Dental Veneers in Pflugerville, TX

What veneers fix

Veneers are for the front teeth that show when you smile: a chipped corner, a tooth that is darker than its neighbours, enamel worn thin at the edges, small gaps, or teeth that are slightly crooked or too short. Because each veneer is designed individually, they can correct several of these at once, which is why they are the usual answer when whitening alone will not get there. The ADA’s veneers page is a useful plain-language summary.

Porcelain vs. composite

Porcelain veneers are made by a dental lab from an impression or scan, then bonded to the tooth at a second visit. They mimic enamel’s translucency, resist staining, and typically last 10 to 15 years. Composite veneers are built up directly on the tooth in a single visit using the same material as a tooth-coloured filling, shaped and polished by hand. They cost less and can be repaired easily, but are less durable and can pick up stains over time. For a single chipped tooth composite is often the sensible choice; for a full smile makeover porcelain usually is.

The process

1. Consultation and design. Photos, a scan, and a conversation about what you want to change and what you want to keep. Dr. Wahi plans veneers that suit your face and lips rather than a one-size-fits-all white.
2. Preview. A mock-up on your own teeth, so you see the shape and length before any enamel is touched.
3. Preparation. Under local anesthetic, a thin layer of enamel (about half a millimetre) is removed for porcelain; composite often needs none. Temporaries protect prepared teeth.
4. Bonding. The veneers are tried in, adjusted for colour and fit, then bonded. The bite is checked and polished.

Two or three visits over two to three weeks is typical for porcelain; composite is usually done in one.

Veneers vs. whitening, bonding and crowns

If your teeth are the right shape and only the colour bothers you, professional whitening is simpler and cheaper. A small chip can be repaired with bonding, which is essentially a composite veneer on one corner. If your teeth are crowded or crooked, clear aligners move them rather than disguising them, and many patients do aligners first and need fewer veneers afterwards. A tooth that is heavily filled or cracked needs the full-coverage protection of a crown instead.

Caring for veneers

Brush and floss as normal, keep your six-monthly checkups, and do not bite ice, pens or packaging with your front teeth. If you grind at night, a custom night guard protects the veneers and is well worth the cost. Porcelain does not stain, but the tooth edges around composite can, so whitening touch-ups are sometimes needed to keep the match.

Cost and financing

Porcelain veneers commonly cost $900 to $2,000 per tooth in the Austin area and composite veneers $300 to $700. Most dental plans exclude cosmetic work, although a veneer that restores a chipped or broken tooth may be partly covered, and we check. We quote per tooth in writing after the consultation, and monthly financing is available so the cost can be spread.