What are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are very thin, tooth-coloured ceramic facings that are cemented to the front surfaces of your teeth to improve the colour, shape or position of teeth. Veneers can be designed the way you want and can create very lifelike front teeth. Veneers are a more conservative option than crowns and can often be used as an alternative if the underlying tooth is strong and healthy.

Why are Veneers needed?

Veneers are routinely used to fix:

• Teeth that are discoloured – either because of root canal treatment, stains from tetracycline or other drugs, excessive fluoride or other causes, or the presence of large resin fillings that have discoloured the teeth

• Teeth that are worn down

• Teeth that are chipped or broken

• Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped (for example, have craters or bulges in them)

• Teeth with gaps between them (to close the space between these teeth)

How are Veneers placed?

Veneers are placed in two steps, very similar to crowns. Firstly, your tooth is prepared and then an impression is taken. This is sent to a local laboratory for construction. You might have to visit the local laboratory yourself to discuss the appearance with the technician. After two weeks, the veneers are cemented in place.

Do Veneers hurt?

There should be little to no discomfort at all. Sometimes a dental needle might not even be needed.

How much are Porcelain Veneers?

At Northside Dental Solutions, porcelain veneers cost $1390 per tooth. Our interest-free payment plans can also be used to spread the cost of your treatment.

Porcelain Veneers vs Composite Veneers

Porcelain veneers are made of a shiny, tooth-like material in an off-site laboratory and are $1390 each. Composite veneers are made of aesthetic filling material and are $300 each. Porcelain veneers last about twice as long on average but look a lot more tooth-like. After a few years, composite collects stains around its edges and can even turn yellow if you drink lots of tea or coffee or smoke. Composite veneers also look a little matte compared to porcelain veneers, which generally look shinier. We can discuss the best type of veneers for you at your initial examination.