Composite veneers: what they cost and how long they last

The cost of composite veneers depends mainly on how many teeth you have done and how much work each one needs. At your consultation we look at your teeth, talk about the change you'd like and go through your options.

How long they last depends a good deal on how you look after them. Composite can stain, lose its shine and chip over the years, and it may need repair sooner than porcelain, but most of that is polished out or repaired in the chair rather than started again.

Investing in your smile

Some teeth need work before a veneer goes on, and we include it in the plan we go through with you:

• Old fillings or decay. Composite needs a sound tooth to bond to, so any tooth-coloured fillings a tooth needs are done first.
• Gold or silver to remove. A gold cap on a front tooth comes off first and the tooth is rebuilt in composite; see gold and silver tooth removal.
• Whitening first, if you want your teeth lighter overall. Whitening gel doesn't change composite, so teeth whitening comes first and the veneers are matched to your new shade.

A few teeth or a full set

Most people have veneers on the front teeth that show when they smile. At your consultation we show you which teeth would need veneers for the change you want.

When several front teeth are changed together, often with whitening first, that is a composite smile makeover. It changes the colour, shape and size of your front teeth with tooth-coloured composite. It doesn't move teeth, replace missing teeth or use porcelain.

How long composite veneers last

In two studies that followed composite veneers for two and seven years, more than nine in ten were still in place at the end. What changed most was the surface, which became rougher and picked up some staining, the kind of wear that polishing deals with. In the longer study, a few veneers came loose or broke.

A two-year randomised trial of 28 patients with gaps between their front teeth found 93.4% of composite and 95% of ceramic veneers still in place, a difference the authors did not find significant; it was a small, short trial. A seven-year study of 80 composite veneers in 35 patients found 91.3% still in service, though those veneers were made outside the mouth, a different technique from ours, and there was no comparison group. The Cleveland Clinic patient guide to veneers gives 10 to 15 years on average with proper care, for veneers in general rather than composite alone.

Repairs, polishing and redoing them

Composite can be added to and reshaped after it has set, which is what makes these fixes possible:

• Surface stains and dullness can usually be polished off.
• A small chip can usually be repaired by bonding new composite onto the veneer.
• A veneer that has come loose, or has worn or stained too much to polish, can be redone.

Allow for polishing and the odd repair when you think about what veneers cost over the years.

When composite veneers are worth it

Composite veneers are worth it if you want to change the colour, shape or size of your front teeth in one visit and keep your own enamel. With little or no enamel removed, they can usually be redone or changed later, so you aren't locked in. For what happens to the tooth underneath, see our composite veneers page.

If you grind your teeth heavily or want the surface that needs the least upkeep, talk to us before you decide, because composite may not be the right fit. To weigh up the two materials, read composite or porcelain veneers.

Medical aid, card and cash

Medical schemes usually treat veneers as cosmetic and don't pay for them, though treatment after an injury may be handled differently, so check with your scheme. For how schemes pay in general, read what medical aid covers for dental work.

We take medical aid, card and cash, and you can ask us about paying in instalments.

Your questions about composite veneer cost and lifespan