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Let’s talk about the 6 things you should know before getting porcelain veneers Just remember, there are 2 types of veneers : porcelain and composite. make sure you know which you are getting. They differ on price, the process, how long they last, and how you take care of them.

1. Not all dentists have experience doing porcelain veneers even if they say they do cosmetic dentistry. DO your research on the dr. If they do a lot of cosmetic dentistry you should see lots of examples or pictures of their work.
   
2. Getting Porcelain veneers is a 2 step process & During the process you wear temporary veneers which may or may not be like your final veneers. Composite veneers are usually done the same day or in one appt.
   
3. After you get the final porcelain veneers, it May take several weeks or months to really love them or to not be sensitive as the gums heal and the teeth recover. Sometimes there is post op contouring or shaping that needs to be done to perfect things.
   
4. If you’re thinking about veneers, The cosmetic dentist may recommend doing 8 to 10 teeth in your smile to get the ideal result because usually it’s recommended to do as many teeth as you show when you smile. Most people shop 8-10 of their top teeth when they smile.
   
5. After you get veneers, You will have to brush them, floss and clean them normally, just like your other teeth. You still have to go to the dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. For composite veneers they generally require more maintenance, polishing and repairs over time.
   
6. Some people think they are getting veneers but they are actually getting crowns. In some smile makeovers we have to do crowns, but it’s beneficial to know how much tooth structure removal you would need if you did veneers.
   
7. Porcelain veneers are meant to be a permanent solution, meaning once you get porcelain veneers you will always have porcelain veneers.

Lets talk about the 5 biggest myths about veneers

Myth #1

1. Veneers are big and bulky – veneers should actually be thin, custom made, and look natural from all angles.

Myth #2

2. All veneers are bright white– the color for the veneers should be custom and can be as bright or as natural looking in color

Myth#3

3. Veneers make your breath smell– When veneers are contoured properly, they’re easier to clean and don’t make your breath stink.

Myth#4

4. Your teeth are ground down to nubs for veneers– veneers should be conservative and generally a minimal amount of tooth structure needs to be removed for veneers. There is a difference between veneers which cover the front and edges of the teeth and crowns that require more shaving and cover the whole tooth

Myth#5

5. Veneers pop off.
   If veneers are done correctly, there is a good bond between the tooth and the veneers, and the patient’s bite is right, they should not pop off.

There are 3 main steps to getting porcelain veneers.

• Step1 is the consultation visit
• Step 2 is the preparation visit
• Step 3 in the seat visit

The consultation visit can be done in our office or as a facetime consultation. In this visit we review our patients goals for their smile and discuss the changes that would be made to improve the smile. We take the time to review the steps and process to complete the new smile as well as answer any questions. This visit is usually 30min to an hour.

In the prep visit we prep the teeth and get them ready to receive the future porcelain veneers. In this visit our patient leaves with temporary veneers that are worn for a few weeks. This visit is usually a few hours long. The temporaries are like a prototype or initial design for the new smile, meaning we can still make modifications to get the permanents closer to the goal smile. While our patients are in the temps, we ask for feedback during the first week so we can communicate any esthetic or color changes to our lab for the permanent smile.

During the few weeks that our patient wears the temps, our lab will be making the permanent porcelain veneers. Each tooth is hand made my our master ceramist.

In the seat visit, we remove the temporary veneers, try on the porcelain veneers, make sure the fit and color is perfect, get our patients approval, and then permanently bond the porcelain veneers onto the teeth. This visit is usually a few hours long.

There are also some quick follow up appointments during the process to make sure we’re getting things perfect. For example, after the permanent veneers are placed we usually like to see our patients for a post op to make sure the bite is comfortable and to see if we need to make changes by contouring the veneers.

How Much Does Cosmetic Dentistry Cost?

We’re talking about ways to improve your smile from a kit that can cost $50 to a custom celebrity smile that can cost up to $40,000 and everything in between.

My name is Dr Tejas Patel and I’m a cosmetic dentist and over the years I have helped thousands of people get a confident smile.

In this blog, I’m going to talk about the biggest question we get in our dms and the most common comment on Cosmetic Dentists’ social media posts.

The biggest question is,
“How much does that cost?”

So I’m going to take that question of, “how much does that cost?” and apply it to the 4 biggest cosmetic dentistry procedures. I’ll give price ranges because the price will vary based on where you go and who you go to

The top 4 cosmetic dentistry procedures right now are:

• Teeth Whitening,
• Braces,
• Composite Veneers
• and Porcelain veneers

So for each of these procedures I’ll be answering the questions:

• Who should get it done?
• How does it work?
• How much and how long does it take?
• Is it painful?
• And how long does it last?
• So let’s get started!
• First up is Teeth Whitening

Who
If you’re happy with the look of your smile, the size and shape of your teeth, and you’re happy
with the straightness of your teeth, then teeth whitening can be a great solution. So, if you like
your smile, but just don’t like the color of your teeth.

How
Teeth whitening works by having a whitening gel applied to the front surface of the teeth over a period of time. Sometimes there’s a light involved, sometimes there isn’t…to be honest the light doesn’t do much.
There are two types of Teeth Whitening treatments. One you do at home, the other is what you would do at the dentist office.

Price & Time
The home whitening kit can range in price from $50-$200. This can be great for young patients
and teens. Home Whitening can take 7-14 days to see the results.

The in office Teeth Whitening treatments can range from $300 to $800. This can be a great option for adults. In the dental office we use much stronger whitening gel. In office Teeth Whitening is a 1 hr procedure and results are immediate.

Side note, insurance does not cover this procedure.

Pain
Whitening treatments aren’t painful, but can be uncomfortable or make the teeth sensitive during the treatment time.

Lasts
How long the results will last depends on habits. If you drink coffee, tea, red wine, smoke, then
the results will not last as long. Home kit results can last a few months. In office treatments
results can last 6 months to a year.

Second is Teeth Straightening or Braces.

Who
If you’re happy with size and shape of your teeth, but just wish your teeth were straighter then Braces are a great option. If your teeth have lots of gaps, are very crooked, or you have bite issues (or the way the top and bottom teeth come together), then Braces should definitely be considered. If you’re a teenager, and unhappy with your smile, Braces and Teeth Whitening are the first options I’d consider.

How
There are two types of Braces.
Traditional Braces are done with metal brackets and wires. Traditional Braces are stuck to your teeth.
Clear Braces are done with clear removable trays. An example of this would be Invisalign. Clear Braces can be taken in and out of your mouth.
All types of Braces work by applying pressure to the teeth over a period of time to align or straighten the teeth.

Price & Time

Prices can range depending on how difficult the treatment will be or how long the treatment will take.

On the average Braces can take anywhere from 8 months to 2 years. You would visit the
Orthodontist about every 2 months during that time.
Side note, this is one cosmetic procedure that insurance may help pay for.

Pain
Braces can be uncomfortable when getting them adjusted, tightened or putting in a new clear tray.

Lasts
How long the results last will depend on the retainers after the treatment is completed.
Generally, we recommend using retainers indefinitely to maintain the results after braces.

Next up is Composite Veneers.

Who
If you’re happy with the straightness of your teeth, but don’t like the size, shape, or color of your teeth, then composite veneers could be an option.

How
Composite Veneers work by having composite (or tooth colored filling material) bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth. Most smiles that are improved with Composite Veneers are done with just the 10 upper teeth OR 20 teeth total. 20 teeth would be 10 upper teeth and 10 lower teeth.

Price & Time

• Composite Veneers can cost about $300 to $800 PER tooth.
• So 10 upper teeth composite veneers could cost from $3,000 to $8,000.
• 20 total teeth composite veneers (which would be upper and lower teeth) could cost from $6,000to $16,000. Again this will depend on where you go. Many people who get composite veneerstravel overseas and outside of the US to have this done. I’ll talk about my thoughts on this in adifferent episode.
• To get composite veneers it usually takes 2 visits.
• Side note, insurance does not cover this procedure.

Pain
There is usually no buffing to the teeth, so there is minimal local anesthetic and minimal
discomfort.

Lasts
The biggest disadvantage of composite veneers is how long they last. On average composite veneers will last 3-5 years. Also, they will stain, chip and break more easily and require much more maintenance than other veneers.

Finally, let’s talk about Porcelain Veneers.

I just saw an article in Buzzfeed about how veneers are becoming an essential accessory for
influencers that want a better smile.

Who
If you’re an adult and NOT happy with the straightness of your teeth, have spaces between your
teeth, not happy with the size, not happy with the shape, or don’t like the color of your teeth, then
porcelain veneers could be an option. This is also a great option for adults that want a permanent
solution to have whiter teeth.

How
Porcelain Veneers work by having thin shells of porcelain bonded to the front surfaces of your
teeth. Most smiles that are improved with Porcelain Veneers are done with just the upper 8 or 10
upper teeth OR some people do up to 20 teeth total. Again, 20 teeth would be 10 upper teeth and
10 lower teeth.

Price & Time

• Porcelain Veneers can cost about $1,500 to $2,000 PER tooth.
• 8 upper teeth veneers could cost from $12,000 to $16,000.
• 10 upper teeth Porcelain Veneers could cost from $15,000 to $20,000.
• 20 total teeth Porcelain Veneers (which would be upper and lower teeth) could cost from $30,000 to $40,000. Again this will depend on where you go.
• To get Porcelain Veneers it usually takes 2 to 3 visits.
• Side note, insurance does not cover this procedure.

We also get the question, “why are they so expensive?”
Porcelain veneers are custom crafted and hand made and detailed by a ceramist. It’s also a very
specialized procedure. Think of it like custom jewelry that is made for each tooth.

Pain
There is usually minimal buffing to the teeth to make room for the Porcelain Veneers, so there is local anesthetic used to numb patients for the procedure.

Lasts
The biggest advantage of Porcelain Veneers is how long they last and how strong or durable they are. On average Porcelain Veneers will last 10 to 15 years and longer. Also, they will NOT stain, chip and break.

Over half of our patients fly in or travel to see us to get their porcelain veneers and smile makeovers completed. Our Patients from out of town usually come to austin for 2 separate visits that are just a few weeks apart. We’re located in the heart of downtown austin, which is about 20 minutes away from the airport. Most traveling patients just uber from the airport and then walk or uber to get to our office. There are lots of hotels & restaurants close to our office. There is also lots to do in and around downtown austin… There’s a lake close by to go kayaking and paddleboarding, a hike and bike trail, lots of murals and great spots for photo opportunities if you want some instagram worthy pics, There’s also shopping close by as well. Austin has a cool nightlife scene and great live music too.

• Discolored or stained teeth
• Yellow teeth
• Tetracycline stained teeth
• Stains in teeth after braces
• Brown or grey teeth
• snaggle tooth
• teeth are crooked
• Teeth are crowded
• Old dental work that needs updating.
• Cavities between front teeth
• Old crown or
• old bonding on front teeth
• Missing teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Old dental work no longer matching teeth
• Gummy smile
• Big gums
• Gums are uneven
• Teeth are too small
• Teeth are too big
• Teeth are chipping and wearing down
• Teeth are thinning
• Overbite.
• Over jet
• End on End bite
• Cross bite
• Open Bite
• Trauma Injury to tooth
• Broken tooth
• missing tooth in smile
• Wearing a flipper.
• Old bridge
• Implant was placed
• Retainer with a tooth

When you’ve scheduled your consultation, your dentist will take their time with you while you’re in the chair to make sure they clearly understand what you want from your smile makeover. That said, you only have a limited time chairside to communicate to your dentist what you want. There are a few things you can and should do to prepare for your appointment.

Write down your concerns
I think it’s safe to say that many of us have walked out of the dentist’s or doctor’s office realizing that we forgot to mention that one thing. When your dentist is designing you a whole new smile, you don’t want to leave the office and suddenly remember you forgot to mention anything. Write down a list of oral health and cosmetic concerns that you have about your smile. Your dentist is going to give you a comprehensive exam and needs a truly comprehensive picture of your oral health and your goals in order to design a smile that’s not only beautiful but also a smile that is functional and healthy.

Scroll social media and bring images
Spend time looking at smiles that the dentist has previously designed and choose ones you like. It’s also helpful to choose ones you don’t like. Screenshot these images and bring them with you. If there are any celebrities who have a smile you love (or hate), bring those images with you as well.

Bring a list of questions with you
Your consultation is your chance to sit down with the dentist and get a feel for who they are, how they operate, and how they treat their patients. Don’t worry. If you’re not sure what to ask, we have a printout at the end of the book that you can bring with you. While you’re there with them, make sure you make full use of your time and ask questions like:

• How many smiles have they done?
• How much experience do they have in this area?
• Do they have additional training in these procedures?
• Are their results predictable and are their patients usually happy with their smiles?
• Are they committed to staying up with the latest and greatest techniques and materials?
• How many cases do they do with this specific treatment and what is the focus of theirpractice?

Understand your budget
I’ve written a blog post about why veneers cost so much, but you need to make sure that you’re prepared to talk budget and financing options. The last thing you want to do is get excited about your new smile only to be blindsided by the cost. Make sure you have a candid conversation about the initial costs, payment plans, and additional expenses that could arise

Be open to new ideas
Your dentist is a specialist in smile design. You may schedule your appointment because you want one treatment (probably veneers since you’re reading this book), but your dentist may propose additional or alternative treatments.

Trust your dentist with your smile
Hopefully, your dentist has designed hundreds or thousands of smiles. Your dentist is going to know what looks good and what doesn’t.

Come prepared to look at a treatment plan
You’re going to sit down with a patient coordinator to go over the specifics of your treatment
plan. This will include:

• Treatment options
• How long the treatments will take
• How many appointments you’ll need
• Specific costs per procedure and total cost

Having this treatment plan doesn’t mean that you’ve committed to this specific dentist’s plan. It
is simply the end point of your comprehensive consultation.

Finding the right cosmetic dentist is one of the most important parts of actually getting the smile you want. If you’re feeling like you’re not exactly sure how to decide which dentist you should choose, this post is for you. So, how do you know which cosmetic dentist is right for you?

Finding the right cosmetic dentist for you is a make or break choice when it comes to the end
result and the quality of your investment.

Consider their before and afters

Do they have an extensive library of before and after photos to show you, or is their website full of stock photos of smiles? If pictures of actual cases aren’t readily available, ask for photos of the exact procedure you are looking to have done. If the dentist can’t provide these, it’s likely they don’t have much experience in that area.

Read their reviews and referrals
Take the time to research the cosmetic dentist you are looking into. Read their online reviews and how they’re responding to them.

Follow them on social media
It’s a good idea to follow the dentists you’re considering on social media for a while. This will give you a chance to see what other people are saying about them and how they interact with the public. You’ll also be able to get a sense of their commitment to patient education and transparency. Most importantly, though, you’ll be able to see their work.

Ask if you get to preview your smile
During the smile design process, your dentist should provide you images or wax-ups of what they expect to produce. You should be able to see the smile and approve it before committing to a treatment plan. If your dentist can’t give you a detailed example of what you can expect, this is a big red flag.

What kind of financing is available?

Budget is a large part of the equation. There is no way of getting around it, especially since insurance doesn’t contribute to the cost of cosmetic procedures. Talk to your dentist about whether they accept credit cards or offer some form of financing.

Do they offer a warranty?
Most cosmetic dentists and dental labs offer some kind of warranty. Have a candid discussion with your dentist about their warranty policy.

Ask what lab and materials they use
The most reputable labs use the highest quality materials and have the best trained ceramicists. The quality of your restorations are imperative to the appearance and longevity of your new smile. Your dentist should be able to set realistic expectations about how long your restorations will last.

Ask about the team
Don’t be afraid to ask about continuing education for team members. A good cosmetic dentists will be as diligent about continuing education for his team as he is for himself. Your new smile and experience is a team effort.

Take your time
This is the most important part when looking at how to choose the right cosmetic dentist for you. The idea of getting a new smile can be exciting, but you really need to make sure you go slow so that you find the right dentist who understands your goals and your budget. At the end of the day, the dentist you choose is giving you a whole new smile. You should trust them, their process, and their results. If you don’t feel you can fully trust your cosmetic dentist, you should start searching for a new one.

Deciding to get a smile makeover is the first step. Once you’ve made this, in my opinion wise, decision, you have options. Don’t get overwhelmed; an experienced cosmetic dentist will be able to guide you in making the best choice for you. That said, when it comes to veneers specifically,
there are two primary types, porcelain and composite. While they both achieve similar aesthetic
results, which type is best for you, your budget, and your smile can depend upon several factors.

Let’s walk through a few of those factors so that you can start making an educated decision about your new smile. So, what’s better, porcelain veneers or composite veneers?

What’s the difference between porcelain and composite veneers?

While they can largely fix the same issues, there is a big difference between porcelain veneers and composite veneers. Namely, they are made out of completely different materials.

Porcelain veneers are incredibly thin sheets of porcelain that are handcrafted in a dental laboratory and designed specifically for you.

Composite veneers are made out of an engineered resin that is applied directly to the tooth surface and shaped by your dentist right in the chair.

Considerations to make when choosing which type of veneers are right for you

All right. You know the difference between the two types of veneers. So, let’s go over what to do with this info. There are four major things to consider when weighing your options:

• Time
• Durability
• Appearance
• Overall cost

Time Concerns

A lot of people are excited about the prospect of enhancing their smile and want it right away.
Composite veneers offer the quickest path to a new smile. Often, composite veneers can be
completed in a single office visit.

Porcelain veneers, on the other hand, typically require two office visits and time for the lab to handcraft your veneers between the appointments.

Durability concerns

Veneers are permanent. Whatever type you choose, because of the tooth preparation process, you will always need something covering your tooth to protect it. That said, porcelain veneers last a lot longer than composite veneers. As a general rule of thumb, with proper hygiene and preventative care, you can expect composite veneers to last from 4 to 8 years and porcelain veneers to last upwards of 15 years.

Of course, accidents do happen, and occasionally veneers get damaged. Of the two, composite veneers are more prone to chipping and staining than their porcelain counterparts. In fact, porcelain is notoriously strong and stain resistant. However, composite veneers can frequently be repaired when they have been damaged, as opposed to the outright replacement required in the unlikely event you damage a porcelain veneer.

Appearance concerns
There is no way around it, if you want the most natural and life-like appearance from your veneers, porcelain is the way to go. Porcelain captures and reflects light in a very similar manner to natural tooth enamel and is highly stain resistant.

Composite veneers are available in a wide range of colors and can be shaded to achieve the smile you desire. However, they do not reflect light quite as naturally as your natural teeth or porcelain. The resin used in composite veneers is also about as susceptible to staining as your natural teeth, meaning you need to stay dedicated to your oral health regimen to keep your smile as bright and vibrant as the day you got your veneers.

Cost concerns

We created a whole post about the cost of veneers that you can go check out. But, to be frank, the upfront cost of porcelain veneers is greater than it is for composite resin veneers. This can be attributed to the additional time and resources required to fabricate porcelain veneers. The ability to complete resin veneers chairside and in a single sitting contributes to their lower cost. However, when you take a long-term look at the cost of maintenance and replacement of the two options, the cost frequently evens out over the course of time.

If you’ve made it this far, you’ve probably done a lot of research on veneers to come to the decision that they’re right for you.

Natural looking
Porcelain is white and translucent. It reflects light in a way that is very similar to natural enamel, so it gives you a really like-like appearance. Additionally, porcelain can be shaded to any color, ensuring you receive exactly the smile you are looking for.

Stain resistant
Porcelain is a non-porous ceramic, meaning that it is very difficult for staining substances, such as dark berries or coffee, to stick to the surface and stain your veneers. With porcelain veneers, it is easy to maintain the bright and beautiful smile they give you for many years to come!

Durable

Although the thin sheets of porcelain that veneers are crafted out of seem somewhat delicate, they are extremely strong once they have been bonded to your teeth. With proper care, you can expect your porcelain veneers to last for 15 years or more.

Rapid Results

For most patients, porcelain veneers are completed over the course of two office visits, with some time between them to allow for the lab to actually create your veneers. But, don’t worry, you’ll be fitted with temporary veneers after your first appointment, allowing you to “test drive” your new smile. When compared to other options such as braces, veneers allow for near immediate results

Improved self-confidence

Achieving a straighter, brighter, whiter smile can have a dramatic impact on your self-confidence. On more than one occasion, I’ve seen veneers and the confidence they inspire literally change lives.

The cons of veneers
While there are many benefits to veneers, there are a few considerations that should be made when choosing the correct treatment path for you and your smile.

Veneers are permanent and irreversible

Once your tooth surface has been prepared for veneers, a process that requires removing a small amount of enamel, you will always need a veneer covering your tooth in order to protect it. For most patients, this means that you will need to have your veneers re-done.

Veneers can be damaged

Just like your natural teeth, veneers can be chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged. For many, this is not an issue as long as you follow common sense guidelines to protecting your new smile veneers are really durable and stain resistant. Unfortunately, if porcelain veneers are damaged, they cannot be repaired and instead must be replaced.

Post-bonding sensitivity

Some patients experience sensitivity to hot and cold after their veneers have been bonded to the
tooth surface. For many, this is short-lived and is only seen in a small minority of patients.