Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Cost of Snap on Veneers

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I have a couple of missing teeth and some others that just look terrible. I want to get some snap on veneers, which I have read are less expensive than the regular porcelain veneers. However, I don’t want to go to the dentist’s office to order them and find out that I can’t afford them. Can you give me an idea of the cost?

Stanford

Dear Stanford,

Illustration of Snap-on Smile

It is hard to give you actual costs because a lot of it will depend on your specific case. Dentists can sometimes give you a ballpark, but do not think it is written in stone. Things can change.

The most popular type of snap-on veneers are Snap-on Smile. Based on some lab fees by the company that produces them, I would expect the cost to be somewhere between $1000-$2000. Yes, that is a big difference. Here are some of the factors:

  • ✔️ How many do you need? A full arch? The first six teeth?
  • ✔️ How many adjustments need to be made for a good fit?
  • ✔️ Is your dentist particular about getting as perfect a fit as possible or does he or she care more about saving on the cost and will do the bare minimum?

I want to make sure that you understand the difference between snap on veneers and porcelain veneers. Snap-on veneers are NOT made of porcelain. They are generally made of a acrylic. You will need to understand that these will not look nearly as natural or beautiful as porcelain veneers will. They’ll be decent. Most people use these for a specific event, such as a reunion, job interview, or photo shoot. They’ll only last a few years either way.

As long as you understand the limitations to them and have reasonable expectations on the appearance, then you should be fine. In the meantime, while wearing the snap-ons, I highly recommend saving for a permanent solution for your missing teeth such as dental implants. They are pricey, so it may take a while, but they are definitely worth it.

If you’re looking for an affordable solution for the teeth you have that just aren’t looking all that great at the moment, then I would recommend something like teeth whitening.

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Expectations for Snap-on Smile Need to Be Tempered

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I plan on getting on getting Snap-on Smile for esthetic reasons to improve my smile. I’ve been doing some reading and I understand many people are disappointed with the smile because they look bulky and fake. I started digging a bit deeper and think the fake look is because they are so white. I would insist the dentist keep the yellowish color of my teeth. I also learned there are six specific tools that can be used by snap on smile dentists to make adjustments. I would want mine looking flatter so they won’t look bulky. I would also like the vertical grooves between the teeth deepened. With these adjustments, I feel like there is a better chance of me getting the results I want. Is there anything else I am overlooking?

Abbey

Dear Abbey,

Illustration of Snap-on Smile

I can tell you put a great deal of work into research. I am concerned that you will end up disappointed. No matter how well done snap-on smile is, you will not get a beautiful smile. You will probably get an acceptable smile. Even then, it will look fake at a conversational distance.

A white color does not cause something to look fake. There are many smile makeovers done with porcelain veneers that are very white but still look natural. That has more to do with the materials used, the variation in the opacity, as well as the skill of the dentist. Snap-on Smile is made from acryllic, which will never have the translucency needed for a natural looking smile.

This type of device is more useful for something like a photoshoot. Some people use them for a special event, such as a class reunion. This is not your best makeover option for a smile that you will love on a permanent basis. As long as you have realistic expectations, you will have a good experience.

Based on what you’ve said, I’m worried your expectation are too high.
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Can I Buy Snap-on Smile Online For Less Money?

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I was hoping to order the snap-on smile online because I want to save money, and I don’t want to spend much time in dentists’ offices. I would like to be able to make my teeth impressions at home. I know of a site that claims they do this all online, but there were several bad reviews from people that paid but didn’t get their orders. When I asked the manager about the complaints, he stated they were all from one unhappy customer, but I’m very leery. However, I would really like to be able to order the snap-on smile from a reliable company. Would you know of any online companies that I could trust to order from?

Thank you so much!

-Ali from Utah

 

Ali,

The reason why the site that claims to deliver a Snap-on Smile seemed like a fraud is that it is; it doesn’t work doing it online. It would be like trying to get a haircut online. It sounds like you didn’t believe their answer about the complaints; I certainly don’t.

The first thing that is done when making a Snap-on-Smile is the impressions, which you could maybe get without a dentist, but I’m not sure how well that would be done. A certain amount of training is required because the impressions have to be of a certain level of quality and without distortion. Not all dental assistants could even do an adequate job on impressions. Another problem would be getting the Snap-on Smile ordered because it’s the law that a dental lab can only take orders from a licensed dentist. Therefore, someone would have to lie for you to get them made without a dentist, and would you trust someone that is willing to break the law? Maybe you would, but then there is some input that really a dentist should make for your case. It has to fit your bite, you don’t want it to make your face look bulky, there’s some communication about the shade, etc. There is a lot of opportunity here for the teeth to end up messed up, which is why you are seeing a lot of complaints in online reviews.

There’s more! Once it’s back from the lab, you have to fit the Snap-on Smile, and in most cases, it doesn’t just fit perfectly. There are usually adjustments that need to be made. Will you know how to do that and have the tools needed for that? What if you mess up and the Snap-on Smile doesn’t fit?

There are safeguards put in place in order to keep businesses from scamming the public.

If it is the cost that you are worried about, you can get a basic Snap-on Smile that doesn’t need to look particularly great. You can call around and get quotes, and you should be able to find someone who will do it for a couple of hundred dollars over the lab cost. For the front six teeth, the lab cost is $250, and for all the upper teeth, the lab cost is $400. It will vary from dentist to dentist on what they charge over and above the lab costs. Just know that will also mean great variations in the quality of the result, but if you aren’t picky, you should be able to find someone who will do it for cheaper. If you set a limit and call around, offer to pay cash upfront, then the dentist isn’t at risk of not getting paid.

I hope this helps.

 

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Is Snap-On Smile A Good Option For My 8-Year-Old Son?

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My name is Danielle, and I have an 8-year-old son that severely chipped his front tooth. The dentist filled it in but within a week; it had broken off. Thankfully, there is no damage to his roots and he has not been in any pain. I’m just wondering if a snap-on smile would work for an 8-year-old? When he is old enough, we would have the tooth capped off.

-Danielle from California

 

Danielle,

Although I speak highly of the Snap-On-Smile, I wouldn’t recommend this option for your son. If you went with the Snap-On Smile, his tooth would remain broken, and there are ways to fix it. For example, his tooth could be fixed with composite bonding or porcelain, and it would stay fixed as long as it’s done right and doesn’t get in the way of his bite.

The repair that was done on your son’s tooth didn’t break off because of his age; it was because it got in the way of his bite. Meaning it would still break off when he gets older. An excellent cosmetic dentist can repair his tooth correctly. I wouldn’t suggest going to a pediatric dentist for this.

He could potentially have these problems if you went with a Snap-On Smile:

  • It could be bulky.
  • Chances are, being an eight-year-old boy, he will misplace it or lose it.
  • Since he still has some baby teeth and permanent teeth, the Snap-On Smile fit is going to change.

I strongly believe that having these types of procedures done by an expert cosmetic dentist is extremely important. Your son’s tooth breaking off is a perfect example of why it’s important to go to someone who is an expert and can do it right the first time.

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