Hi Guys, I figured a few of you have exp. in this. I am thinking about getting veneers on my front teeth. My smile isn't bad, no "wierd things" going on. I just have been thinking about getting veneers for cosmetic reasons and to make my smile more attractive. Do any of you have veneers? Are you happy that you did it? How much should it cost? I went to one dentist who I really liked, she has a lot of experience........for 8 veneers she quouted me about 12 grand.........I went to another dentist that I also liked, he wasn't a "dedicated cosmetic dentist" like the other one, he quoted me 9 grand...........they were both using porcelin veneers, not composite's not plastics.........anything I should be made aware of? Why such a huge difference? Should prive be my main factor, this seems to be a fairly simple procedure? Any advice appreciated.
I paid $900 for a veneer recently to replace one I had cracked. The original veneer lasted 18 years, and I still have three of four I had done while in high school. I am very careful, I never bite into fruits or eat corn on the cob, I cut everything up. The veneer I broke was the result of corn on the cob, the one time in a decade I ate it.
Yes they do, the wife and I are going in March to get her breast done. All in all the cost will be about half of what it would be in the states.
Yes, somewhat. Doing a good, aesthetic veneer is not super easy. Unfortunately I really need to see your teeth before I can say if you should go for it. I will say that you really should try to avoid Lumineers. I don't care for them, personally.
LOL Seriously, it's hard for me to fathom even considering leaving the U.S. for a medical procedure, especially an elective one. As for veneers, it totally depends on you and your overall oral health. Find out who the 3 best guys are in your area and get evaluations from all. Look at the differences(if any) in recommended treatment. Ask questions. Get involved and gain as much knowledge as possible about the treatment you're considering. I have a friend who is a surgeon who was unhappy with his smile. He went to one of the best and his smile is beautiful now, but it wasn't cheap. I'm thinking he said total cost was near $50,000.
Thailand is more widely known on a global level for their dentistry than the US and its about 1/3 the price, just a thought
You will find different dentists have different fees for many reasons. But, the most important reason for the patient is the dentist's SKILL and EXPERIENCE. The first quote you got was the same as I would charge. Dental treatment is NOT a commodity. It is a service. Accordingly, you will find varying fees and commensurate varying results. I would not get it done in Thailand. You may save money, but the results are NOT the same as you can get from a quality cosmetically-oriented dentist in the U.S. It's just not. And, I HAVE seen work from there, including the cases they post on their websites. If you're in Columbus, Ohio, a friend of mine practices there: Dr. Brad Blair. Just another possible opinion. Tell him Dr. Mike Barr sent ya. With any dentist you're considering for cosmetic procedures, it is prudent to ask for photographs of his / her work. For reference, feel free to check out my website: www.palmbeach-smiles.com Good luck! Mike
Ummm... not. I realize I'm not about to convince you otherwise, probably. But, I can tell you with a high level of confidence that Thailand is NOT "more widely known for their dentistry than the U.S." Mike
The quality of dentistry from other countries can be absolutely horrible. One common problem I have seen many times are poorly placed composites. A bad composite can drag the entire tooth down with it. Many countries have banned amalgam out of irrational fear and this alternative is extremely technique sensitive. Believe it or not the worst fillings seem to be from Germany. Their crown and bridge is pretty bad too, almost as bad a Japan (only from what I have seen first hand - maybe a dozen or so patients). Some of the BEST work from overseas that ever walked into my office was from Morocco and I am sure there are very good dentists in Germany and Japan as well. I just have never seen it. Now there are some bad dentists here too. I am simply saying that I am regulated. If I want to stay in business I have to deliver a standard of care that other countries may not have to answer to. Bottom line; you get what you pay for.
When I was in San Diego, I marvelled at the number of people who wouldn't drink the water in Tijuana, but they'd let someone OPERATE on their teeth / mouths there because it was cheaper. Mike
75% of the Asian students I work with at university (most under 20) have pretty bad teeth... That includes Chinese, Indonesian, Thai, Japanese, South Korean and Malaysian.
Bear in mind that here in the U.S., we have our share of barely-competents. And, foreign countries have some great dentists. But, by our standards, the probability of getting great dentistry overseas is small. It is especially small when you go to a foreign DISCOUNT clinic. The problem with discount dentistry is that the poor quality is insidious. The patient may not know of the negative consequences for YEARS. It could be sooner, as well. But, the problems may not be seen by the patient until it's too late. So, do your homework when considering cosmetic dentistry (or any dentistry for that matter). Any cosmetic dentist worth his / her salt will have photos of cases he or she has done. In fact, any competent dentist who focuses on cosmetic treatment takes photos of EVERY case. If the dentist doesn't have photos... GOOD CLEAR CLOSE-UP photos of his / her work, you can bet you're in the WRONG place. Great cosmetic dentistry looks natural. It looks like it grew there. You can end up with a substandard result here in the U.S. But, it is FAR more likely to happen overseas in a 3rd world country. Beware. Mike
