veneers per tooth.
Now I just gave you is a big range of the cost of veneers. Why did I quote a range for a very specific treatment? Because there are two factors that affect the cost of veneers. The factors are location (the biggest factor) and doctor expertise.
Someone living in a high cost of living location like downtown Los Angeles or New York City would expect to be on the high end of the range and someone living in a rural location would expect to be on the lower range. There are some dental offices that are outliers, both above or below the range I quotes, which is a matter of practice reputation, business model, as well as doctor expertise.
That’s why it’s a range, and as you see, unfortunately its not a clear cut answer for the price of veneers.
Why do People get Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are a way of performing a smile makeover that has exceptional capabilities. Veneers can take a worn smile and make it a showstopper.  You may think many of the actors and actresses were born gifted with beautiful teeth. Some are, and many aren’t. Often the stars you adore are sculpting and maintaining their beautiful smile in secrecy with a cosmetic dentist like they’re commissioning an artist like Picasso.
Veneers are most often made of porcelain, hence why you often see the term porcelain veneers used interchangeably. The porcelain closely simulates the natural properties of human enamel. Therefore, the porcelain veneer can be designed to redesign the exterior of the teeth anyway the patient desires. Veneers can make teeth whiter. They can make the teeth look straighter. And veneers can even change the size and shape of your teeth, all at the same time.
Want to know the best part about dental veneers? They may be completed in as little as two to three visits. Not bad for completely redesigning your smile in a couple appointments. After veneers are bonded to your teeth, they generally are seamless and permanent. So, veneers are a good option to make significant long-term enhancements without being overwhelmed by numerous appointments.
Who Should Get Veneers
The goal of veneers is to enhance the cosmetics of a single tooth or multiple teeth. The smile can have a momentous impact on the overall facial beauty.  It can establish symmetry for an asymmetric nose, or can draw attention away from a facial scar or blemish. That’s a pretty powerful smoke and mirror trick that the smile performs.
The best candidates for dental veneers have existing imperfections of their teeth like cracks, fractures, misshapen teeth, old fillings, worn teeth, or discolorations. All these conditions cannot be corrected by things like orthodontics or Invisalign.
So, if you want to make so many changes to your smile, how does it all start? It begins with just reviewing your goals with yourself. Think of the changes you have in mind for your smile and imagine what is the best version of yourself. Step two is simply to discuss your goals with a cosmetic dentist. You may find that veneers may be a good option for you, or you may find there are other options that the cosmetic dentist recommends instead.
Types of Dental Veneers:
If you are thinking of dental veneers, you must know that there are different materials used for dental veneers. When most people think of veneers they are thinking of ceramic veneers. Now, there are a few different types of ceramic used, the most common used in the present day are feldspathic veneers, emax veneers, and empress veneers. These are essentially all branded compositions of ceramic. For all intensive purposes you can consider them all ceramic and equivalent to porcelain veneers.
You have probably also heard of Lumineers. This is another brand name in the veneer industry. The brand, Lumineers, has to do with a technique that uses thinner veneers places over your teeth with minimal reshaping of your enamel. In theory, Lumineers have great advantages. They conserve your tooth’s enamel. In reality, however, Lumineers aren’t ideal for all patients. Lumineers can look bulkier when placed over their natural teeth without reducing the tooth’s surface.
How about veneers completed in one day? The most common brand name for veneers in a day are Cerac Veneers. With the Cerac system, the cosmetic dentist scans your mouth with a computer, designs the veneers, and mills the veneers in the office, all in the same day. Once again, the process has benefits of convenience, but the cerac veneers often lack the precision cosmetic detail unless the cosmetic dentist has a dedicated dental lab meticulously producing the veneers.
What are the Alternatives to Veneers?
There are a few different alternatives to consider before proceeding with dental veneers. Don’t worry you don’t have to decide on your own. Your cosmetic dentist will weigh the pros and cons of each option for you based on your specific situation. You will discuss together to make the best decision for you. Some alternatives you may be recommended are:
- Composite bonding
- Dental Crowns
- Orthodontics like Invisalign Clear Aligners
- Teeth Whitening
Are Dental Veneers Worth Getting?
So let’s face it, veneers will not be for everyone. There are other factors to weigh before jumping in to any treatment. You’ll want to consider the alternatives, the current health of your gums, how you’re your smile means to you, and of course the overall cost to achieve your goals.
The other factor we have to discuss is expectations. When you get dental veneers you need to have realistic expectations. Veneers can dramatically redefine your smile and support your confidence when you smile. But there are limitations to what beauty can do. Before doing any cosmetic procedure, you must understand your smile is in your bag of tricks, but it won’t create happiness that doesn’t already exist. Who we are comes from within. Our smile is the outward expression of it.
With that being said, a beautiful smile can help you to be the best version fo yourself. Studies show that sharing a beautiful smile, be it natural or from veneers, can increase confidence, self-esteem, and help advance careers.
What are the Most Common Problems that Veneers Fix?
The top most common problems that porcelain veneers fix are:
- Gaps between the teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Tooth discoloration
- Smaller than normal teeth
- Worn, or aged teeth
- Chips, breaks, or cracks
- Personal preference for desired style of smile
Are Porcelain Veneers Permanent?
The short answer here is yes. Veneers are bonded to your teeth and you do not need to worry about them falling out or significantly changing over time.
The long answer, however, is that veneers do require replacement and maintenance similar to natural teeth. With time, think in terms of decades, like 10 to 20 years, your veneers may age enough to require replacement. Therefore, veneers are considered a permanent replacement, but they are replaceable if they need to be adjusted, removed, or redone in the future.
Why Are Veneers So Expensive?
Veneers are certainly a significant investment. A cosmetic dentist can make great changes to your smile with veneers, but those changes are not cheap. You may be wondering, why veneers are so expensive? You may even be scared off by the cost.
The cost of veneers is considered an investment and not a temporary fix. Veneers are made to last long term. They require high-quality materials that look and function naturally. Most patients think the cost is because of the material. The majority of the cost of veneers is affected by the amount of precision and labor that is involved.
A cosmetic dentist budgets a significant amount of time for a veneer case. The labor is both clinical and non-clinical. The cosmetic dentist spends hours studying and designing the case before the procedure. The veneer procedure requires the cosmetic dentist to meticulously sculpt the teeth to receive the veneers and then evaluate further. After additional planning the veneers are produced and bonded to the teeth. Oh, and that’s not all. A top cosmetic dentist will also plan for long term follow-up which is included at no cost.
When you think of veneer price, you have to understand it’s a combination of several factors. There’s the cost of materials, the doctors time at the dental chair, and also the labor behind the scenes in order to deliver a seamless fit, beautiful cosmetics, and natural function.
Extensive amount of refinement and precision go into tailor-making each veneer. In the end, most patients appreciate the result as being worth the money paid.
How Much Are Porcelain Veneers in Boston?
So let’s talk a little about veneers in the Boston region, since that’s my home base. When it comes down to precisely how much porcelain veneers cost in Boston, it does vary slightly, but it’s not as much of a variation as the nation. So how much do porcelain veneers cost in Boston per tooth? The average cost of porcelain veneers is usually between $1400 and $2,000 per tooth. It will depend on your dentist and what they charge for the cosmetic service offered.
Now, I know what you’re wondering, Dr. Sutera you’re in the Boston area, what’s the cost of your veneers? At my practice, we intentionally set the cost for veneers in the middle of the range as a gesture to be fair.
What Is The Price Of A Full Set of Veneers?
If you’re asking about the price of a full set of veneers, you’re thinking in the range of 8 to 10 teeth with veneers. This is what we call a smile makeover. 8 to 10 veneers can redefine the entire look of the smile.
- To figure the cost of a full set of veneers, simply multiple the per tooth cost by the number of teeth. Some dentists will give a slight discount for a full set, but not all do. For a full set of veneers, think in the ballpark of $10,000 to $20,000 as an average price. That cost is an investment, but for a mind-blowing result, as far as smiles go.
How Much Do Porcelain Veneers Cost with Insurance?
Here’s the deal with dental insurance and dental veneers. It’s usually not covered. While not entirely impossible, veneers typically aren’t paid for by insurance. There are some rare occasions when dental insurance or medical insurance may cover the cost. So when may veneers potentially be covered by insurance? Veneers may be covered on rare circumstances if your teeth were injured in trauma from an accident, or if the veneers are needed to correct an unusual congenital disability.
Can Veneers be financed?
Most people don’t pay cash upfront for big investments like a house or a car. A smile makeover with dental veneers is similar. There are financing options available at most expert cosmetic dentist offices. So use them! Here are some options that are available to you:
- Dental financing (most common are Care Credit and Lending Club)
- Personal credit cards
- Small personal loan
- Home equity loan
- Flex Spending Account
- Health Savings Account
As you can see, you have options and opportunities to break up that large dollar amount into lower payments. If you can’t pay for your porcelain veneers cost with insurance, explore some of the above options to make the process easier.
How Much Do Veneers Cost: Closing Comments
I hope this article thoroughly answered the question, how much are veneers, but I will leave you with this. As with anything, never let sticker shock decide for you. You deserve to be the healthiest and best version of yourself.
So how do you make the cost of veneers work for you? Use the financing tools we discussed about and think about veneers in terms of any investment. The rewards have to outweigh the benefits. What are some of the rewards? Self confidence, pride, possibly improved career success, and the intangible benefit of just doing something to enhance yourself because you deserve it.
If you have been dreaming of a smile makeover for a long time, gather your information first. See what can be done to achieve your goals. It might take time. It might take saving. But remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. When the time is right, you can use the tools available to follow your dreams.
