Dental veneers can be used on a wide range of dental imperfections such as intrinsic dental stains, cracked teeth, or misaligned teeth, but the treatment process is more or less the same for all of these treatments. This means the type of the imperfection you want to mask isn't a major determinant of the treatment's process. Instead, the following are the major factors that will determine the cost of the treatment:

Number of Teeth to Be Treated

The cost of dental veneers is charged per tooth. This is mainly because each affected tooth must receive individualized attention, treatment, and material. Therefore, the overall cost of the treatment will be an exact multiple of the amount the dental practice charges per tooth.

For example, if you need four upper teeth and three upper teeth treated, and each tooth goes for $500, then your treatment will cost $3,500. As a side note, don't expect economies of scale to apply here; there will be no discount for treating multiple teeth. Even if you need a dozen teeth treated, you will have to pay for all of them.

The Need for Temporary Veneers

The second thing that affects the cost of the treatment is whether you need temporary veneers or not. Temporary veneers are meant to hold the place for permanent veneers while the permanent ones are being fabricated in the laboratory. Not every veneer candidate will need the placement of temporary veneers. Generally, you need a temporary veneer placed if:

• The teeth preparation treatment (removing some enamel) is serious enough and people can notice see the effect on your teeth
• The preparation has made your teeth hypersensitive and the temporary enamel is needed to mask the sensitivity

If you decide to get the temporary veneers, their cost may be factored into the overall cost of the treatment.

The Use of Diagnostic Wax

Diagnostic wax is used as a mock-up of the treatment to determine how your teeth will look after the treatment is complete. First, the dentist takes impressions of your teeth and stone models are made using the impressions. The models can also be prepared or modified just as your teeth will be prepared before the placement of the veneers. Then the diagnostic wax is placed on the models so that a dentist will have a clear idea of how your teeth will look after the treatment.

As you can see, it is not easy to predict the cost of the treatment before consulting the dentist. Once you get your treatment, take good care of it so that you don't ruin your teeth and require a subsequent treatment soon after.  

For more information, contact local professionals like those found at Highland Dental.