Veneers – Chula Vista, CA

Cost vs. Cosmetic Dentistry: What’s Best For Me?

Although veneers are one of the most sought-after cosmetic treatments out there, they aren’t the only method available for enhancing your pearly whites. We offer multiple types of services that provide various results and come with unique price points. Here are the most common cosmetic procedures you can consider from our roster of smile-improving treatments:

• Teeth whitening – By either choosing an in-office or at-home process, our team can effectively brighten your smile with professional teeth whitening. This treatment uses special-grade bleaching agents to enhance the color of your teeth, and you can expect your results to go as far as several months to a couple of years before needing touchups. This process won’t affect the shape or size of your teeth, however.
• Invisalign – As one of the most popular orthodontic treatments in the world, Invisalign clear aligners can gradually straighten your teeth and achieve a more uniform smile in just 12-18 months, which is 4 months shorter than traditional braces. Though the results are permanent as long as you wear your retainers, the process won’t change the size, shape, or color of your teeth.
• Dental bonding – Using composite resin, this minimally invasive treatment can reliably mold your teeth into the size, shape, and color that you desire. This procedure can address multiple dental flaws like veneers can, such as minor chips, stains, and gaps, and it can be completed in just a single visit. However, the results will only last several years, whereas veneers can go as far as 15+ years with proper care.
• Veneers – While these porcelain layers come with a higher value, their results are comprehensive and incredibly worthwhile. They can enhance the size, shape, color, and spacing of your teeth, and they only take a couple of appointments to create your dream smile.

How to Make Veneers Affordable

Veneers are considered “non-essential” dental care, like other cosmetic services, so they won’t typically be covered by insurance. Even so, our team wants to ensure that you can achieve a smile you can be proud of while working within your budget. That’s why we offer alternative financing solutions, such as CareCredit—a third-party financier that offers low-to-no-interest plans that break up the price of dental treatments into monthly installments. We also have an in-house membership plan that can give you significant discounts for a low monthly fee!

Are Veneers Permanent?

Veneers are long-lasting but not entirely permanent as they'll require replacement eventually. However, once applied, they are considered irreversible. To ensure a proper fit, a small amount of enamel is filed away. Unfortunately, enamel does not grow back once it’s altered. Teeth that are prepared this way will always need to be covered by either crowns or veneers.

Is There Anything I Can’t Eat with Veneers?

While wearing temporary veneers before getting permanent ones, steer clear of hard foods like ice, raw fruits, veggies, and candy. You should also avoid sticky foods that might dislodge the veneers. Temporary veneers can stain easily, so be cautious with dark-colored foods and drinks.

After getting permanent veneers, you can enjoy most foods. However, you should still be wary of very hard, crunchy items, and stain-causing dark beverages. If your teeth feel sensitive, avoid hot or cold substances. Use alcohol sparingly, as it can weaken bonding material holding your veneers in place.

Do Veneers Give You a Lisp?

Initially, you might experience a temporary lisp because your tongue isn't used to the presence of veneers. The slight difference in thickness affects how the tongue moves, especially when pronouncing "s" and "v" sounds. The good news is that the tongue will eventually adjust on its own, but practicing certain sounds can help too. If the lisp persists, we could make minor adjustments to the thickness in specific areas to resolve the issue. Don't worry – with time and practice, your speech will return to normal, and you'll love your new smile!

Can Veneers Be Used for Bite Corrections?

Veneers won't move your teeth or jaw, so their ability to fix bite problems depends on the severity. For a slight open bite, veneers can create the illusion of properly aligned teeth by making them longer and wider. They can also cover small gaps between teeth. However, veneers are best for bite problems that don't impact your oral health significantly but affect your appearance. If you plan to correct your bite with orthodontics, wait until after the treatment to get veneers.