Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesWhy Get VeneersOther OptionsPreparationFitting ProcessDental Hygiene With VeneersReplacement
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Why Get Veneers
Other Options
Preparation
Fitting Process
Dental Hygiene With Veneers
Replacement
Dental veneers are thin, strong shells that attach to the fronts of your natural teeth. They can be placed on one or more teeth. They’re not considered “fake teeth” likeimplantsor dentures are.
In most cases, dental veneers are purely cosmetic—meant to make your teeth look good—and not restorative treatments like crowns, fillings, or implants. Because they are not deemed medically necessary, most insurance policies will not cover them.
Tom Werner / Getty Images
What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are thin coverings that go over the front (facial) surface of your teeth. They’re made of a strong, high-quality, tooth-colored material.
Veneers can make teeth look better if they’re:
Medically Necessary VeneersSometimes, dentists recommend veneers to correct dental problems such as tooth damage from an accident. In those cases, it’s more likely that your insurance will cover some or all of the cost. If you have an accident that damages a tooth, ask your dental benefits carrier about accident coverage—it may be more extensive than your regular coverage.
Medically Necessary Veneers
Sometimes, dentists recommend veneers to correct dental problems such as tooth damage from an accident. In those cases, it’s more likely that your insurance will cover some or all of the cost. If you have an accident that damages a tooth, ask your dental benefits carrier about accident coverage—it may be more extensive than your regular coverage.
Types of Dental Veneers
Several types of veneers are available. Most of them are permanently affixed to your teeth and require the dentist to remove varying amounts oftooth enamel. The main types are:
Less-common types include:
A Note on Removable VeneersRemovable veneers are relatively new, and solid research on whether they are safe and effective has not been conducted.They should not be used without the advice and oversight of a dental care provider, even if they are prefabricated ones or ones for which you make an at-home impression for a customized set from the manufacturer.
A Note on Removable Veneers
Removable veneers are relatively new, and solid research on whether they are safe and effective has not been conducted.They should not be used without the advice and oversight of a dental care provider, even if they are prefabricated ones or ones for which you make an at-home impression for a customized set from the manufacturer.
Conventional Veneers vs. Lumineer-brand No-Prep Veneers
Pros and Cons of Dental Veneers
There are pros and cons to each type of veneer.
Porcelain VeneersProsCover the most imperfectionsLast the longestMost stain and wear resistantConsMost tooth enamel removedMost expensiveMost time in the dentist chairIf damaged, hardest to fix of all typesGenerally require temporary veneers during time between prep and placement
Porcelain Veneers
ProsCover the most imperfectionsLast the longestMost stain and wear resistant
Cover the most imperfections
Last the longest
Most stain and wear resistant
ConsMost tooth enamel removedMost expensiveMost time in the dentist chairIf damaged, hardest to fix of all typesGenerally require temporary veneers during time between prep and placement
Most tooth enamel removed
Most expensive
Most time in the dentist chair
If damaged, hardest to fix of all types
Generally require temporary veneers during time between prep and placement
Composite VeneersProsLess tooth enamel removed than porcelainLess expensive than porcelainLess time in the dentist chair than porcelainIf damaged, easier to fix than porcelainCover more imperfections than no-prepConsCover fewer imperfections than porcelainLess stain and wear resistant than porcelainMay require temporary veneers during time between prep and placementTypically do not last as long as ceramic veneers
Composite Veneers
ProsLess tooth enamel removed than porcelainLess expensive than porcelainLess time in the dentist chair than porcelainIf damaged, easier to fix than porcelainCover more imperfections than no-prep
Less tooth enamel removed than porcelain
Less expensive than porcelain
Less time in the dentist chair than porcelain
If damaged, easier to fix than porcelain
Cover more imperfections than no-prep
ConsCover fewer imperfections than porcelainLess stain and wear resistant than porcelainMay require temporary veneers during time between prep and placementTypically do not last as long as ceramic veneers
Cover fewer imperfections than porcelain
Less stain and wear resistant than porcelain
May require temporary veneers during time between prep and placement
Typically do not last as long as ceramic veneers
No-Prep VeneersProsLittle-to-no enamel removalReversibleLess pain due to minimal prepLess time in the dentist chair than porcelain or compositeNo temporary veneers neededIf damaged, easier to fix than porcelain or compositeBetter lifespan than compositeMay have higher success rate/patient satisfaction than porcelain or compositeConsCost is comparable to porcelainCover fewer imperfections than porcelain or compositeMay be more translucent than porcelain or composite
No-Prep Veneers
ProsLittle-to-no enamel removalReversibleLess pain due to minimal prepLess time in the dentist chair than porcelain or compositeNo temporary veneers neededIf damaged, easier to fix than porcelain or compositeBetter lifespan than compositeMay have higher success rate/patient satisfaction than porcelain or composite
Little-to-no enamel removal
Reversible
Less pain due to minimal prep
Less time in the dentist chair than porcelain or composite
No temporary veneers needed
If damaged, easier to fix than porcelain or composite
Better lifespan than composite
May have higher success rate/patient satisfaction than porcelain or composite
ConsCost is comparable to porcelainCover fewer imperfections than porcelain or compositeMay be more translucent than porcelain or composite
Cost is comparable to porcelain
Cover fewer imperfections than porcelain or composite
May be more translucent than porcelain or composite
Removable VeneersProsNo enamel removedLeast expensive veneersLeast amount of time in dentist chairEasiest to fix if damagedNo temporary veneers neededConsCover the fewest imperfectionsNo medical consensus on safety and effectivenessPrefabricated veneers not custom fit, color-matched to your teethMay interfere with eating, speech clarityMay make oral hygiene worse
Removable Veneers
ProsNo enamel removedLeast expensive veneersLeast amount of time in dentist chairEasiest to fix if damagedNo temporary veneers needed
No enamel removed
Least expensive veneers
Least amount of time in dentist chair
Easiest to fix if damaged
ConsCover the fewest imperfectionsNo medical consensus on safety and effectivenessPrefabricated veneers not custom fit, color-matched to your teethMay interfere with eating, speech clarityMay make oral hygiene worse
Cover the fewest imperfections
No medical consensus on safety and effectiveness
Prefabricated veneers not custom fit, color-matched to your teeth
May interfere with eating, speech clarity
May make oral hygiene worse
Some general cons of veneers include:
Pros of veneers include:
To help you decide, discuss the various types of veneers and their relative pros and cons with your dental care provider.
How Much Do Dental Veneers Cost?
Examples ofper-toothprice ranges from 2024 for veneers are:
Take note that the price is per tooth. It’s common for the per-tooth average to drop as you get more teeth done. Your dental office should be able to give you a firm price on the charges.
What to Know About Dental Insurance and Veneers
You can check with your insurance company to determine if your dental benefits policy covers veneers. Coverage will depend on whether the veneers are cosmetic or recommended for fixing a dental problem.
You may also want to ask whether the company offers individual cosmetic policies that can be purchased separately from your regular coverage. If you do have coverage for cosmetic veneers, it’s likely to cover a percentage, not the total cost.
To get the best estimate of your out-of-pocket expenses after insurance, you can ask your dental office to submit a pre-treatment estimate (sometimes called a confirmation of treatment and cost or pre-authorization) to your insurance company.
How to Choose Dental Insurance
How Long Do Dental Veneers Last?
Proper care can add a few years to the life of your veneers. For example, you may be able to get up to 20 years from porcelain veneers that are well cared for.
Who Should Get Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers may be a good option for you if you want to improve the appearance of your teeth due to:
Possible Side Effects of Teeth Whitening
They may not be a good option if you:
Talk to your dental health provider about a treatment plan that will improve the condition of your mouth if you have unhealthy teeth or gums and wish to get veneers.
The 6 Best Whitening Toothpastes
What Is the Difference Between Dental Veneers, Implants, and Crowns?
Dental veneers are just a covering of the front of your tooth. They’re very thin and not intended to repair dental problems such as cavities, tooth decay, or cracks.
Crowns cover the entire tooth, not just one surface. While they can improve the appearance of stained or broken teeth, and they’re made to match the color of your teeth, this is not their purpose.
A crown is far more invasive than a veneer, as the dentist grinds away significantly more tooth material before the crown is placed. Crowns are a treatment for:
Crowns are also used as a part of an implant.
Veneers vs. Crowns: The Differences
Implants are a way to permanently replace missing teeth. A post is surgically placed into your jaw, and, once the bone around the implant has healed, the dentist cements a crown onto the post.
Implants and crowns usually are medically necessary and not just for cosmetic purposes.
Seeing a ProsthodontistProsthodontists are dentists who specialize in restoring teeth and jaw structures.Their treatments include veneers, implants, and dentures. While general dentists may also provide some of these services, prosthodontists are the experts.
Seeing a Prosthodontist
Prosthodontists are dentists who specialize in restoring teeth and jaw structures.Their treatments include veneers, implants, and dentures. While general dentists may also provide some of these services, prosthodontists are the experts.
How to Prepare for Your Custom Fitting
Once you let your dental care provider know you’re interested in veneers, you’ll likely have a preliminary appointment to discuss the types and number you want.
During this appointment, expect the dental team to take an X-ray to see how healthy your teeth are. They’ll review whether you need any restorative work (fillings, crowns, etc.) or treatment for gum disease or other problems before getting veneers. They’ll likely review other factors to see if veneers are a good option for you.
This is when you’ll want to ask about the costs and time involved. If your policy covers veneers, ask them to submit a treatment estimate to your dental insurance company.
If you’re concerned about pain, ask about anesthesia options.
How the Veneer Fitting Process Works
The process of creating and placing most types of veneers generally takes a few appointments. At the first appointment, your dentist will grind down some tooth enamel (for porcelain or composite veneers) and then make amold (impression)of your teeth (for all types of veneers). That’s what the lab will use to create the veneers, which are then sent to your dental provider.
Once your dental office gets the veneers from the lab, you will be asked to return for the placement. Typical lab turn-around time is one to two weeks. If your enamel had been ground down at your previous appointment, your provider may have given you temporary veneers to protect and improve the look of your teeth while you wait.
For All Permanent Veneers
When you’re back in the dentist chair, expect a thorough cleaning to ensure the veneers are not trapping bacteria that will cause tooth decay. Next, they’ll do some grinding to rough up your teeth, which makes them easier for the veneer to stick to.
Once your teeth are prepped, your provider will use dental cement to adhere the veneer to the tooth and then harden the cement with an ultraviolet light. The final step is polishing the veneer so it looks and feels like your natural teeth.
You’ll have better results from your veneers and better oral health if you properly care for your teeth. This means:
You can still get tooth decay under or alongside your veneers, so don’t neglect your dental care.
What If You Don’t Like How They Look?
It’s important to understand that porcelain and composite veneers are not reversible. Because your teeth are permanently changed before veneers are placed, you can’t have them removed unless they are replaced with new veneers.
If you’re dissatisfied with their color or shape, tell your dentist. They may be able to work with you to improve the veneers’ appearance.
No-prep veneers are generally reversible because so little enamel is removed.
Summary
Dental veneers can cover a range of imperfections and improve the appearance of your smile. They come in several types, each of which has its pros and cons and may be better suited to some people than others.
Permanent veneers generally require at least some enamel removal and are bonded to your teeth. Be sure to take good care of your veneers and oral health to avoid problems.Because the structure of the tooth has changed, veneers can only be removed to be replaced.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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