Both use porcelain veneers. One is planned around your teeth. The other is planned around your face — which is why people who have it done look younger, not just whiter.
Smile Maker of Texas · 6201 Dallas Pkwy, Suite 220, Plano, TX 75024 · Serving Plano, Dallas, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Richardson and Addison.
Quick answers
- Is a SmileLift™ the same as veneers?
- A SmileLift™ uses porcelain veneers, but it starts from an analysis of the face — lip support, the lines around the mouth, proportion — and works back to the individual teeth. Standard veneers usually address the appearance of the teeth alone.
- How long do porcelain veneers last?
- Typically 10–20+ years with good hygiene, regular cleanings and a night guard if you grind. Hundreds of our SmileLift™ cases are now more than 25 years old.
- How many visits do veneers take?
- Veneers typically take two to three visits. A SmileLift™ is often completed in one day once you’ve approved your Trial Smile.
- How much do veneers cost in Plano?
- You’ll get an exact, all-inclusive figure at a complimentary one-hour consultation. Patients who have priced high-end practices in Miami, Los Angeles and New York tell us our fees are about half.
A lot of people find us by typing “how much do veneers cost” into Google. It’s a fair question. But it’s the second question, not the first. The first question is: what do you want to change when you look in the mirror?
If the answer is a chipped front tooth, a gap or a few stained teeth, you may want veneers, or even bonding. If the answer is that your smile looks older than you feel, that your lips look thinner than they used to, or that you’ve started to see lines around your mouth, veneers alone won’t fix that. That’s what the SmileLift™ was built for.
I was a portrait painter before I was a dentist. When you paint a face, you don’t start with the teeth. You start with the proportions of the whole face, and the teeth have to belong to it. That’s the difference in a sentence.
What porcelain veneers do
Porcelain veneers are fine ceramic shells bonded to the front surface of the teeth. They’re custom-made to the shape, color and size you want, and they correct teeth that are stained, chipped, worn, gapped or mildly misaligned. Placing them takes minimal enamel shaping so each veneer sits flush. They’re made from translucent porcelain that resists staining.
A good veneer case gives you better-looking teeth. That’s a real result, and for many people it’s exactly the right one.
What aging does to a smile
Over the years, teeth wear down and get shorter. As they do, they stop holding the lips out the way they used to. The lips thin, the corners of the mouth turn down, and fine lines form around them. Most people blame their skin. A lot of it is the teeth.
Whitening won’t touch that. Neither will veneers that are designed only to look nice as teeth. To reverse it, you have to restore the length and fullness the teeth have lost, and give the lips back their support.
Where the SmileLift™ starts
A SmileLift™ is still porcelain veneers, but the design starts with your face. I look at how much lip support you need, where the lines around the mouth are coming from, and how the teeth should relate to your lips, your eyes and the shape of your face. Only then do I design the individual teeth.
| Designed around | Veneers: the teeth · SmileLift™: the face, then the teeth |
|---|---|
| Corrects | Veneers: stains, chips, wear, gaps, mild misalignment · SmileLift™: all of that, plus lost tooth length and lip support |
| Visits | Veneers: typically 2–3 · SmileLift™: often one day after Trial Smile approval |
| Preview first | Both: a Trial Smile before anything is permanent |
| Longevity | 10–20+ years with good care; hundreds of SmileLift™ cases are 25+ years old |
| Result | Veneers: better-looking teeth · SmileLift™: fuller lips, softer lines, and a face that can look up to 10 years younger |
Before
The next dayYou see it before you commit
Neither treatment should be a leap of faith. Before any porcelain is made, you wear a Trial Smile (here’s how the two Trial Smiles work) — a preview of your new teeth that you can look at, talk with and adjust. If you’re not ready to come in yet, you can start with a free Virtual Trial Smile made from a single photo.
- Consultation. A complimentary one-hour visit, with an exact, all-inclusive figure.
- Trial Smile. You wear the design and we adjust it until it’s right.
- The lab. An elite ceramic lab builds the final porcelain to that approved design.
- Bonding. The veneers are bonded and you leave with your new smile the same day.
Try it on from home
Send one photo and we’ll create a free Virtual Trial Smile, so you can see your new smile before you book anything.
When plain veneers are the better choice
Not everyone needs a SmileLift™. If you like the proportions of your face and your smile, and you just want to fix a few teeth, standard veneers or cosmetic bonding may be the simpler answer. I’ll tell you that at the consultation.
Veneers of either kind need healthy teeth and gums and enough enamel to bond to. Heavy grinding, active decay or major bite problems need to be addressed first.
Veneers and the SmileLift™ for Plano, Dallas and beyond
Most of our cosmetic patients live in North Texas. Others have traveled from 13 countries and more than 23 states for a SmileLift™.
- Plano
- Dallas
- Frisco
- McKinney
- Allen
- Richardson
- Addison
Dr. Ritchie Beougher, DDS
Founder of Smile Maker of Texas and creator of the SmileLift™. An award-winning portrait artist before he became a dentist, he completed his residency in the US Navy and the Master’s Program at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, and has taught cosmetic dentistry at the Rosenthal Institute in New York and Aesthetic Advantage in Palm Beach. More than 3,000 cosmetic cases.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for an in-person examination or individual dental advice. Cosmetic results vary between individuals and can only be assessed at a clinical consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Will SmileLift™ veneers stain?
No. The SmileLift™ uses translucent porcelain that resists staining and discoloration in a way natural enamel doesn’t.
Does getting veneers hurt?
Treatment is done with local anesthesia, and sedation is available if you’re anxious.
Is there downtime after a SmileLift™?
No. You leave with your new smile the same day.
Can veneers make my lips look fuller?
Yes, when they’re designed for it. Restoring the length the teeth have lost gives the lips back their support, which is a central part of a SmileLift™.
Can I see my new smile before I commit?
Yes. You’ll wear a Trial Smile before anything is permanent, and you can start with a free Virtual Trial Smile made from one photo.
Are veneers permanent?
Yes. Because a small amount of enamel is shaped to fit them, veneers should be considered permanent once placed.
Start with your face, not a price list
Book a complimentary one-hour consultation with Dr. Beougher, or try on a Virtual Trial Smile from one photo.
Smile Maker of Texas
6201 Dallas Pkwy, Suite 220 · Plano, TX 75024
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. · Serving Plano, Dallas, Frisco, Richardson & the DFW metroplex