Some time during the glamorous Old Hollywood, a young dentist that went by the name Dr. Charles Pincus, created what we now know as veneers. A procedure that took the world by storm with its fantastic results and its ability to radically change smiles for the better.
What we now see most celebrities and influencers sporting didn’t start out at this level of perfection or efficiency. Back in 1929, when veneers first started being a thing, they were mostly temporary. And celebrities would wear them on set only. Of-course they weren’t practical at all and also did not have an extremely natural appeal. But although slightly bulky, they hid many dental mishaps.
Over the years, the procedure witnessed many developments in aspects of comfort, wear, practicality and aesthetics. And as of late, veneers, otherwise known as the Hollywood Smile; are the most common cosmetic dentistry treatment around the globe.
What are veneers?
What are veneers? Veneers are shell-like structures that can be made from a versatile range of materials. They usually go on the front of the teeth and become the new front. This way, they can hide all the defects underneath and give your teeth a total makeover.
They can be custom-made in regards to shape, design, and color. Shape and color are factors that your dentist will most likely decide for you based on your facial and lip structures. As for material, you have a very extensive range that suits diverse financial plans. So, perhaps in that aspect, you can inform your dentist about your budget to find the most suitable material for your case.
What are the types of veneers?
What are the types of veneers? There are several types of veneers in the market as of late. Most of the differences are in regard to material and manufacturing methods. Below, we’ll discuss all the different types of veneers, their pros and cons.
1- Porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers are the traditional veneers that most celebrities wear. And as the name suggests they are made from porcelain, a material similar to ceramic. These types of veneers are usually 0.5 mm to 0.7 mm in thickness. Porcelain veneers also go by the name laminate veneers.
Oral examination
During the procedure, your doctor will perform a general examination on your mouth to check its health and suitability for the procedure. You should note that your doctor will not apply your veneers if you have cavities, infection, inflammation, or any other health issues in your mouth.
It is important to first deal with those problems then move on to the procedure. This ensures that you have a good foundation for your veneers, and is a key factor in the success of the treatment. And at Dentakay, it is a main step in our veneers treatment to make sure you get the best results possible.
Taking impressions
Your doctor will take impressions of your mouth before doing any work to your teeth. This is important to make your temporary veneers, so they are ready on time for the next visit.
Smile design
After running a thorough examination and fixing all the issues if any, we begin the smile design step. There are typically two ways through which dentist can design your porcelain veneers: the digital method or the physical method.
The physical method is the oldest of the two and involves having you bite onto a mould to take impressions of your mouth. Your dentist then sends this mould to an offsite laboratory that uses the impressions to design your veneers.
The second method is more modern and involves the use of computer-assisted cameras that take comprehensive videos of your mouth capturing all its details. The technique also involves capturing your lip in motion to assess its shape and natural movement to give you the best-fitting veneers.
The software to which the camera is connected then takes this input, and designs veneers that would best fit you in terms of comfort of wear and aesthetics.
At Dentakay, we exclusively offer the state-of-the-art digital smile design as it meets our world-class standards. It also provides the best results for our patients.
Filing
Filling is the process in which your dentist removes some of your dental tissue. It is completely painless because it doesn’t involve living tissue. This process is important because it creates space for the veneers. Otherwise, if your dentist were to apply porcelain veneers directly, the results would look very bulky, unpleasing, and unnatural.
Placing the temporary veneers
After Filling, your teeth will be somewhat odd looking and in a state that is not suitable for everyday life. For this reason, your dentist will place your temporary veneers.
Making the veneers
When it comes to making your veneers, there are two methods that are currently in the market. There is the traditional method, where your dentist will have you bite on mould to take impressions of your mouth. This step, is done right after Filling your teeth down. And after taking the impressions, your dentist will send the mould to an off-site laboratory that will make your porcelain veneers.
But, there is a more modern alternative, which is the CAD/CAM system. In other words, this is more like 3D printing and is part of the digital smile design. The software relies on videography to collect as much data for the design as possible.
The device 3D prints the veneers, giving the procedure the name of same-day veneers. One thing you must know about the CAD/CAM procedure is that it works only with veneers that are made of porcelain.
2- Lumineers
Lumineer veneers are a type of veneers that are extremely slim in thickness. They are made from porcelain and a very common option in cosmetic dentistry. Unlike porcelain veneers, Lumineers are about 0.3 mm in thickness. And because of this, they are kind of translucent. As a result, the application process for this type of veneers, will differ a lot from porcelain veneers.
Oral examination
During the procedure, your doctor will perform a general examination on your mouth to check its health and suitability for the procedure. You should note that your doctor will not apply your Lumineers if you have cavities, infection, inflammation, or any other health issues in your mouth.
It is important to first deal with those problems then move on to the procedure. This ensures that you have a good foundation for your Lumineers and is a key factor in the success of the treatment.
Taking impressions
Unlike porcelain veneers, with Lumineers, you can get a straight-to-smile design. This is because the Lumineers are very slim and hence there is no need to file down the teeth to make space for them. In other words, your teeth will not need temporary crowns. Instead, you can just get straight into smile design.
Smile design
After running a thorough examination and fixing all the issues if any, we begin the smile design step. There are typically two ways through which dentists can design your Lumineers veneers: the digital method or the physical method.
The physical method is the oldest of the two and involves having you bite onto a mould to take impressions of your mouth. Your dentist then sends this mould to an offsite laboratory that uses the impressions to design your Lumineers.
The second method is more modern and involves the use of computer-assisted cameras that take comprehensive videos of your mouth capturing all its details. The technique also involves capturing your lip in motion to assess its shape and natural movement to give you the best-fitting veneers.
The software to which the camera is connected then takes this input, and designs veneers that would best fit you in terms of comfort of wear and aesthetics.
At Dentakay, we exclusively offer the state-of-the-art digital smile design as it meets our world-class standards. It also provides the best results for our patients.
Filing
Filing is the process in which your dentist removes some of your dental tissue. While it may be. Necessary in other types of veneer placement, it is not Necessary in Lumineers.
There will be no Filing and your dentist will not remove any dental tissue from your teeth.
Temporary veneers
Because there was Filing down, your teeth will still look the same before your Lumineers are ready. And as a result, you can leave the dentist’s office without temporary veneers.
Make the lumineers
When it comes to making your Lumineers, there are two methods that are currently in the market. There is the traditional method, where your dentist will have you bite on a mould to take impressions of your mouth. And after taking the impressions, your dentist will send the mould to an off-site laboratory that will make your porcelain Lumineers.
But, there is a more modern alternative, which is the CAD/CAM system. In other words, this is more like 3D printing and is part of the digital smile design. The software relies on videography to collect as much data for the design as possible.
The device 3D prints the Lumineers, giving the procedure the name of same-day veneers. One thing you must know about the CAD/CAM procedure is that it works only with veneers that are made of porcelain. This includes Lumineers.
3- Composite veneers
Composite veneers are another special type of veneers, and they are equally as common in cosmetic dentistry. They are made from composite resin. Which is a material that dentists mostly use for fillings. In regards to its structure, composite resin happens to be clay-like and that material can be easily color-matched to your teeth.
Oral examination
During the procedure, your doctor will perform a general examination on your mouth to check its health and suitability for the procedure. You should note that your doctor will not apply your Lumineers if you have cavities, infection, inflammation, or any other health issues in your mouth.
It is important to first deal with those problems then move on to the procedure. This ensures that you have a good foundation for your Lumineers and is a key factor in the success of the treatment.
Filing
Filing is the process in which your dentist removes some of your dental tissue. It is completely painless because it doesn’t involve removing living tissue. This process is important because it creates space for the composite veneers. Otherwise, if your dentist were to apply the composite veneers directly, the results would look very bulky, unpleasing, and unnatural.
Filing is the process in which your dentist removes some of your dental tissue. It is completely painless because it doesn’t involve living tissue. This process is important because it creates space for the veneers. Otherwise, if your dentist were to apply porcelain veneers directly, the results would look very bulky, unpleasing, and unnatural.
Making the veneers
There are currently two methods through which dentists make composite veneers:
1- Direct composite veneers
Direct composite veneers are a type of veneers that your dentist apply straightaway on your teeth. Composite resin is very clay-like, and the application process almost resembles that of gel nail. Once applying the resin to achieve the ideal veneer shape, your dentist exposes it to UV Ray to cure and dry it.
2- Indirect composite veneers
For indirect veneers, after preparing your teeth, your dentist will have you bite onto a mould to take impressions of your mouth. He will then send these impressions to the laboratory, where the technician will design wax veneers that will be used to make a mold of your final veneers. Your dentist will use this mold to design the final composite veneers.
After fitting, the veneers are polished to ensure that the edges are round and the veneers look natural.
4- Snap on Veneers
Snap on veneers or clip on veneers are veneers that you can order online without professional supervision. So instead of going to a dentist, you can shop them online without professional assistance. They are made from resin and are 0.4 mm in thickness.
Oral examination
There is no oral examination or any other professional evaluation.
Taking impressions
You will have to purchase your clip-on veneers, preferably from reliable websites first. Once you do this, the manufacturers will send you a mould through mail. You should bite onto this mould to take impressions of your mouth.
Once you finish with this, you send the mould back to the manufacturers.
Smile design
The smile design process takes anywhere between 4 to 6 weeks. On the website you get to choose the shades of your veneers as well as the shape.
Filing
There is no Filing in the process of clip-on veneers.
Placing the Temporary Veneers
There are no temporary veneers with the clip-on because there is no Filling .
Placing the temporary veneers
This step is not Necessary as well with the snap-ons
Making the veneers
Manufacturers will make your snap-on veneers using resin according to the impressions you have sent through the mould. Sometimes, the impressions are not accurate most of the time because the majority of patients do not know how to correctly bite onto the mould.
You will get your clip-ons as two sets; one for the upper jaw and one for the lower jaw. They are not permanent so you can wear them or take them off according to your preference and convenience.
How long do veneers last
How long veneers can last really depends on two things: the type of veneers you’re using and how much you care for them. Although veneers do not decay, you must always remember that the living tissue around it is prone to cavities and inflammation.
If your oral health is in poor condition, it is likely that it will affect your prosthetic. For instance, the tooth on which your veneers are stuck on, can fall off or chip off and ruin your prosthetics. Always remember that your living tissue is the foundation for your veneers, and taking care of it is essential to the longevity of your prosthetics.
In addition to maintaining good oral hygiene, you must periodically visit your dentist. Annual or semi-annual dental checkups are mandatory regardless of your veneer treatment. But they are especially important once you get your veneers. Your dentist will be able to detect any rising issues and treat them before affecting your smile.
Composite veneers
With the advancement in technologies, modern composite veneers can last a lot longer than they did in the past. And on average, a set of composite veneers could last anywhere between 5 and 7 years. You can always go back for touch-ups on your smile. But you should bear in mind that practicing good oral hygiene is also key to increasing the longevity of your veneers.
Porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers are superior to all other types of veneers in terms of how long they last. For, instance, quality porcelain veneers with the right care can last anywhere between 10 and 15 years. After this time period, you will have to go get touch ups on your smile.
Although they last for over a decade, it is very important that you go for revisions. This helps your dentist spot any issues and quickly reverse them
Lumineers
Although many sources claim that Lumineers can last up to 20 years, research shows that Lumineers tend to wear down after 10 to 15 years. Likewise, to make your Lumineers last, you must practice oral hygiene and take good care of your teeth.
Similarly, you must go for check-ups periodically to ensure that everything is going well health-wise.
Clip on veneers
Snap on veneers typically do not last long. again it depends on whether you are caring after them or not. But with proper care they can last up to a year
Cost of veneers
The cost of veneers really differs according to many factors. For one, you have the type of veneers you are seeking. Some types of veneers for instance are more expensive than others. There is always an option that would be suitable to nearly any financial plan.
The second factor that really affects treatment costs is the location of the treatment. In many countries, the quality of veneer treatment is almost identical. But in certain countries you will find that treatment fees are far more expensive than other places.
To make things simple we will evaluate the cost of the different types of veneers in 5 of the most popular destinations of dentistry.
1- Composite Veneers Cost
In the USA
In the USA, composite veneers would cost anywhere between $950 to $1500 per tooth. As in, the more teeth you will get the procedure on, the higher the fees will be. These fees are only for the procedure and don’t include dentist fees or bills for using clinic facilities such as x-ray scans and so on.
Likewise, the costs do not include any form of service packages for health tourists. For instance, accommodation, translation, or transportation. But you may pay additional fees for these services if the clinic offers them.
In the UK
In the UK the cost of composite veneers range between $450 to $600 per tooth. Both the UK and the US typically charge per tooth for cosmetic dentistry procedures. Likewise, these costs are not really inclusive of everything. If you will need to use the clinic facilities let’s say for an x-ray image you will pay more for that.
Similarly, you will pay additionally for any services you request as a health tourist. From accommodation to transportation and translation. You will likely pay out of pocket for these services if the clinic offers them.
In Turkey
Composite veneers in Turkey would cost around $1,000 to $1,200 on average. But what you should note is that in Turkey, the pricing system does not work per tooth. Dental clinic do not charge per tooth so this price range is actually for a fully set of composite veneers.
Additionally, the price range in Turkey is inclusive of far more services than is typical in both the USA and the UK. So, you should expect the fees to cover the in person consultation, use of clinic facilities, and other services for international patients such as airport reception, accommodation, transportation and translation.
2- Porcelain veneers
In the USA
In the USA, the average cost of porcelain veneers ranges between $2,000 to $2,500 per tooth. This pricing is exclusive of other services. Therefore, you should inquire more about the overall cost of treatment directly from the clinic you’re interested in. This is because, the price range is exclusive for the veneers and does not factor in consultation fees, dentist fees, and use of clinic facilities.
In the UK
Most dental clinics in the UK will charge you anywhere between $1,300 to $1,700 per porcelain veneer. Price wise, the porcelain veneers in the UK are slightly cheaper than in the USA, but in both countries the fees cover nothing more than the actual veneers. So if you want to get a more clear idea about the cost of the entire procedure, you must get in touch with the clinic you want to seek treatment in.
In Turkey
The average cost for porcelain veneers in Turkey is around $2,500 to $3,500. This price is for a complete set of porcelain veneers and is inclusive of additional services such as consultation fees, dentist fees, use of clinic facilities and more.
With this price you also get a package of services if you’re an international patient. This package comprises airport reception, accommodation, transportation, and translation.
3- Lumineers
In the USA
The average cost of Lumineers in the USA would range between $1,500 to $2,000 per tooth. Again, this price range will not include any additional services. So all together, you might find that the entire cost of treatment would be more expected due to these hidden costs.
In the UK
In the UK, the approximate cost of Lumineers would alternate between $900 to $1,200 per tooth. Similar to above procedures, the cost for Lumineers in the UK will not cover all treatment costs. So to get a clear idea of how much it would cost you to get Lumineers in the UK, you should directly contact your clinic and inquire about what the price range includes in terms of services.
In Turkey
Prices are generally more affordable in Turkey so you should expect the price for a full set of Lumineers to range anywhere between $1,500 to $2,000. Aside from the price range covering a full set of veneers, it also covers other services like consultation fees, dentist fees, and used clinic facilities.
In addition, of course, to services for international patients that include airport reception, accommodation, transportation and translation.
Why should you consider veneers in Turkey
Consider veneers in Turkey has become one of the biggest destinations for cosmetic dentistry. Thousands of people from different ethnicities and backgrounds seek the country for a drastic smile makeover. Especially people living in countries like the USA and the UK, where the high quality of medical care comes at an extremely expensive price. But there’s more to the success of Turkey as a big attraction for cosmetic dentistry, so let us figure them out.
1- Affordable costs
We can’t overlook this factor, and while it is not the be all for the industry it is certainly a driving factor. Like we have addressed above, in the UK and the USA, veneers and other types of cosmetic dentistry treatments are overpriced. It is not within the reach for a great majority of the public. So instead of seeking low quality clinics in their home countries, patients have decided to go beyond borders.
For the services the country offers, many patients find that all together; it is much cheaper. Along with the plane tickets and even the tourism that most patients do after treatment; getting your veneers in Turkey is a financially smart decision.
2- High quality of treatment
In the above point, we have mentioned that affordability isn’t what breaks or makes the industry. At least not on its own. But when affordability is coupled with high quality and professionalism you have a booming industry. In Turkey, you can advanced technologies such as the CAD/CAM system that allows for one-day smile procedures. The dental clinics are typically hygienic and luxurious. Of course this doesn’t apply to all clinics so make sure you do your research. You can also read our tips on how to choose the right dental clinic.
3- Luxury services
Most international patients come with a but of worry related to being in a new country or to finally getting a procedure they’ve been waiting years for. These feelings are natural, and for us at Dentakay, we try our best to have our patients feel at ease. For instance, we offer airport reception where a representative from Dentakay will be awaiting you with a private car. We’ll transport you to your pre-booked luxurious hotel where you will rest for the day. If your flight arrives early, we will take you to consultation after dropping off your luggage at the hotel.
For all your appointments throughout treatment, we will be responsible for transporting between the clinic and the hotel. To help with the language barrier, we’ll assign a professional interpreter who will be responsible for facilitating communication between you and the doctors. Our team of interpreters speak multiple languages and we’ll do our best to communicate with you in q language that is most comfortable for you.
Once your treatment is over, we will drive you to the airport.
4- Tourism in Istanbul
Istanbul is not an attraction for health tourism only, but the beauty and history of the country make it ideal for traditional tourism all year round. From its cobble-stoned pavements, time-worn alleys, and colorful buildings; Istanbul is an eye candy destination.
Many of our patients take a fee extra days after treatment to tour the city, from the Hagia Sophia to Galata Tower and the underground bazaar that’s packed with hundreds of stores. Not to mention all the delicious food to try and the exceptional Turkish coffee and tea to have over a traditional Turkish breakfast.
5- Internationally accredited dental clinics
Turkey in general hosts a large number of internationally accredited clinics and hospitals. As Dentakay, we are a proud member of Slow Dentistry, a foundation established to ensure the comfort and safety of dentistry patients all around the world. To be a member, a clinic has to exhibit the highest levels of hygiene care around the clinic. From the general environment down to the tools and equipment’s.
Likewise, it ensures receive consent firms prior to treatment to make sure they are fully aware of all the procedures they will undergo.
Not to mention other criteria such as dentists’ qualifications and credibility.
