I have bonding on several left front teeth. The bonding is old from a 2002 accident when I fell and chipped the left front tooth and the following four teeth. The bonding is discolored, so I recently saw my dentist about renewing the bonding and whitening my teeth. He recommends bonding on eight front teeth plus teeth whitening. The cost is almost $2200 plus sedation fees. I searched online and found veneers for about 1/4 the price of veneers from my dentist. I am not sure how ordering online veneers works, but I know they won’t look as good as veneers from a dentist. Still, how would online veneers compare with my dentist doing new composite and teeth whitening? – Johnie

Johnie

Most people who buy veneers online admit that their teeth look worse than they did before the veneers. So we strongly recommend that you remove online veneers as an option for your teeth. And with composite bonding or porcelain veneers—only 1 to 2 percent of U.S. dentists have the skill and artistic talents to produce beautiful results.

Porcelain Veneers vs. Composite Veneers

Porcelain veneers and composite veneers have differences in complexity, longevity, and cost. In either case, the best results will come from a highly trained cosmetic dentist.

Composite Veneers

• Complexity – Crafting composite veneers require advanced artistic talent and skill. They are the most demanding procedure a cosmetic dentist can complete.
• Longevity – Composite looks beautiful, but it eventually attracts stains and can turn yellow or brown. Although most stains are on the surface, as the composite roughens, it can absorb the stain. A cosmetic dentist must roughen and polish the composite and replace it in a few years.
• Cost – The cost is from some dentists is ½ to ¾ of porcelain veneers. $2200 for eight teeth is exceptionally low and concerns us about the quality of the dentist’s work. You probably will not like the results.

Porcelain Veneers

• Complexity – Lifelike porcelain veneers require an advanced cosmetic dentist’s skill and artistic eye. And the dentist must work with a lab and ceramist that understand how to craft veneers that mimic natural teeth.
• Longevity – In contrast with composite veneers that stain and require replacing in a few years, porcelain veneers are stain resistant. And they retain their gloss for a lifetime if you take care of them.
• Cost – Although the price may be twice as much as composite veneers, porcelain veneers can last 20 years or more.

Find an Advanced Cosmetic Dentist

The key to the long-term success of composite or porcelain veneers is an advanced cosmetic dentist. Schedule an appointment with an accredited cosmetic dentist to discuss your options. Most cosmetic dentists offer sedation options to match your anxiety level and the procedure.

 

David Finley, DDS of Monroe, LA, sponsors this post. Dr. Finley is an accredited fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry