Porcelain Veneers in Beverly Hills: A Complete Guide
Updated: Oct 3
Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made shells of porcelain bonded to the front of your teeth to change their color, shape, size or apparent alignment. In Beverly Hills they are one of the most requested cosmetic treatments because a well-planned set can transform a smile in a few visits and still look like natural teeth. At Beverly Hills Dental Center, veneers are currently offered from $199 a month, and this guide explains what sits behind a number like that: the planning, the lab work, the appointments and the care afterwards.
Below you will find who porcelain veneers suit and who they do not, how the process works from consultation to bonding, how porcelain compares with composite, what affects the cost, and how to look after veneers so they last. If you are weighing veneers against whitening or orthodontics, the sections on candidacy and alternatives will help you ask the right questions at a consultation.
Key Takeaways
Porcelain veneers cover the front surface of a tooth and can correct discoloration, chips, small gaps, worn edges and mildly uneven teeth.
Placing a traditional porcelain veneer removes a thin layer of enamel, so the treatment is not reversible and deserves careful planning.
Healthy teeth and gums come first, and any decay or gum disease needs treatment before veneers are placed.
Most people who want an even smile need several veneers on the upper front teeth rather than one or two.
Porcelain resists staining and wear better than composite resin, while composite usually costs less and is easier to repair.
Good daily habits, a night guard if you grind and regular checkups are what keep veneers looking right for years.
What Porcelain Veneers Are and What They Can Fix
A Thin Shell Bonded to the Front of the Tooth
A veneer covers only the visible front surface of a tooth, which is what separates it from a crown that covers the whole tooth. The American Dental Association describes veneers as custom-made, natural-looking coverings and notes that porcelain veneers are strong and long lasting, and tend to be the more expensive option. Because porcelain is slightly translucent, a well-made veneer reflects light much the way enamel does.
Problems Veneers Solve Well
Veneers suit teeth that are healthy underneath but look wrong. Typical reasons people choose them include:
Discoloration that whitening cannot lift, including tetracycline and other drug-related stains
Chipped, broken or worn edges
Small gaps between the front teeth
Teeth that are smaller than their neighbors or irregular in shape
Mild crowding or rotation when the patient prefers not to move teeth with aligners
Large old fillings in front teeth that have darkened over time
How Many Teeth Are Usually Involved
A single chipped tooth can sometimes be fixed with one veneer, but matching one veneer to natural neighbors is one of the harder tasks in cosmetic dentistry. Most people who want an even, balanced smile need six to eight veneers, usually on the upper front teeth that show when you smile. Your smile line decides the final number. If your upper side teeth show when you laugh, leaving them untreated can make bright front veneers look out of place.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Veneers
Healthy Teeth and Gums First
Veneers rely on healthy tooth structure underneath. Any decay has to be treated and any gum inflammation brought under control before the work begins, because placing veneers over unhealthy teeth can make existing problems worse. That is why a veneer consultation starts with a full exam and X-rays rather than a conversation about shades.
Grinding, Clenching and Bite Problems
If you clench or grind your teeth, or have a deep overbite, porcelain can chip or loosen under the extra force. That does not always rule veneers out, but it changes the plan. The bite may need adjusting, the veneers may need a different design, and a custom night guard becomes part of the treatment rather than an optional extra.
When Another Treatment Makes More Sense
Veneers are not the only route to a better smile. If your teeth are a good shape but yellow, professional whitening may be all you need, and the post on veneers vs teeth whitening covers that choice in detail. If teeth are noticeably crooked, straightening them first with Invisalign can mean fewer veneers, or more conservative ones, later. A heavily filled or cracked tooth may need a crown instead of a veneer for strength.
How the Porcelain Veneer Process Works
Consultation, Photos and Planning
The first visit is about goals and records. Expect an exam, X-rays, photographs and either impressions or a digital scan. This is the time to say what bothers you about your smile, how natural or how bright you want the result, and what your budget allows. At Beverly Hills Dental Center, patients are given a mockup of what they can expect from veneers, which lets you judge the planned shape and length before committing.
Choosing Shape and Shade
Shade selection compares guides against your natural teeth, your skin tone and the whites of your eyes in good light. If you want whiter teeth overall, whitening the untreated teeth before the veneers are made lets the ceramist match the final color. The shape of each veneer is planned around your lips, your facial midline and the way your teeth show when you speak.
Preparing the Teeth
For traditional porcelain veneers, the dentist removes a small amount of enamel from the front and sides of each tooth so the veneer sits flush instead of looking bulky. This is done with local anesthetic. An impression or scan of the prepared teeth goes to the dental lab, and temporary veneers protect the teeth while the final ones are made.
Lab Work and Bonding
A ceramist builds each veneer to the plan, and the lab decides much of the final translucency and surface texture. Beverly Hills Dental Center has developed strong relationships with master ceramists in Los Angeles for this reason. At the bonding visit, each veneer is tried in to check fit, shape and color before it is permanently bonded and the bite is adjusted. It can take a few days to get used to the new feel, and if your bite feels off afterwards, tell your dentist so it can be corrected.
Porcelain vs Composite Veneers
Look and Durability
Porcelain is made in a lab, holds its polish and resists staining from coffee, tea and red wine better than composite. It also stands up to stress and strain better than resin. Composite veneers are sculpted directly on the tooth from tooth-colored filling material and can look excellent when done well, but they pick up stains and wear faster.
Tooth Preparation and Repair
Composite often needs less enamel removed and fewer visits. It is also easier to patch if a small piece chips. Porcelain usually needs to be replaced rather than patched if it breaks, although that is uncommon with good habits.
Which One Suits You
Composite can be a sensible choice for a single small repair or a trial of a new tooth shape. Porcelain is usually chosen when the goal is a long-lasting change across several front teeth. A good consultation explains both options rather than steering you toward one.
What Affects the Cost of Veneers in Beverly Hills
Number of Teeth and Material
Veneers are priced per tooth, so the number in your plan is the biggest single factor. Porcelain generally costs more than composite because each veneer is fabricated in a lab.
Lab Quality and Planning Time
Fees reflect the ceramist's skill and the time spent on photographs, mockups and try-ins. A much lower fee can mean a lab that produces flat, opaque veneers, or less planning time per case.
Work Needed Before Veneers
Fillings, gum treatment, whitening of untreated teeth or orthodontic movement all add to the total. Ask for a written plan that lists each step so you can see the whole cost, not only the veneer fee. Veneers are generally considered cosmetic, so dental insurance does not usually cover them unless part of the work is medically necessary.
Paying Over Time
Beverly Hills Dental Center currently lists veneers and crowns from $199 a month on its offers page. A monthly figure spreads the cost of the same treatment over time, so ask for the term and the total before you compare it with paying in full. The $95 new patient visit, which includes a comprehensive exam, a full set of X-rays and a professional cleaning, is a practical first step because it covers the health check that veneers require anyway.
Caring for Veneers So They Last
Daily Habits
Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth every day. The porcelain itself cannot decay, but the tooth underneath and the edge where the veneer meets the tooth can, so cleaning still matters.
Habits That Shorten Their Life
Biting nails, chewing ice or pens, and opening packages with your teeth all put force on porcelain that it was not designed to take. Wear a mouthguard for contact sports and a night guard if you grind. Coffee, tea and red wine stain porcelain far less than natural teeth, but they can still darken the bonded edges over time.
Checkups and Repairs
Regular cleanings and exams let your dentist check the edges, the bite and the gums around each veneer. A veneer can chip, wear or loosen over the years and may need to be rebonded, repaired or replaced. That is normal maintenance rather than a failure of the treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do porcelain veneers cost in Beverly Hills?
The cost depends on how many teeth are treated, the material and any treatment needed first. Beverly Hills Dental Center currently lists veneers from $199 a month on its offers page. An exact figure requires an exam and a written plan.
Are porcelain veneers permanent?
Traditional porcelain veneers are not reversible because a thin layer of enamel is removed. The veneers themselves can be replaced in the future, but the prepared teeth will always need a covering.
Do veneers look fake?
Well-planned porcelain veneers look natural because of their translucency and shape. Veneers look artificial when the shade is too bright for the face or the shapes are too uniform, which is why mockups and try-ins matter.
Can I whiten my veneers later?
No. Whitening gel does not change the color of porcelain. If you want whiter teeth, whiten your natural teeth before the veneers are made so the shade can be matched.
Does getting veneers hurt?
Tooth preparation is done with local anesthetic, so most people feel pressure rather than pain. Some sensitivity to hot and cold for a few days afterwards is common and usually settles on its own.
Porcelain Veneers at Beverly Hills Dental Center
Dr. Roger Eshaghian has provided cosmetic and restorative dentistry in Beverly Hills for more than two decades. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of the Pacific, taught in the Restorative Department at USC's dental school, and counts smile makeovers among the work he enjoys most. Veneer patients are given a mockup of what to expect, and the practice works with master ceramists in Los Angeles. You can read more about the options on the cosmetic dentistry page. To talk about veneers for your own smile, call (310) 659-7063 or book an appointment at 8920 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 627.
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