The dental office – an expensive yet necessary part of life, that for many people means a certain amount of pain to get the treatments that they so desire, while maintaining proper oral health. And did I mention that dental treatments can be really expensive? I mean lavishly costly? So I find myself once again in the seat at the dental office, getting a routine oral checkup and exam. Of course my dentist uses the latest and greatest equipment (remind me to thank him for doing away with those horrid bite wing x-rays in favor of an external and easy machine), when my dentist informs me that they will be taking free pictures of my mouth so they can show me ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos should I want to pursue getting cosmetic dental veneers applied to my teeth. That was all nice and dandy, and boy did the ‘after’ photo look rock star, super model awesome! But the cost of the treatment plan was just above twelve thousand dollars; that’s twelve big ones folks!

Why are Veneers so Costly?
Veneers are so costly because they are manufactured from expensive porcelain or similar materials using millions of dollars of equipment in a static-free lab. You pay for this luxury, through teeth (all puns fully intended). Then you pay to have them shipped to the dental office. Then you pay for the four hour application of them, which also can add up to nearly a thousand dollars, depending upon what your dentist charges you. And no, your dental insurance plan will not cover a solitary cent of the procedure because it is deemed, and is, cosmetic.

How Does the Procedure Work?
Your dentist will typically numb the area on your mouth, or if you prefer sedation dentistry knock you out, or even place you on nitrogen oxide, in combination with numbing the general area. They then use a drill and shave off a certain portion of the exterior of your teeth. Then they use a powerful adhesive to attach the veneers. Finally, they adjust them to fit perfectly.

Who in the Heck Can Afford Such Luxuries?
If you find yourself like I was, sitting in the chair and scoffing at the bill for the treatment plan, then you know, as I do, that almost nobody can afford to drop twelve grand on their freaking teeth. Mind you, if money was of no object or concern, my teeth would have had veneers a long time ago. But like most people, I got bills to pay, food to eat and do not wish to buy veneers that cost nearly as much as a decent car does. Besides, I have already spent too much money on wisdom teeth extraction surgeries, root canals and crowns and general maintenance. So in spite of how attractive they may look, most people will not be able to afford veneers, unless they are fond of telling their kids that they now must pay for their own college education because mommy and daddy splurged on veneers instead.