- The cost of veneers varies depending on their type. Composite veneers range in price from $500 to $2,300, while porcelain veneers cost $1,500 on average.
- You may have to pay extra for dental exams, diagnostic wax-up, X-ray and teeth cleaning.
- The cost of veneers is usually not covered by health insurance because they are considered cosmetic dentistry.
On a budget? Find low-cost dental services in your city. Have problems with your veneers? Use Authority Dental to find urgent care dentists nearby.
Wondering what costs are associated with veneers? Here's everything you need to know.
Average cost of teeth veneers
Picture by Authority Dental under CC 2.0 license
The factors which influence the price of veneers most are:
the material,
the expertise of the dental professional performing the job, and
your location.
The procedure itself is quite complicated, so even the placement on just one tooth can be expensive:
| VENEERS TYPE | AVERAGE COST | COST RANGE |
|---|---|---|
| Resin, chairside (Composite veneers) | $800 | $500-$1,400 |
| Resin, laboratory (Composite veneers) | $1,100 | $800-$2,300 |
| Porcelain | $1,500 | $900-$2,500 |
| Lumineers | $1,800 | $800-$2,000 |
If you’re looking to replace more than a single tooth, multiply the values.
Associated costs
Picture by Authority Dental under CC 2.0 license
Your dentist might decide that two or three visits aren’t enough. If you have to have work done to your original teeth before your veneers are installed, you will be looking at additional costs.
| PROCEDURE | AVERAGE COST | COST RANGE |
|---|---|---|
| Dental exam | $100 | $50-$250 |
| Diagnostic wax-up | $140 | $50-$300 |
| Bitewing X-ray | $35 | $25-$50 |
| Periapical X-ray | $35 | $25-$50 |
| Panoramic X-ray | $130 | $100-$250 |
| Dental cleaning | $100 | $70-$250 |
Below are some procedures you might have to pay for before the veneers process per se can actually begin.
Dental examination
Expect to pay about $100 for a dental exam. This is the first step to getting dental veneers:this will help assess the condition of your teeth, check for tooth decay, or maybe a stained tooth to make sure this treatment is the right one for you. The condition of your natural teeth has to be good enough for them to be shaved down. If not, you could consider a denture, dental implants, or maybe simply whitening. You may also be directed to an orthodontist if you have misshapen teeth.
During the dental exam you can ask any questions you may have for your dentist. This includes queries about insurance and payment. Any necessary radiographs may be done during this visit as well.
Diagnostic wax-up
The aim of this procedure is to show you what the result might look like. Impressions of your teeth will be made and then sent to a lab. A cast can then be created, including the shade of veneers.
This cast will help you visualize what you want. It may turn out that your expectations were different from the dentist’s. This is the time to let him or her know if you are happy with the appearance.
Dental X-rays
X-rays provide dental professionals with a great deal of information for the size of veneers and other determining factors. He or she will be able to see whether there is decay between the teeth and what the internal structures look like. This is a cost you have to consider for a safe and smooth procedure.
The types of X-rays you can expect to have are:
a bitewing,
a panoramic X-ray, or
a periapical X-ray.
Dental cleaning
It is vital that veneers are placed on a healthy tooth and decay-free teeth. The only way to make sure your teeth remain that way is to keep up with your routine cleanings.
In fact, your bi-yearly cleaning would be a good opportunity to mention to your dentist whether you are thinking of getting veneers.
Does insurance cover the cost of veneers?
Picture by Authority Dental under CC 2.0 license
In order to have insurance cover anything, it has to be medically necessary. Unfortunately, veneers are not considered so. This solution is regarded as cosmetic dentistry.
However, your plan might cover some of the additional costs, such as a dental exam or a scaling and root planing. Policies will still come with paperwork and yearly maximums.
We recommend a different solution. You can sign up for a dental discount plan to save up to 60% on any dental procedure. You don’t need to worry about collecting any documents to prove your treatment was medically necessary. Even if something is purely cosmetic, it is sure to be covered.
There are no yearly limits or waiting periods either. You can start using your plan straight away. All you have to do is pay a regular fee and visit a dentist that works within the network.
FAQ
Are veneers worth the price?
Veneers are slightly cheaper than their most popular alternative, dental crowns. In terms of durability they are also similar.
Resin veneers, the cheapest type, last 5-7 years, but if you take good care of them, they can last longer. Porcelain veneers, while brittle, can stay in your mouth for twenty years or longer if you don’t physically damage them. Lumineers can last this long as well, and they are not as easy to break.
Whether they are worth their price depends on your circumstances, but you should remember that the process is irreversible for most types. Once you get resin or porcelain veneers, there is no going back.
What is the cheapest type of veneers?
How much does a full mouth of veneers cost?
Veneers are usually placed on the teeth that are visible. This means you don’t have to pay for molars. Generally, this is the 4-8 top and bottom teeth at the front.
The average price for a full mouth of resin is around $6,400, while for porcelain it can be about $8,800. It’s a good idea to ask your dentist about a package deal, in which case you might be able to save a couple hundred dollars.
What drives the cost of veneers up?
The biggest factors in determining the price for dental veneers are the type of material used, the level of expertise of the person performing the job, and your location.
Porcelain and lumineers are more expensive than resin. Costs are also usually higher in larger cities, so it may make sense to travel in order to lower the fee.