How much are veneers?

If you find yourself wishing you could change a few things about your teeth, veneers may be a great option. Dental veneers are thin layers of material adhered to your tooth. They can hide stains, a chip or even restructure the shape. But having a smile that glows can come at a cost. So, how much are veneers?

Determining price by material

The price of veneers will be affected by the type of material they are made of—porcelain or composite resin. There are pro’s and con’s to both, but one of the main differences is in the price.

Porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers average around $1,000 per tooth, but generally can be priced anywhere from $500 to $2,500 per tooth. Porcelain veneers are created in a lab and are made of a stronger material than composite veneers, thus the difference in price.

That said, they are less susceptible to discoloring, chipping, or every day wear than composite veneers and may look more natural. The life cycle of porcelain veneers is anywhere from 10-15 years making them well worth their price.

Composite veneers

Composite veneers range in price from $250-$1,500 per tooth. The lower price is due to the fact that your dentist can create them on site in their office. For this reason, the appearance of composite veneers depends on the skill of your dentist.

Overtime, they tend to wear down faster than porcelain veneers and, because of the material, they are more susceptible to wear and tear. But on the plus side, they are fairly easy to fix and require the dentist to remove less enamel than they would for either porcelain veneers or crowns.

Does insurance cover veneers?

When wondering how much are veneers, it is common to also wonder whether insurance will cover them. According to most insurance companies, dental veneers is a cosmetic procedure. Therefore, they will not cover it. But if the patient can show that the veneer is needed due to a health or structure issue, insurance may be willing to cover 30%-50% of the cost.

Future costs to consider

When deciding whether or not to get veneers, considering what costs may come up down the road is important. As with anything, veneers don’t last forever. In some instances, they may last up to 20 years, but in the case that they don’t, you need to know what to expect. Replacing veneers usually costs about the same as it did originally. If you are only looing to repair or reattach a veneer, the cost will be less. To save money, the best thing you can do is take great care of teeth.