Are porcelain veneers really worth all the money they cost?

I am considering getting them but I heard they are about 2,000 per tooth. Has anybody else gotten them and are you satisfied with them?

Are porcelain veneers really worth all the money they cost?
I'm a dentist.





First of all, don't be one of those annoying sh|ts who "shops around" for prices. That kind of nonsense annoys the hell out of us.





If you wanted a facelift, would you call various plastic surgeons' offices and ask for their prices and select the cheapest? Dentists are doctors too. Treat us accordingly.





You seem to think that we simply install veneers the same way an automechanic installs a new starter motor. Quite the contrary. You are asking the dentist to take a drill running at 300,000 RPMs to your front teeth (which, unlike your face, cannot heal if a minor mistake is made) and place on them restorations that EVERYBODY is going to see every time you open your mouth. That being the case, you shouldn't be shopping around for the cheapest. You should be shopping around for the best. The reality is that our skills can vary as much as those of a plastic surgeon. So, choose wisely.





Now, on to your question. Are they worth it? That's up to you. How bad are your teeth to begin with? And how important is your appearance to you? From my end, I can tell you that veneers typically make a clinically significant improvement. And when compared to the other treatment options, they are the more long-lasting and treat the widest variety of cosmetic problems simultaneously.





I've placed a number of veneers, and every time patients have been pleased with the results.
Reply:That seems a little high. I have that plastic stuff they paint on on several of my teeth and that looks fine. But my 2 front teeth are porcelain and I think they look the most like real teeth. Have you checked around for prices?
Reply:Luckily I was born with somehwat perfect teeth.. had braces when I was a teenager...





I know if you are in the military, you can get veneer's at no cost to you. worth it for sure! My friend got them and has never been happier!
Reply:is a nose job worth the money? What's the difference
Reply:I am a dentist and agree with Nebula D's answer. Veneers are custom made to each persons teeth and can make an incredible difference in your appearance. They are not cheap, but require alot of very skilled and precision work, with no room for error. Don't shop for price unless you want a crappy job that looks like chicklets. Ask friends who have had them done and ask the dentist to see some pictures of some of the patients that he has done. When done properly, they should look like beautiful teeth. You can create any shape or color you like. As for price, 2000 is a bit high, unless you are in Beverly Hills. It's generally much lower - like aroung 1000+ each. Also, it's my opinion and experience (having placed thousands of veneers) that you should stay away from the ones that are advertised that say :"no tooth cutting". Generally you must shave at least a little of the front surface of the tooth off or else the veneer will look much too thick and fake.
Reply:I'm just agreeing with the other 2 dentists who answered. The fee is on the "high end" of what I believe is commonly charged, but as to whether veneers are worth the money - that's totally up to you. It's your money and your smile and you have to decide how much to spend and how badly you want things to look different.





At a $2,000 fee, I'd sure ask to see some before and after photos of cases actually completed by your dentist.