Last fact-checked: 6 September 2023

Ultimate Guide to Veneers in Colombia (Optimized) 

With dental veneers in Colombia, it’s possible to transform any number of ‘problem’ teeth–usually between 10 and 20 as part of a smile makeover–for up to 70% less than in North America or Europe.

If you’re tired of that crooked, yellowing smile and looking for a quick, effective and affordable solution–without enduring invasive surgery or years of orthodontic work–then it might be time to consider visiting Colombia for a memorable South American dental vacation! 

After a week or so away, you can look forward to returning home with a brand new smile crafted by one of our fully-certified partner dentists in Colombia. Our site has a number of exciting city and coastal destinations to choose from, such as Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena.

The cost of dental veneers in Colombia depends on the number of veneers to be placed (eg. the price-per-veneer will be lower when multiple are being made, rather than just one or two), as well the material, the application method and the reputation of your chosen dentists.

• The average price for a single composite veneer in Colombia is USD $200. In the US, dentists may charge more than $900 per tooth.              
• For a lab-made porcelain or zirconia veneer in Colombia, prices range from USD $300 - $500. The same treatment in the US can cost more than $2,000 per tooth.
   
• A full ‘Hollywood’ smile makeover with up to 16 porcelain veneers costs approximately $6,000 - $10,000 in Colombia. The same treatment can cost anywhere between $20,000 - $25,000 in America or Canada.

As a result, patients booking through Dental Departures can look forward to saving in the region of 50% - 70% in Colombia. 

This price difference can easily add up to five figures in cases where patients plan to have multiple veneers made as part of a full or partial smile makeover.

See the table below for a comparison of veneer costs in Colombia and the United States:

For a Hollywood smile makeover that doesn’t require a movie star’s salary, visiting Colombia for treatment is a great choice.

This tailor-made course treatment can entail a number of procedures, but the main way dentists transform not-so-glamorous smiles is with the placement of a full set of dental veneers (usually porcelain).

Only teeth that are visible when you smile are covered by veneers: 

• A partial smile makeover may use between 6 - 10 veneers, costing around $4,000 - $5,000 in Colombia. 
• A full smile makeover usually entails the application of up to 18 veneers, and costs approximately $7,000 - $8,000 in Colombia.

Dental Tourism Packages in Colombia

It is common for top dentists in Colombia providing treatment to international patients to offer all-in packages with essential treatment costs built into a single price.

This is quite the opposite story at many clinics in the USA, Canada and the UK, where initial price quotes often exclude costs for consultations, diagnostic evaluations, and frustratingly unclear "dentist fees."

As well as the creation and application of your veneers, such smile makeover packages in Colombia may also include other perks, such as:

• Digital Smile Design
• Professional teeth cleaning
• Laser teeth whitening
• Airport/hotel transfers
• Free local accommodation for the duration of your treatment
• 3+ month warranties

To see how much you can save on your new smile, ask our Customer Care Team about Dental Departures’ exclusive promotions and dental tourism packages in Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica and dozens of other destinations across the world.

Colombia offers various types of dental veneers provided by the same top brands (such as Lumineers® and e.max®) used by dentists around the world. 

Our fully-vetted clinics across Colombia offer both custom-made veneers (porcelain or zirconia) and direct bonding (composite) veneers:

Porcelain & Zirconia Veneers

Custom-made veneers are usually made from porcelain, ceramic, or zirconia in a laboratory using impressions of a patient's teeth–which need to be made during your first visit to the dentist. On a follow-up, usually a few days later, veneers are applied using a special light-activated adhesive (or ‘dental cement’). For each veneer to sit flush, the dentist will remove a small sliver of enamel from each receiving tooth so that they do not protrude out of the mouth once fitted.

These types of veneers are durable, stain-resistant, and look the most natural; on the downside, they are more expensive than composite veneers (explained below) and do require at least two visits to the clinic in Colombia. 

Composite Veneers (Direct Bonding)

Also known as 'same-day' veneers (as the procedure can often be completed in just one visit to the dentist), direct bonding veneers are made of a resin composite material that’s applied to each receiving tooth in layers; before it is hardened, the material is crafted into the desired veneer shape–with the end result matching the color and size of your natural ones (and thus blending in). 

Composite veneers are less expensive than porcelain or ceramic options and the treatment is much quicker; however, they typically do not last as long as custom-made veneers and are less resistant to staining.

Apart from the opportunity to save a few hundred dollars on a single veneer–or several thousand dollars when getting a full or partial set–other key reasons help to explain Colombia’s popularity for dental travel:

Quality of Care:

Dental clinics that cater to international patients, such as the ones listed here on Dental Departures–offer high standards of care, safe and friendly treatment (with English-speaking dentists) and warranties on prosthetics, such as veneers. 

Our partner clinics are modern and well-equipped with experienced, highly-qualified dentists implementing the latest technologies.

When looking through our dentist profiles, it’s common to see certified dentists in Colombia holding professional memberships with both domestic and international professional boards, such as the American Dental Association, the ITI International Team for Implantology, the Colombian Dental Federation, and the Colombian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

A Safe, Well-Established Destination for Dental Care:

Colombia is a great location that has been much touted in the travel industry over the last few years. No longer plagued with civil disorder and a three-decade drug war, the country has transformed itself into a modern, 21st-century destination that offers visitors culture, history, and so much to see and do. 

This welcoming country has taken huge strides over the last decade to improve tourist safety, meaning you can make the most of your South American dental vacation without security concerns, particularly if you follow the normal rules of the road of any cross-border travel.

Chance to Enjoy a Vacation:

Whether you love cities, the beach, the great outdoors or world heritage sites, you’ll find something that appeals, so it’s definitely worth adding Colombia to your shortlist if you’re looking for an exciting dental tourism vacation (just be sure that you book your holiday prior to your treatment, as you want to allow time to recover from any discomfort post-procedure).

Popular destinations include (see below for additional information)::

• Bogotá 
• Cali 
• Cartagena de Indias 
• Medellin 

Many of the best dentists in Colombia are located in popular, accessible tourist locations providing excellent convenience and no shortage of amenities:

Bogota

• Dentica by Cristina Suaza
• Natural Design
• Fernando Briceno

> See More: All Dentists in Bogota for Veneers

Medellin

• Colombia Care Dental
• Oralimagen
• Dental Home - El Poblado

> See More: All Dentists in Medellin for Veneers

Other Locations in Colombia

• Centro de implantes de la costa by Julio Oliver (Cartagena de Indias)
• Carlos Acevedo Odontologia (Barranquilla)
• Clinica Denta SAS (Cali)

Click through to our dedicated clinic listings to see dentist profiles, prices, veneer before & after photos, maps, promotions and booking information.

For more options, head to our country-wide list of veneer dentists and clinics in Colombia.

Dental Departures–together with our sister site Medical Departures–has more than 12 years of experience working with thousands of dentists around the world–making us the largest, most-trusted platform for facilitating cross-border dental and medical travel. 

Throughout the whole process of finding and booking with a trusted dentist abroad, we at Dental Departures are ready to help. 

We can help find the best clinic in Colombia for you (and your new smile), as well as assist with travel, accommodation and even financing arrangements. 

We verify every clinic listed on our site, which includes:

• Conducting background checks
• Verifying professional membership
• Screening for clinic malpractice records
• Confirming dentist qualifications and licenses
• Publishing verified patient reviews

We act as your patient advocate every step of the way, from booking your appointment to arranging travel plans to follow-up service after your treatment.

Dental veneers are a cosmetic dentistry treatment that essentially places attractive veneers on the front of your teeth, hiding the unsightly appearances behind. They can be used to treat chipped, damaged, misaligned, worn-down, discolored and uneven teeth.

Dental veneers can be attached to single teeth, but are also effective in a row of four, six or eight to transform a crooked smile. Celebrities love them and you can see why (particularly, for example, when you compare Tom Cruise’s before and after photos!). 

Am I Suitable for Veneers?

• As the treatment is purely cosmetic, it’s important that you have good dental health so that the veneers will stay affixed to your teeth. 
• The dentist will ensure any cavities are filled prior to the treatment
• Your gum and oral health also needs to be generally good; signs of disease or other issues will have to be treated before the application of any veneers
• If you smoke, you will be advised to quit a few weeks prior to treatment

What Is the Procedure for Dental Veneers?

The procedure for dental veneers normally takes two visits to the dentist:

1. Assessment, Treatment Planning and Preparation of Teeth: 

During your first consultation, you will undergo a thorough assessment which includes an examination of your mouth and diagnostic tests, like x-rays. The dentist will check with you what you hope to achieve with veneers and discuss the different materials that your veneers can be made from, e.g. composite, porcelain and zirconia—each has its own merits. 

Once it’s established you are a good candidate for the treatment, your teeth will be prepared to receive the veneers. This involves the dentist removing a sliver of enamel from the front of each tooth so the veneers will be in line with your other teeth. Impressions of your mouth are then made and sent to a laboratory where your veneers will be made.

2. Veneer Application: 

After a few days, when your veneers are back from the lab, you will return to the dentist to have them attached. After a special light-activated adhesive is used to bond the veneer to the tooth, your new smile will be ready to reveal to the world. 

It’s worth noting that a follow-up appointment may be needed for check-ups and potential adjustments–so it’s a good idea to stay in the country for a few days following the completion of this second stage.

How Long Does Veneer Treatment Take?

• Some dental clinics in Colombia offer CAD/CAM technology (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture) that makes it possible to get a single veneer designed and milled while you wait.                                      
• For more extensive smile makeovers where multiple porcelain or ceramic veneers are required, expect to wait a few days in between appointments (generally between 3 and 7 days).                                                                   
• Composite (direct bonding) veneers take approximately one hour per tooth; thus, the treatment can often be completed in one day.

For more comprehensive information, see our Ultimate Guide to Dental Veneers (global).

After 30 years of political unrest and social upheaval, relative peace and safety have returned to this affluent South American nation. Healthcare and education standards are high, with some of Latin America’s leading hospitals and clinics located in the capital city of Bogota, and Medellin.

From salsa dancing in Cali to sunbathing and snorkeling in Cartagena to birdwatching in Serranía del Perijá, you will find no shortage of activities.

Colombia is conveniently accessible by air from most major North American cities, with frequent flights into Bogota and Medellin. 

Find out more about traveling abroad as a dental tourist with our Ultimate Guide to Dentists in Colombia here, or see below for a quick rundown of the country’s two most popular destinations for affordable, high-quality veneers:

Medellin

Also known as the “City of Eternal Spring,” Medellin has known peace for more than a decade and its citizens are eager to again welcome commerce and tourism to its gates. 

Elegant neighborhoods such as the famed Poblado district, offer excellent, inexpensive dining and lodging. The tram ride to Park Arvi provides unforgettable views and a glimpse of family life in the lush, wooded recreation area. 

Medellín is conveniently accessible by air from most North American cities, with frequent nonstop and one-hop flights from most American and Canadian cities. 

Bogota

For those who have the time and inclination to spend some leisure time here, Colombia’s thrilling capital of Bogotá will not disappoint. 

The city offers myriad activities and events and lots of options for local transportation. Just remember to take in any strenuous touring before your procedure, as your dentist will advise you to rest up for at least a few days post-up.

Safety-wise, aside from the usual petty crime that might visit a tourist in any country, Bogotá welcomes thousands of leisure, business and medical travelers every day, with access to excellent travel infrastructure, affordable lodging and dining, and easy flight access from the US and Canada.

Get in touch with Dental Departures’ Customer Care Team to find out more about dental veneers in Colombia, ask for a free quote or simply book an appointment directly online with us—it's free! 

Our prices will be the lowest available online and there is never a charge to book an appointment through our site—that’s guaranteed.

Sources:

Hughes, Lauren. The Most Amazing Celebrity Teeth Transformations. 20 September 2017. Woman Magazine. https://www.womanmagazine.co.uk/celebrity/celebrity-teeth-before-and-after-teeth-transformation-veneers-before-and-after-65743

Dalton, Naomi. I Was So Blown Away By This South American Country, I Actually Moved There. The Thrillist. 9 November 2020. https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/best-places-to-visit-in-colombia

Minardi, Di. Twenty Things to Do in Bogota. International Living Magazine. Website accessed: 10 April 2023. https://internationalliving.com/things-to-do-in-bogota-colombia-trl/ 

Puri, Sameer. Material Choices for CAD/CAM Dentistry. Dentistry Today. 1 February 2018. https://www.dentistrytoday.com/technology/10396-material-choices-for-cad-cam-dentistry

Auger, Steve. How do Veneers Work? Colgate. Website accessed: 7 May 2019. https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/veneers/how-do-veneers-work-0515

McGreevey, William Paul et al. Colombia. Encyclopaedia Britannica. 7 May 2019. https://www.britannica.com/place/Colombia

Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena. UNESCO World Heritage List. Accessed 7 May 2019. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/285