Good teeth do not just reflect a person’s good oral health since they can also allow people to be more confident about themselves. For one, a good set of pearly whites can encourage you to smile more and speak confidently when socializing with other people. On the other hand, people who may not have the best set of teeth often tend to shy away from conversations or when taking photos due to how their teeth look.
Truth be told, not everyone is born with a naturally perfect set of teeth. For instance, your teeth may be crooked or misaligned, making you feel conscious when speaking or smiling. And perhaps, depending on your oral hygiene, your teeth could also have stains or discoloration, which gets in the way of having that perfect smile. Or in some cases, some injuries could also cause a broken or chipped tooth.
Regardless of the case, it doesn’t mean achieving a picture-perfect smile is unattainable. This is especially since there are plenty of cosmetic dental procedures today you can consider to make it happen. For instance, aside from teeth whitening, braces, and implants, getting dental veneers could also be a dental solution worth exploring.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are custom-made shells made of thin composite resin or porcelain used to cover the front part or surface of your teeth. Essentially, getting dental veneers can help improve your teeth’s appearance, as it conceals any imperfections, including gaps, teeth discoloration, worn down teeth, and even misshapen teeth, allowing you to enhance the quality of your smile.
As a good start, here are the different types of dental veneers you can consider and discuss with your dentist:
- Porcelain Veneers: Porcelain veneers are perhaps the most common and natural-looking type of veneer that can conceal any dental cosmetic issues you may have. They can blend with your teeth’s natural color while also creating a smooth and consistent texture. Aside from being durable, they’re also less likely to stain. However, due to these qualities, they can be more expensive than the other types. If you’re interested in getting porcelain veneers in Columbia, MO, or any other nearby city, talk to your dentist to know if you are a good candidate for this type.
- Composite Veneers: This type of veneer is made of composite resin and can be used to address mild dental cosmetic imperfections. They’re generally cheaper than porcelain veneers, but they have limitations, such as being more prone to scratches, staining, and discoloration.
- No-prep Veneers: Unlike traditional veneers, less enamel removal is required if you opt for this type. Being a less invasive option, these no-prep veneers are considered to be a quick and cheaper way to treat discolored teeth or repair chipped teeth. However, this type can also be prone to damage or get fractured, having a shorter lifespan than porcelain veneers.
- Removable Veneers: Also called snap-on veneers, this type generally requires minimal preparation. Like retainers, you can wear and remove this type of veneer anytime. It’s a quick and convenient way to improve the appearance of your teeth without exerting too much effort and money. However, this may not be an ideal option if you’re looking for a long-term solution to enhance your smile.
Dental veneers are just among the many innovations in the dental industry today. And with dental providers’ skills and expertise combined with other dental technology, it’s without a doubt that dental care can be more accessible and affordable in the future.
Should You Get Dental Veneers?
Most people often consider getting dental veneers to address dental cosmetic concerns, enhancing the appearance of their teeth and improving their smiles. And while this can be a promising dental procedure that can boost one’s confidence, it’d be good to note that there are some cases wherein getting dental veneers isn’t always recommended, such as if you have other dental concerns.
For instance, if you have gum disease, a history of weakened enamels, or suffering from tooth decay, getting veneers may not be ideal as it can worsen your dental condition. Hence, it’s advisable to talk to your dentist first and discuss how getting veneers can affect your oral health and whether or not it’s a viable option for you. They can best help you determine the next steps that can help address your current dental conditions, restore your teeth, and promote better oral health.
How Much Do Dental Veneers Cost?
Since dental veneers can provide plenty of amazing benefits, such as improving the appearance of your teeth and giving you a brighter smile, one can expect that they come at a hefty price. Generally, the cost of getting dental veneers varies from one patient to another. After all, not all cases or dental conditions are the same.
Moreover, how much you’re expected to pay generally depends on various factors. These include where you’re planning to get your veneers, which type of material you’re looking to get, your goals or needs based on the current condition of your natural teeth, and the number of veneers.
To give you a brief idea, the price could range from $600 to $2500 per tooth. Unfortunately, insurance doesn’t cover this, as getting veneers is generally considered a cosmetic procedure and not medically necessary. This can burn your pockets, especially if you’re planning to get veneers for your top front teeth for a more symmetrical smile. Although, they can still be costly, even if you’re just planning on getting a couple of veneers to fix a few chipped or discolored teeth.
How To Afford Dental Veneers?
Considering how expensive getting dental veneers are, it’s common for some to feel discouraged pushing through with this procedure. Fortunately, there are financing options you can consider to help you afford getting dental veneers for a better smile.
To give you some ideas, these include:
- Payment Plans
Many dental offices understand that cosmetic dental procedures like getting dental veneers can be quite costly, requiring significant resources. This is perhaps why some clinics offer financing options like payment plans to their patients, creating a way to make dental work more affordable and accessible for everyone.
This can be a good opportunity for patients looking to get veneers but are currently working with a limited budget since they won’t have to worry about giving out a large amount of money immediately. Instead, they can have the flexibility to pay for the procedure, either splitting the payments for months or years or depending on the payment plan offered by the dental facility. For instance, some dental offices provide a payment plan allowing their clients to pay on an installment basis. Depending on the terms, there may be interest rates you need to pay.
In addition, since, in this setup, patients are not required to pay the fee of the procedure upfront, dental facilities may need to conduct a credit check before offering the payment plan. They’ll verify the patient’s financial situation and credibility to ensure they’ll receive the full payment by the end of the term.
- Low-Interest Credit Card
Most dental offices today now offer card payments for their customers to make the payment method more accessible and more convenient. This can be handy, especially since not everyone is comfortable carrying a large amount of cash with them. Also, some dental offices might offer a credit card installment option to cover your dental procedure. And depending on your card, you can pay for 3, 6, or 12 months without interest. This would be a better option as you can divide your payment terms without having to pay more.
However, if the dental clinic where you’ll be getting your veneers doesn’t offer installments, you may consider calling your bank and asking them if you can turn your purchase into an installment. While this might add an interest rate, it can still be a more viable option since you can split the expense into monthly payments.
- Dental Loans
Another financing option you can consider to pay for your dental veneers is a dental loan. Essentially, the idea works similarly to a housing and car loan, only that this focuses mostly on your oral health. Depending on the lending institution you talk to, some lenders might require a reason and validation of why you need to ask for the loan and where you’ll be using it. You can ask for a medical certificate from your dentist as proof to increase the chances of the lender approving your loan.
Once approved for a dental loan, you need to understand that you’ll need to pay interest on top of the cost of your dental veneers. In addition, some lenders may also charge an origination fee. While these additional costs can make things more expensive, with a flexible payment option, it should be more comfortable for you rather than paying the price in just one go.
- Dental Insurance
While this is something more out of reach, you may want to consider consulting your dental insurance provider if they can cover the expenses of your dental veneers. Typically, an insurance company will only cover dental procedures that are medically necessary and does not include elective procedures like cosmetic dentistry.
However, suppose you need to get one since you damaged your teeth through an accident or a serious dental issue. In this case, consider consulting your insurance provider about how they can help you finance your dental veneer, especially since you’re going for this procedure not just for cosmetic purposes or to improve your teeth’s appearance but to save or strengthen your teeth and allow yourself to have better oral health.
You can seek the assistance of your dentist and request a medical certificate or recommendation from them indicating that dental veneers are necessary for other purposes other than aesthetics. You can present this documentation to your insurance provider during the approval process.
How To Care For Your Dental Veneers
After sorting your financing options and proceeding with the procedure, it’ll only be logical to care for your investment. For one, this can help prolong your dental veneers’ life span, allowing you to maximize their benefits for as long as possible and get your money’s worth. Moreover, this can also help reduce the possibilities for repairs or replacement, which can lead to an additional financial burden.
With that in mind, here are some ways to care for your dental veneers:
- Maintain good oral hygiene: Even if your teeth look beautiful outside, there’s still a natural set of teeth sitting on your gums. And so, you still need to maintain good oral hygiene to keep your teeth in their best condition. This’ll involve brushing twice a day and flossing every night to remove food particles stuck in between your teeth.
- Chew carefully: Since you’re wearing veneers on top of your natural teeth, you must be careful when chewing. While veneers are generally durable, biting or chewing hard things like ice can cause cracks or chips on your veneers. Aside from chewing hard food, teeth grinding and clenching can also damage your veneers.
- Visit your dentist regularly: Visiting your dentist regularly is always recommended, even without dental veneers. However, now that you have them, the more it’s essential to see your dentist regularly. Doing so allows them to check the condition of your veneers and spot possible issues before they worsen. Some dentists may also recommend that you have regular polishing appointments to preserve the look and quality of your veneers.
Wrapping It Up
Getting dental veneers is a great way to restore your teeth and achieve that perfect smile. There are different types you can choose from, depending on your needs, budget, and the recommendations of your dental provider.
However, veneers can be quite costly and might burn your pockets, especially if you’re planning to get a full set. Fortunately, there are plenty of financing options you can consider to help you afford this dental procedure. For one, you can inquire about payment plans from the dental clinic where you’ll be getting your veneers. You can also opt for dental loans or use a low-interest credit card.
