Good veneers don’t look like veneers. They look like your teeth on a good day.
Getting there depends less on the material than on the planning: the shape, length and shade of each tooth, set against your face, your lips and your bite. That planning starts at the consultation.
Porcelain or composite veneers: which should you choose?
Porcelain veneers last longer and resist staining. Composite veneers cost less, are finished in one visit and leave your natural tooth structure intact.
| Porcelain | Composite | |
|---|---|---|
| How they are made | Individually, in a dental laboratory | Sculpted by hand in the chair |
| Your natural tooth | A thin layer of enamel is usually prepared | Left intact, with no cutting |
| Visits | More than one | One |
| Staining and wear | Highly resistant | Stain and chip more readily |
| Repairs | Usually replaced if damaged | Usually repaired in the chair |
| US average per tooth | $1,765 | $872 (made in the office) |
| Long-term survival | About 93% at 10 years | About 88% over 2–8 years |
Neither is right for everyone. Sometimes the consultation shows that whitening, bonding or gum contouring will get you most of the way.
What happens at a veneer consultation?
A veneer consultation at Shin Dental is free and follows four steps.
- Your goals. We start with what you would like to change, and why.
- Examination. Dr. Shin examines your teeth, gums and bite. Grinding and a heavy bite matter, because they put veneers under strain.
- A recommendation. You learn whether veneers suit you, which kind, and what they would cost.
- An optional try-in. We design your smile digitally and place temporary veneers so you can live with the look before you commit. It costs $300, credited toward treatment if you go ahead.
How much do veneers cost in NYC?
Veneers in the US average about $1,765 per tooth for porcelain and $872 for composite made in the office. Manhattan fees typically run above these averages, and the total depends mostly on how many teeth are treated.
| Veneer | Fee |
|---|---|
| Porcelain veneer, US average per tooth | $1,765 |
| Porcelain laminate veneer, US average per tooth | $1,817 |
| Composite veneer made in a laboratory, US average per tooth | $1,373 |
| Composite veneer made in the office, US average per tooth | $872 |
| Shin Dental: porcelain veneer makeover, including smile design, try-in and placement | $15,000–$20,000 |
| Shin Dental: composite veneer makeover | $10,000–$15,000 |
| Shin Dental: smile design and temporary try-in, credited if you proceed | $300 |
US averages: CareCredit, based on ASQ360° cost studies, 2023–2024.
How long do veneers last?
Most porcelain veneers last well beyond ten years. In a study that followed 318 porcelain veneers for up to 20 years, about 94% survived at five years, 93% at ten and 83% at twenty (Beier and colleagues, 2012).
Another long-term study reported 91% of porcelain veneers surviving at twenty years.
Composite veneers need more upkeep. A 2023 review of clinical trials with two to eight years of follow-up found a pooled survival of about 88%.
How long yours last depends on grinding, how much enamel there is to bond to, your gum health, habits such as biting nails, and regular cleanings. We discuss these at your consultation.
Can a short consultation change your veneer plan?
Often, yes. Most people arrive with a picture in mind, often from someone else’s smile, and the consultation replaces it with a plan for yours.
Wearing a design in temporaries takes the guesswork out of a decision that is hard to undo. Some patients choose a more subtle result than they expected. Some find that fewer teeth need treating.
“Wonderful dentist! He did veneers for me after Invisalign treatment and I absolutely love my smile! Great office and staffs too! Thanks Dr. Shin!”
Why do patients trust Dr. Shin and his team?
Our approach to veneers is to refine your smile rather than replace it. Each veneer is shaped and shaded against your face and your neighboring teeth, so the result still looks like you.
Dr. Peter Shin grew up watching his father practice dentistry. He runs his own practice the same way: unhurried appointments, clear explanations, and treatment planned around what will last.
- Training: DDS from the New York University College of Dentistry, an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency at NYU, and live-surgery implant training.
- Clear costs: every recommended treatment comes with an itemized cost breakdown, reviewed with you in person before anything starts.
- No surprise bills: once treatment is complete, you will not owe anything beyond what was disclosed beforehand.
- Insurance: we are an out-of-network provider for PPO plans, file your claims for you, and can request a pre-determination of benefits before you commit.
“I can’t say enough good things about my experience with Dr. Peter Shin and his entire office. … I felt in such good hands, so comfortable and confident in Dr. Peter’s work. … I’m so happy I found them, and I highly recommend them.”
Where is Shin Dental?
- Address: 30 Central Park South, Suite 11D, New York, NY 10019, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Midtown Manhattan.
- Subway: 5 Av/59 St (N, R, W) is a one- to two-minute walk. The F stops at 57 St and Sixth Avenue, about four minutes away.
- Bus: the M5 stops at Central Park South and Sixth Avenue.
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM. Saturday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Closed Sunday.
- Phone and text: (917) 773-1353.
Questions patients ask
Do veneers damage your teeth?
Porcelain veneers usually need a thin layer of enamel prepared so they sit flush, which is permanent. Composite veneers are added to the tooth without cutting natural tooth structure. We explain which applies to you before anything is done.
Can I see the result before I commit?
Yes. With a smile design and try-in, you wear temporary veneers in your new design before deciding. It costs $300, credited toward treatment if you proceed.
How many visits do veneers take?
Composite veneers are finished in a single visit. Porcelain veneers are made in a laboratory, so they take more than one visit; your plan gives the schedule.
Are veneers right for everyone?
No. Heavy grinding, gum disease or very little enamel can make veneers a poor choice, and sometimes whitening, bonding or gum contouring is enough. The consultation tells you which applies.
Does insurance cover veneers?
Most plans treat veneers as cosmetic, so coverage is often limited. We can check your plan for you.
Book a free consultation
The veneer consultation is free. A smile design and try-in is $300, credited toward treatment if you proceed.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. Fees and how long treatment lasts depend on each patient’s dental condition, which Dr. Shin assesses at your consultation. US and New York figures are published averages and estimates, shown for comparison only. Individual results vary.
Sources
- CareCredit, “Dentist Prices: Dental Procedure Cost List,” based on the ASQ360° Average Procedural Cost Studies for Synchrony (2023–2024). Link
- Beier US, Kapferer I, Burtscher D, Dumfahrt H. “Clinical performance of porcelain laminate veneers for up to 20 years.” International Journal of Prosthodontics 25, no. 1 (2012): 79–85, with Layton and Walton (2012), as summarized in a published review table. Link
- Lim TW, Tan SK, Li KY, Burrow MF. “Survival and complication rates of resin composite laminate veneers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice 23, no. 4 (2023). Link