Minor dental damage, stains that don’t go away no matter how much you brush, small gaps between your teeth – there are all kinds of reasons why you might feel dissatisfied with your smile. In many cases, Dr. Keanna can help you address multiple flaws at once and completely transform your grin with beautiful, personalized veneers. If you’ve been thinking of making a few changes to your teeth, give us a call today to schedule a cosmetic consultation.
Veneers – Albuquerque, NM
Creating a Dazzling, Flawless Smile
Why Choose Natural Dental Services for Veneers?
- Long-Lasting Tooth-Colored Materials
- Highly Experienced Holistic Dentist
- Full Smile Makeovers Available
What Are Dental Veneers?
Veneers are thin shells made out of a durable, tooth-colored material (typically porcelain). We can attach veneers to the front surfaces of your teeth to hide any number of cosmetic issues. This is often an excellent way to make multiple corrections at once, which is why we often recommend veneers for patients who are looking to make extensive changes to their smiles.
The Process of Getting Veneers
Step one is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Keanna. He’ll listen carefully while you describe the improvements you want to make, answer any questions you might have about veneers, and explain the process in detail so that you can decide whether or not it’s truly the right choice for you.
Once you’ve decided to get veneers, the first step is to prepare your smile. We’ll need to remove a small amount of enamel to ensure that the veneers sit flush against your teeth without looking too bulky. We’ll then take an impression, which will be sent to a lab that will design your veneers according to your needs. The process of making veneers can take a couple of weeks; in the meantime, you’ll be given temporary veneers to protect your grin.
We’ll call you back to our office once your final veneers are ready to be attached to your teeth. We may need to make a few last-minute adjustments first to ensure that the veneers fit properly and look as natural as possible in your mouth.
The Benefits of Veneers
- Versatility: Veneers let you improve multiple aspects of your teeth at the same time.
- Minimally Invasive: Only a very small amount of enamel needs to be removed to prepare your teeth to have veneers placed.
- Quick Results: You’ll be able to enjoy the dazzling results of veneers in as little as two appointments.
- Natural Appearance: Your veneers will be carefully color-matched to the rest of your teeth, and they’ll reflect light the same way as your enamel.
- Stain Resistant: If your veneers are made of porcelain, you can expect them not to stain easily.
- Durability: Veneers usually have a lifespan of around 10 years, although they can potentially last much longer if you take good care of them.
Understanding the Cost of Veneers
The cost of veneers can vary, but most patients pay at least a few thousand dollars for the treatment. During your consultation, we will be able to share some specific numbers with you. Rest assured that although veneers can seem pricey upfront, they are a high-quality investment in your smile that can provide you with decades of benefits.
Cost vs. Cosmetic Dentistry: Which Treatment Should I Choose?
Veneers are an excellent treatment, but they are not ideal for everyone. A number of different aesthetic services are available, all at various price points. Here is an overview of some popular options, along with generalized cost information:
- An orthodontist may ask $5,000 or more for complete treatment. While teeth-straightening services are highly recommended for individuals with significant dental misalignment, you may be interested in faster options if your misalignment is not a threat to your oral health.
- Teeth whitening. Teeth whitening is relatively affordable, often costing just a few hundred dollars for a professional take-home kit. The downsides to this treatment are that the results are temporary, and it can only enhance the color of your teeth, nor their shape, size, or position.
- Direct bonding. Also known as dental bonding or cosmetic bonding, this treatment is both fast and relatively affordable. At first, it looks similar to veneers. However, it may need to be replaced every few years, so its cost can add up to be quite a bit over time.
- Gum recontouring. This minimally invasive surgery can make your teeth look longer and provide you with a more proportionate smile. Its cost can vary significantly depending on the extent of the procedure.
- Veneers can address numerous aesthetic imperfections, making them a sort of “all-in-one” cosmetic treatment. The treatment usually takes just a few weeks, and you can expect the results to last for many years. Therefore, they are a great monetary value for individuals who want to achieve a stunning smile.
How to Make Veneers Affordable
You should not expect your dental insurance to help you pay for veneers. They are usually classified as a purely elective treatment, so most policies offer no coverage for them. However, there may be other provisions that you can use to make your new look a bit more affordable:
- You may qualify for low-interest financing through a third-party lender. Our team can walk you through the application process. Upon approval, you may be able to choose from between several different monthly payment amounts. Simply select the option that works best for your budget!
- You can ask us to adjust your treatment plan to lower your overall costs. We will clearly explain how any adjustments may affect your final results so you can make a well-informed decision about how to move forward.
Are you ready to learn more about veneers and their price? Our team is prepared to answer your questions. Get in touch today to book a consultation.
Veneers FAQs
The short answer here is no, veneers are not technically permanent since they will eventually have to be replaced. Their average lifespan is around 10 or so years, but this can vary depending on the patient’s oral health and habits. However, it’s worth noting that the process for receiving veneers is considered irreversible, since a small amount of enamel is removed from teeth before they’re placed. Although this ensures that the veneers look and feel natural, it permanently alters the teeth—meaning that teeth treated in this manner will always need to be covered with veneers to keep them protected.
Prior to getting your permanent veneers, you’ll receive temporary veneers to wear; these serve as a “test drive” and protect your teeth that have been prepped for veneers, but they also come with some dietary restrictions. You should be mindful of particularly hard, crunchy, or sticky foods that might potentially damage or dislodge your temporary veneers. It’s also wise to avoid foods and drinks that are known to cause staining. Once your permanent veneers are in place, you’ll be able to enjoy most foods again, but it’s still sensible to show caution. You should also consider drinking alcohol sparingly, as it can weaken the bonding materials holding your veneers in place.
Since dental insurance does not typically cover elective procedures, veneers often do not qualify for coverage, since they tend to only serve cosmetic purposes. That said, if veneers are deemed to be medically necessary in some way, there’s a chance that dental insurance might provide some benefits. For example, replacement veneers might be deemed necessary if a seal holding an old veneer in place has deteriorated to the point where plaque can accumulate under it more easily.
You should be happy to hear that your mouth will typically be numbed when you receive veneers, so you don’t need to worry about pain during the procedure itself. It’s not uncommon to experience some mild and fleeting discomfort after your veneers have been placed, especially if you’ve received several. Some patients also experience what’s referred to as “bonding sensitivity,” which is characterized by sharp pain when biting into something hot or cold. However, this is temporary and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and saltwater rinses.