Question 1

What is a veneer?

Accepted Answer

A thin shell bonded to the front of a tooth to hide chips, stains, small gaps or uneven edges. It covers only the front face, not the whole tooth like a crown. Porcelain veneers are made in a lab and bonded on; the ADA calls them strong, long-lasting and natural-looking, and the more expensive option. Composite veneers are built straight onto the tooth in fewer visits but stain and wear faster. Full guide: What are veneers?

Question 2

Are veneers reversible?

Accepted Answer

No. To fit most veneers the dentist shaves a thin layer of enamel off the tooth, and that cannot be undone, so the ADA and Cleveland Clinic both say the treatment is not reversible. "No-prep" veneers remove less enamel but still some. Once you have veneers, you will need veneers, or crowns, on those teeth for life. Ask how much enamel will come off and to see it on a model or scan.

Question 3

How many days do porcelain veneers take abroad?

Accepted Answer

Two visits with lab work in between. On the first, the dentist removes a thin layer of enamel, takes impressions and may fit temporary veneers. The lab then makes the veneers, typically several weeks. On the second, the dentist checks fit, shape and color, bonds each veneer and adjusts your bite. Some clinics have an on-site lab and turn them around faster. Ask for the number of days between visits before you book flights.

Question 4

How long do veneers last?

Accepted Answer

Cleveland Clinic gives 10 to 15 years with good care. A review of 25 studies found a 10-year survival of 95.5% for porcelain veneers; fracture was the most common problem, then coming off, mostly in the first years after fitting. In a two-year trial of 120 veneers, composite and ceramic survived at similar rates, but the composite ones stained and got rough far more often.

Question 5

Who should not get veneers?

Accepted Answer

People with untreated cavities or gum disease; those come first. The ADA says veneers may not be a good choice if you clench or grind your teeth or have a deep overbite. Veneers are cosmetic, so most insurance does not cover them, and the IRS excludes cosmetic dental work such as whitening from deductible medical expenses.

Question 6

What do porcelain veneers cost abroad?

Accepted Answer

Veneers are priced per tooth. Ask whether temporaries, a cleaning or whitening of the neighboring teeth, and repairs are in the price.

Where	Price	vs US	Clinics
United States typical	$900-$2,500
Bogotá Colombia	$301	67-88% less	4
Guadalajara Mexico	$350	61-86% less	5
Barranquilla Colombia	$370	59-85% less	3
Cancún Mexico	$373	59-85% less	20
Cartagena Colombia	$378	58-85% less	5
Mérida Mexico	$382	58-85% less	9
Monterrey Mexico	$382	58-85% less	11
Ciudad Juárez Mexico	$390	57-84% less	4
Mexicali Mexico	$398	56-84% less	6
Cali Colombia	$401	55-84% less	6
Mexico City Mexico	$420	53-83% less	8
Los Algodones Mexico	$450	50-82% less	15
Playa del Carmen Mexico	$450	50-82% less	7
Medellín Colombia	$463	49-81% less	8
Tijuana Mexico	$500	44-80% less	31
Puerto Vallarta Mexico	$523	42-79% less	6

City	Price	vs US	Clinics
United States typical	$900-$2,500
Bogotá Colombia	$301	67-88% less	4
Guadalajara Mexico	$350	61-86% less	5
Barranquilla Colombia	$370	59-85% less	3
Cancún Mexico	$373	59-85% less	20
Cartagena Colombia	$378	58-85% less	5
Mérida Mexico	$382	58-85% less	9
Monterrey Mexico	$382	58-85% less	11
Ciudad Juárez Mexico	$390	57-84% less	4
Mexicali Mexico	$398	56-84% less	6
Cali Colombia	$401	55-84% less	6
Mexico City Mexico	$420	53-83% less	8
Los Algodones Mexico	$450	50-82% less	15
Playa del Carmen Mexico	$450	50-82% less	7
Medellín Colombia	$463	49-81% less	8
Tijuana Mexico	$500	44-80% less	31
Puerto Vallarta Mexico	$523	42-79% less	6

Porcelain veneer prices, by city

Questions about porcelain veneer