Dental veneers in North Andover, MA are one of the most versatile cosmetic options we offer at First Street Smiles. They are thin, custom-made shells placed over your teeth to improve their appearance, and Dr. Andrew Beshay, DMD uses them to change colour, shape or size — often all three at once, and often in a way that whitening or bonding alone could not achieve.
What Dental Veneers Are
A veneer is a thin shell that covers one or two surfaces of a tooth. It is custom-made for your mouth and bonded over the existing tooth, which stays underneath. Because the shell is fabricated rather than sculpted directly onto the tooth, we control the colour, the proportions and the surface texture precisely — which is what makes veneers effective for changing several things at once.
They are a particularly strong option for deeply stained teeth caused by surface defects. This is the situation where patients most often arrive frustrated: they have tried whitening, sometimes more than once, and the discolouration has not shifted. Whitening removes extrinsic surface stains. It cannot correct a defect in the tooth surface itself. A veneer covers it.
Veneers, Bonding or Whitening?
These three get confused constantly, and choosing wrongly wastes money. The practical distinction is how much of the tooth needs to change.
- Whitening changes colour only, on teeth that are otherwise well-shaped and healthy. Nothing is added to the tooth.
- Bonding applies a tooth-coloured material directly to the tooth and is usually indicated for limited, small defects covering less than one surface.
- Veneers cover one or two surfaces and are made outside the mouth, so they address colour, shape and size together across the visible part of the tooth.
Where a tooth is weakened or damaged and needs mechanical protection rather than a cosmetic improvement, a crown is the right answer instead — it covers almost all of the tooth surface visible above the gum line. Our cosmetic dentistry page sets out how the whole range compares.
What the Process Involves
Veneers are a planned treatment, not a same-day impulse. It begins with an examination and an honest conversation about what you want changed. We look at the health of the teeth underneath first — there is no point placing veneers over an untreated problem — and then at what is realistic given your starting point.
From there we take the records needed to have your veneers custom-made to the agreed shape and shade, and fit them once they are ready. Because each one is made for a specific tooth in a specific mouth, the fit and the colour match are decided before anything is bonded permanently. You will know what you are getting before it is final.
How Long Veneers Last
With good care, porcelain veneers commonly last in the range of ten to fifteen years before they need replacing — though this is a general guide rather than a guarantee, and your habits matter more than any published figure. Grinding your teeth, chewing ice or using your teeth as tools will shorten that considerably.
Looking after veneers is not complicated: brush and floss as normal, and keep up with regular cleanings and periodic care so we can check the margins and the health of the gums around them. Veneers do not decay, but the tooth underneath still can, which is exactly why routine visits continue to matter after cosmetic work.
Cost, Insurance and Discounts
Most cosmetic treatment is elective, which means dental insurance often contributes little or nothing toward it. We would rather tell you that up front than surprise you afterwards. Our coordinators check your plan before treatment starts and give you a written figure, so you know what you are committing to.
For patients without insurance, we offer in-office discounts: 10% off for seniors aged 65 and over, and 10% off for cash payment. These cannot be combined with each other, and our patient coordinators can confirm what you qualify for.
Are You a Candidate for Veneers?
Veneers work best for patients whose teeth are fundamentally healthy but cosmetically disappointing — discoloured in a way whitening will not fix, uneven in shape, chipped, or slightly out of proportion with each other. They are not a fix for active decay or gum disease, and they are not an alternative to orthodontics when teeth are significantly out of position. If clear aligner treatment would give you a better result, we will say so.
Patients travel to us from across the Merrimack Valley, including Lawrence, Andover, Methuen and Haverhill. If you would like a second opinion on cosmetic work quoted elsewhere, that is a perfectly reasonable reason to book.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teeth need veneers?
It depends what is bothering you. Sometimes a single tooth is out of step with the others; sometimes the front six or eight are treated together for an even result. We plan for the visible result, not a fixed number.
Will veneers look artificial?
They should not. Because each veneer is custom-made, colour, shape and proportions are chosen deliberately. The commonest cause of an obviously fake result is a shade chosen without reference to the rest of the face, which is a planning failure rather than a limitation of veneers.
Do veneers stain over time?
Veneers do not respond to whitening the way natural enamel does — they keep the shade they were made in. That is worth planning around: if you are considering whitening your other teeth, it is usually done first, so the veneers can be matched to the final colour.
Are veneers covered by insurance?
Cosmetic treatment is often not covered. Our coordinators check your plan and give you a written figure before treatment begins, and non-insurance discounts are available.
Book Your Veneers Consultation
The quickest way to find out which option suits you is a short consultation. We will look at your teeth, talk through what you want to change, and give you honest options and pricing before you commit to anything.
Call (978) 685-5804 or request an appointment online. We are at 7 1st St, North Andover, MA 01845, open Monday to Thursday 8:00am–5:00pm and Saturday 8:00am–2:00pm. New patients are welcome.