As one of the top dental offices for veneers here in Staten Island, one of the most common questions we get here at Healthy Smiles is "how long do veneers take?" We get it. Nobody wants to wait for their beautiful new smile. Unfortunately, there is always a wait - short or long - when it comes to getting veneers, and that's what we're talking about today.
We've had several clients come in for a veneer consultation fully expecting to be told that their entire mouth would be done in a day. They were shocked when they learned they'd have to wait to get their permanent veneers. A common misconception is that veneers are done the same day in the same way that some other dental corrections are.
While temporary veneers are made in our office, the real, life-long veneers that will be in your mouth for the rest of your life are fabricated in a lab by a master ceramist. If you're wondering why they aren't fabricated on-site, it's because they have to be made to exacting specifications following the impression that was made before beginning the veneer process.
We can get a close approximation to what your final veneers will be. They'll even be close enough to look fairly good while you wait on your final veneers to be completed. However, they won't be perfect. And when we're talking about placing something on your teeth that will stay there for the rest of your life, we want perfection - or as close to it as possible.
Veneers are an exacting process that require a lab to get the best results. We just can't get around that. We feel your pain. We don't like to wait, either!
The wait time on veneers is highly variable. It's one of those "it takes as long as it takes" situations. By that we mean that the more teeth have veneers, the longer the wait will be. If only a couple of teeth need correction, the wait will most likely only be a week or two. However, for a full mouth correction, you could be waiting for as long as 4-6 weeks. The more veneers that have to be fabricated, the longer the process takes.
The lab has to ensure that every single veneer matches the impression taken exactly so that your teeth end up looking natural instead of like someone put a bunch of Chicklets in your mouth.
In general, from a few teeth to a whole mouth replacement, you can expect to wait anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks up to 6 weeks respectively. Of course, once you get that bright, beautiful smile, you'll know it was worth the wait.
If you've been considering veneers, then consider stopping into Healthy Smiles. We're one of the top Staten Island veneers specialists in the area, and we're always happy to answer any questions. We'd love to set an appointment to talk with you about your questions and plans regarding veneers. Stop by, and let's talk about veneers!
