Porcelain Veneers in Del Mar, CA
Custom porcelain veneers by Dr. Faraz Farahnik, DDS, about 148 minutes from Del Mar in light traffic.
The short answer
A set of porcelain veneers for a Del Mar patient is designed one tooth at a time at our office, 122.9 miles away by car. Dr. Faraz Farahnik checks gum health and bite before anything else, explains the lasting trade-offs, and only then proposes shade, shape and the number of teeth involved.
Faraz Farahnik, DDSDDS, USC Herman Ostrow School of DentistryCovered by ADA News, the Los Angeles Times and CBS Los AngelesPatients travel from across the country and around the world.
Porcelain Veneers
Getting a second opinion on porcelain veneers in Del Mar?
That's a sensible step before any lasting dental decision. Bring the plan you were given, and Dr. Farahnik will tell you where he agrees, where he'd do something different, and why.
Second opinions are most useful when they're specific. Which teeth were included, and how much preparation was proposed? Was whitening, aligners or bonding discussed as an alternative? Were the risks explained? You're entitled to clear answers to all of these, and comparing two plans side by side often makes the right choice obvious. If our recommendation matches the first one, you'll at least decide with more confidence.
Porcelain Veneers
What happens on preparation day?
The teeth are numbed with local anesthesia, a thin layer of enamel is shaped from each one, and final records are taken for the lab. You leave in temporary veneers.
Most people describe pressure and vibration rather than sharp pain while the teeth are shaped. Dr. Farahnik explains each step before he starts it, and you can raise a hand to pause at any time. Once the shaping is done, impressions or a scan capture the exact form of each prepared tooth, and your approved design and shade go to the dental laboratory with them. Plan for numbness to linger for a few hours, and for your gums to feel tender that evening.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain or composite: which suits you?
Porcelain resists staining and holds its polish well; composite resin is sculpted directly on the tooth, often with less or no enamel removed, and is easier to repair but tends to stain and wear sooner.
People choose composite when they want something more conservative or easier to adjust. They choose porcelain when they want a longer-lasting surface and are comfortable with some preparation. Neither is "the good one." The right answer depends on your teeth, your expectations and how you weigh reversibility against durability. Dr. Farahnik can walk you through both on the same visit, using your own teeth as the example. Composite veneers
Porcelain Veneers
How do follow-ups work when you live in Del Mar?
An early check after bonding is worth the trip, because it fine-tunes your bite and gums. Routine care after that can often happen closer to home.
If something feels high, rough or unusually sensitive after you're back in Del Mar, call first; many questions can be answered by phone, and photos help. We'll tell you honestly whether it needs a visit.
Porcelain Veneers
"I've heard veneers ruin your teeth." Is that true?
Veneers don't ruin teeth when they're planned for the right patient and the right reasons. Problems tend to come from over-preparing healthy teeth or using veneers to cover issues that needed different treatment.
Careful planning is the safeguard. That means treating decay and gum disease first, using aligners when position is the real problem, removing only as much enamel as the design requires, and choosing a material that suits your bite. It also means saying no when veneers aren't the right answer. Dr. Farahnik will explain his reasoning for each tooth, and you're always welcome to get a second opinion before you decide.
Porcelain Veneers
How should cleanings be handled with veneers?
Normally, with a couple of adjustments: the hygienist avoids coarse polishing pastes on porcelain and pays close attention to the gumline around each veneer.
Healthy gums are what make veneers look natural over time, so regular professional cleanings matter as much as the veneers themselves. If you see a dentist other than us for cleanings, tell them which teeth have porcelain veneers. They'll choose suitable products and know to watch the edges. Bleeding when you floss is worth mentioning at your next visit, since inflamed gums can pull back and expose a margin.
Porcelain Veneers
Who plans your smile?
Faraz Farahnik, DDS, who studied at UCLA, with honors, and earned his DDS at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC; practicing dentist since 2018. Read his story
How it works
How do you get started?
In three steps: a phone consultation, an exam at our office and a written plan.
Call us first
Start with a phone consultation at (818) 658-9285; a final plan needs an in-person exam.
An exam at our office
Treatment is planned only after an in-person exam at 16260 Ventura Blvd, Suite 730, Encino, CA 91436.
Your written plan
You'll receive a written treatment plan and fee after your exam.
Cost & financing
How is the fee for veneers decided?
By the plan itself: how many teeth, which ceramic, how much preparation and any groundwork first. You get it in writing after your exam, before anything starts.
Dr. Farahnik works with all budgets and price ranges.
What affects the cost? The number of teeth being treated, the ceramic chosen, how much preparation each tooth needs, the laboratory work, and any supporting care such as whitening, gum treatment or a night guard. You'll receive a written treatment plan and fee after your exam.
Insurance: We accept all PPO insurance plans.
Financing: Cherry · CareCredit · Sunbit · In-house financing
Apply with CherryApply with CareCredit
Financing is subject to credit approval.
Getting here
How do you get to our office from Del Mar?
By car it's 122.9 miles and about 148 minutes in light traffic, heading northwest. For a trip that long, it's worth planning visits around the drive rather than squeezing the drive around visits.
Many patients from farther away call ahead with their scheduling questions so the first in-person trip is already a working visit.
Nearby areas, measured from Del Mar
| Nearby area | Direction from Del Mar | Road distance (area center to area center) | Drive from Del Mar (estimate, light traffic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad | north | 15.3 miles | about 24 minutes |
| San Marcos | northeast | 19.6 miles | about 33 minutes |
| Poway | east | 18.6 miles | about 29 minutes |
| Vista | north | 24.6 miles | about 34 minutes |
| Escondido | northeast | 20.5 miles | about 37 minutes |
| Santee | southeast | 22.4 miles | about 32 minutes |
Our only office is at 16260 Ventura Blvd, Suite 730, Encino. The starting point for these figures is in Del Mar, not far from the Del Mar branch library and Seagrove Park.
Building note: 16260 Ventura Blvd, Suite 730, Encino, CA 91436.
More detail on the treatment itself is on our porcelain veneers page. Patients near Del Mar can also read our veneer pages for Rancho Santa Fe, CA, La Jolla, CA, Laguna Beach, CA and Corona del Mar, CA. For replacing a tooth rather than changing its front, read Dental implants in Del Mar, CA.
- Drive
- About 148 minutes
- Distance
- 122.9 miles
- Route
- I-5 → CA-134
- Main roads
- Jimmy Durante Boulevard · Hayvenhurst Avenue
From the center of Del Mar to 16260 Ventura Blvd, Suite 730, Encino, CA 91436. Light-traffic estimate from road-routing data (retrieved October 2, 2026); times vary.
Questions
FAQ: the veneer questions Del Mar patients raise
Short answers to questions that come up often. For more depth, see our porcelain veneers guide. Porcelain veneers guide
What do people regret about veneers?
Regrets usually come from rushing: choosing a shade or shape without a preview, treating teeth that didn't need it, or not planning for maintenance. A careful plan, a preview where possible and time to decide prevent most of that.
Can I keep a small gap between my front teeth?
Yes, if that's part of the smile you like. Veneers are designed to your preferences, and some people want the color or edges improved while keeping a familiar gap. Say so early so the design starts from there.
Do porcelain veneers stain?
Porcelain itself resists staining well. The bonding edges and your natural teeth can still pick up color from coffee, tea, wine or tobacco, so rinsing after dark drinks and keeping up cleanings helps everything stay matched.
Can a tooth with a veneer still get a cavity?
The porcelain can't decay, but the natural tooth around its edges and underneath still can. Daily brushing and cleaning between teeth, plus regular checkups, keep the margins healthy.
What are temporary veneers like?
They protect your prepared teeth and preview the new shape while the lab makes your finals. They're less strong and less polished, so avoid sticky or very hard foods and call if one comes loose.
Begin
What happens when you call?
Our team will ask what you're hoping to change, answer practical questions and offer a consultation time. There's no script and no pressure; the goal is simply to get you the information you need.