Fake Fingernails for Your Teeth A Look at Porcelain Veneers

The comparison between fingernails and teeth might seem a bit odd, but truth be told, it is one of the simplest ways to explain porcelain veneers. Women get artificial fingernails placed over their actual fingernails to get instantly longer and more uniform nails. The fake fingernails cover up any imperfections that the real nails may have. In a similar fashion, porcelain dental veneers hid the flaws of your actual teeth. A ceramic shell (similar in concept to an article fingernail) is carefully placed and affixed to each tooth to create a straighter, uniform smile.

Unlike artificial fingernails, which have at-home versions, porcelain veneers must be applied by a professional. There are no "veneers-in-a-box" take-home kits (at least, not yet) so a skilled cosmetic dentist is needed to properly size, shade, place, and polish porcelain veneers.

Depending on the type of porcelain veneers you get and the style of your cosmetic dentist, porcelain veneers take two to three visits to place. The first visit consists of planning the new smile with the dentist. A second visit may be needed to prep the teeth for the long-term porcelain veneers and to have temporary veneers placed. During the final visit, the porcelain veneers will be specially cemented to the teeth.

Once placed, the porcelain veneers will look and function as normal teeth. Good oral hygiene is still needed to help maintain a healthy smile, but the dental veneers will cover chips, discoloration, and gaps in a smile.

The cost of porcelain veneers can vary great due to the different types of porcelain veneers, including LUMINEERS® and da Vinci Veneers™ (among others), the cost of materials used, and the fees each dentist charges. However, porcelain veneers range from $700 to $2,000 per tooth. This can be a large investment, but many patients believe that veneers are well worth their price.

If you want a straighter smile, talk to your dentist about porcelain veneers. Maybe your teeth will benefit from their own fake fingernails.