Porcelain Veneers

If you're trying to decide between porcelain veneers and composite veneers, keep in mind that while the porcelain variety is more expensive ($1000-$2500 per tooth as opposed to around $250), they are also more durable. Composites typically last from five to seven years; porcelain veneers can last up to fifteen. Like composite veneers, they can be used to remedy a variety of cosmetic problems: discoloration, chips, small gaps, and even crookedness.

Porcelain veneers begin with your dentist taking a mold of your teeth, which is sent to a dental lab and used to create the final set of veneers. Meanwhile, your dentist will file down the surfaces of the teeth where the veneers are to be placed. You will be given a temporary set of cement veneers, the same shape and color as the permanent ones, to wear while your porcelain veneers are being produced.

Temporary Veneers

Wearing the temporary veneers gives you a chance to test drive your new smile before the permanent veneers are attached to your teeth. Some patients find that they want to make changes to either the color or shape of the veneers during this period. If you do, speak up--changing porcelain veneers once they're adhered can be costly, and in some cases impossible.

Lumineers

Recently, a new type of porcelain veneer has arrived on the market. Made of a material called Cerinate, Lumineers are thinner than traditional porcelain veneers, which reduces the need for your teeth to be filed down prior to affixing them. They have a similar lifespan to traditional porcelain veneers and also cost less, around $700 to $1000 per tooth.