Is the cost of Porcelain Veneers worth it?

Your smile is one of the most noticeable things about you. When you first see someone, their smile is one of the main things which will attract you to them. Therefore it’s no wonder that a huge number of people want to really improve their smiles.

Damage to the teeth, through old age or injury or accident, can really knock a persons self confidence. This is why more and more people are looking into ways to improve or fix their smile. One of the most popular options is to use veneers.

What are veneers for teeth?

Veneers are essentially a set of fake teeth which can be placed onto your gum line. Veneers are ideal when someone has lost their existing teeth, either a few teeth or even the entire row. Veneers are typically used to cover the front teeth rather than the back molars. For this reason they are primarily used for cosmetic purposes.

There are different types of veneer, sorted into permanent or non-permanent. The permanent variety of veneers are fixed into the mouth and they cannot be removed. Non-permanent veneers will usually comprise of a set of false teeth which can be placed into the mouth and also taken out.

The different types of veneer include porcelain veneers, composite veneers, palatal veneers, lumineers and removable veneers. Each has their own pros and cons. In this article we will talk about porcelain veneers and also the cost of porcelain veneers.

How do porcelain veneers work?

Porcelain veneers are obviously made of porcelain and are the most common type of permanent veneer. They are completely custom to your mouth, made of a long-lasting, safe material, and look realistic when in the mouth. Porcelain veneers are generally stain-resistant and they are biocompatible, meaning they are safe within the body and not considered detrimental.

To prepare your tooth for a porcelain veneer, a dentist selects the best tooth shade for your teeth. This is important to ensure the veneers look right in your mouth. Then the existing tooth is reshaped to accommodate the veneer and an impression is taken.

A temporary veneer may be placed during your first appointment, however at the second appointment, the dentist will remove the temporary veneer. Next the underlying tooth is cleaned and etched with an acidic material to roughen the tooth surface. This allows the veneer to bond to the tooth better.

A special cement is applied that allows the veneer to stay firmly on the tooth. Once a blue light is applied, the cement hardens. Finally, excess cement is removed and the tooth is cleaned and checked.

Cost of porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers are generally more expensive than composite veneers due to the quality of material used. The price of porcelain veneers also depends on the number of teeth to be replaced. Your overall dental health also can influence the cost of your porcelain veneers, as you may require additional treatment for other underlying dental issues.

Other factors you need to consider are:

• The amount of preliminary work required on the tooth and mouth area
• General health of teeth and gums
• Improving or correcting bite factors
• Shape, colour, contour of teeth

In general the cost of porcelain veneers can start from £1100 in some parts of the UK, with prices in London and the South East considerably higher. Remember, the final cost can vary on a number of factors and if you need more than one tooth replaced then it can be very expensive. Some dental practices allow you to pay in instalments with finance packages, but this can still result in payments of hundreds of pounds per month.

Alternatives to porcelain veneers

The cost of porcelain veneers can put many people off from improving their smiles. Unfortunately some people cannot afford to pay for porcelain veneers and therefore suffer from lack of confidence or even lack of opportunities based on how they look.

Thankfully there are some alternatives however. These mainly occur in the form of removable or non-permanent veneers. There are 2 types of removable veneers – instant or custom-made. Instant veneers are generally cheap quality and vary in appearance. With instant veneers you usually place them in hot water, then once they are malleable you place them over your teeth. The results are mixed, and because this is a cheap and cheerful option, you shouldn’t expect too much.

Custom-made veneers are however a very popular choice these days. With custom-made veneers you are required to take an impression of your teeth and send it to a specialist lab who recreate a new, perfect smile for you. Since it is custom-made the entire smile will be designed to fit your existing teeth and look realistic in your mouth. You can even customise the shape and shade of your smile.

Custom-made veneers vary in price with the most popular choice at Need That Smile. Clip in Veneers from Need That Smile come in a range of options to suit any age group and are an amazing option if you are worried about the cost of porcelain veneers.