Getting dental veneers is a preferred way to enhance your smile. Dentists recommend them to cosmetically remove blemishes, and to reinforce faded enamel. While they don’t have all the reinforcing power of crowns, veneers go a long way toward retrofitting a damaged smile.
Teeth fall into disrepair for a variety of causes. Some people are predisposed, genetically, to bad teeth. If orthodontics isn’t undertaken at an early age, these predispositions can worsen. This is especially true in cases of spacing or gapping, which can widen as you get older.
If you smoke, brux, or had tetracycline exposure your teeth are also at risk. Natural color fades, and teeth become asymmetrical. If you’re a hardcore user of coffee, soda, and other high-stain products, you’re putting yourself on the fast track to needing veneers.
Veneers themselves are translucent shields placed over the teeth via dental bonding. They can be used to fill in gaps and make sizing look more even. Placing veneers usually involves some light modification of tooth structure, which cannot be put back. Because of this step, dentists do not always recommend veneers for teeth that are already in good shape. Veneers can be a vanity pick, but only below-average and worse teeth can really benefit.
But how much does it cost? Veneer pricing varies from region to region, and sometimes from zip code to zip code. Some dentists are able to charge more based on the clientele they treat, or because of their experience with the product. Some cities, like Miami or Los Angeles, are more expensive for all forms of cosmetic dentistry simply because they’re considered beauty capitals.
Even though it has some restorative aspects, dental veneers are usually considered cosmetic by dental insurance companies. This means your veneers probably won’t be covered. But you can ask your dental veneer dentist in Los Angeles about payment plans or available discounts.