Dental Veneers in Vancouver, WA

What are veneers?

A veneer is anything that puts a brand new face on something. For example, if you sand off the top of your table and put on a new veneering piece of wood to make it look nice, that piece of wood would be a veneer. Similarly, with teeth, you can remove a little bit of the surface of the tooth and apply a new material to make the tooth look new, or to change its shape, color, characteristics, length, and even adjust the tilt and rotation using veneers.

How do veneers work?

When we're doing a veneer, we strip away a small amount of tooth structure to make space for the veneer. Typically, we cut back about 0.5 millimeters, which is about ten pieces of print paper stacked. After preparing the space, we take a digital scan, send it to the lab, and within two weeks, we get the product. I usually order temporary veneers from the lab so you can check the color, shape, fit, and bite. Any necessary corrections are made on the temporary veneers, and then in two weeks, I deliver the final veneers.

When would you recommend getting veneers?

Anytime you feel like you need to improve your smile or if you have hesitations about your teeth. Reasons could include pitted teeth, discoloration that can't be fixed by whitening, incorrect shape, or persistent stains from drugs, coffee, or tea.

What is the difference between a veneer and a crown?

With a veneer, we're only working with the front part of the tooth, staying conservative to retain most of your tooth structure. A crown involves cutting the back side of the tooth to fit the whole thing on top, like a helmet, whereas a veneer is more like a face mask.

What is the process of placing veneers?

When you come in, I ensure you're numb, then we mock up veneers to adjust rotations, length, or width. After transferring the mock-up onto your teeth, I remove the necessary enamel, preserving what doesn't need removing. We take an optical scan and send it to the lab, providing you with temporaries in the meantime. After a week or two, we try on the temporary veneers and make any adjustments before finalizing the material, either zirconia or porcelain veneers.

Will my veneers match the rest of my teeth?

This depends on whether you want the veneers to match your current teeth or if you'd like to whiten all your teeth. For whitening, we undergo a two-month process using trays or in-house whitening. Once the desired color stabilizes, we prep the veneers to match or brighten your smile.

What is the difference between a composite and a ceramic veneer?

Ceramic veneers are preferable because they don't change color over time unlike composite veneers, which can absorb stains due to their porous nature. Ceramic veneers maintain their color for decades, providing a long-lasting result.

How should you care for your veneers?

Care for your veneers by flossing and brushing regularly. If you grind your teeth, wear a night guard to prevent chipping, which can occur with both ceramic and composite veneers.

How much do veneers cost?

Veneers typically cost between $1,200 to $2,000 per tooth, depending on materials, dentist policies, and whitening involved. My policy includes replacing a veneer at no cost if it breaks or pops off within a year.

Are there financing options for veneers?

Yes, we offer financing through Cherry and Care Credit with 0% financing for a year, allowing you to pay off the balance over time without interest.

Does insurance cover the cost of veneers?

Typically not, as insurance companies see veneers as aesthetic rather than necessary for oral health. However, treating yourself aesthetically can improve confidence and overall personality.

How can you schedule a dental appointment for veneers?

If you're interested, mention it at your next appointment and I'll be happy to discuss it further with you.