The Art of the
Perfect Smile
in Chicago
Porcelain veneers crafted with the precision of a sculptor and the science of a specialist. At ORA, your smile is designed to be uniquely — unmistakably — yours.
PORCELAIN VENEERS IN CHICAGO
Why Chicago's Most Discerning Patients
Choose Porcelain Veneers at ORA
There is a version of your smile that is brighter, more balanced, more entirely you. Porcelain veneers are how we reveal it — not by reinventing who you are, but by removing everything standing in the way.
In a city as visually sophisticated as Chicago — where first impressions are currency and presence matters — your smile is one of the most powerful tools you carry. Whether you are a trial attorney walking into a Gold Coast courtroom, a creative director pitching in River North, or a professional building a social presence, the confidence that comes from a smile you love changes how you move through the world.
At ORA we approach porcelain veneers as both science and art. Each veneer is custom-designed to your facial geometry, skin tone, and personal aesthetic — then crafted from the highest-grade dental porcelain available, translucent and light-reactive in exactly the way natural enamel is.
The difference between a veneer that looks manufactured and one that looks natural comes down to this: the artistry of design, the quality of materials, and the experience of the hands placing them. At ORA, we bring all three together — in a practice that was built for patients who expect more.
“A great set of veneers should be invisible as an aesthetic procedure. The result should simply look like a very good version of you.”
WHAT ARE PORCELAIN VENEERS?
Ultra-Thin. Remarkably Lifelike.
Permanently Transformative.
Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin shells of medical-grade ceramic — typically 0.3 to 0.7 millimeters — bonded to the front surface of your teeth to alter their color, shape, size, or length. They are the gold standard of cosmetic dentistry for good reason: no other single procedure addresses as many aesthetic concerns with results this natural and this durable.
The porcelain used in high-quality dental veneers is engineered to mimic the optical properties of natural tooth enamel — the way it reflects light, absorbs color, and interacts with the full spectrum of human vision. In a well-crafted set of veneers, this means your smile looks different in morning light and candlelight, just as natural teeth do. It moves. It breathes. It belongs on your face.
Chicago patients seek porcelain veneers with Dr. Mladen Kralj at ORA for a variety of concerns including: severe intrinsic staining that whitening cannot correct; chipped, worn, or fractured teeth; uneven or mismatched tooth lengths; small gaps or mild spacing issues; and teeth that have always felt slightly too narrow, too short, or simply not quite right. For patients who want a full smile redesign — rebalancing proportion, symmetry, and color across the full smile — porcelain veneers remain the most comprehensive single solution available.
COMPARING YOUR VENEER TREATMENT OPTIONS
Finding the Right Veneer for Your Goals
FEATURE
IDEAL FOR
MATERIAL
NATURAL TRANSLUCENCY
STAIN RESISTANCE
INVESTMENT - 10 TEETH
ENAMEL RESHAPING
NUMBING REQUIRED
APPOINTMENTS NEEDED
REVERSABILITY
LONGEVITY
PORCELAIN VENEERS
✓ Smile makeover, significant changes
✓ High-grade ceramic
✓ Exceptional
✓ Excellent
✓ $25,000 average
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
✓ 3 – 4 visits over several weeks
✓ Permanent, not reversible
✓ 15 to 20 years on average
NO PREP VENEERS (3DVNR™)
✓ Healthy, straight teeth - non invasive
✓ 75% ceramic / resin hybrid
✓ Very good
✓ Excellent
✓ $10,000
✓ None
✓ Not needed
✓ 1 visit
✓ Fully reversible
✓ 10 to 15 years on average
RESIN VENEERS
✓ Budget-first, short-term, teens
✓ Composite resin
✗ Moderate
✗ Moderate
✓ $5,000 to $7,500
✓ None to Minimal
✓ No
✓ 1 visit
✓ Fully reversible
✗ 5 to 7 years maximum
Traditional Veneers
The benchmark of aesthetic dentistry. Custom-designed and laboratory-crafted from pressed porcelain, traditional veneers offer unmatched longevity, translucency, and color stability. The preferred choice for patients seeking a comprehensive, lasting transformation.
PORCELAIN VENEER OPTIONS AT ORA
Three Approaches.
One Destination.
No Prep Veneers
ORA's exclusive in-house innovation, branded as the 3DVNR™ protocol. No enamel removal. Same-day results. Crafted with the SprintRay Midas printer from high-strength composite and digitally designed with Smilefy technology. The intelligent choice for patients who want transformation without commitment.
Minimal Prep Veneers
Also a 3DVNR™ protocol but for cases where only a very select and minimal amount of tooth contouring required to achieve results same as the “No Prep.” Extensive enamel removal is not, minimal-prep veneers offer a middle path — laboratory quality and longevity with a more conservative approach to tooth structure.
01
ComplimentaryConsultation
Your journey begins with an in-depth conversation about what you want your smile to feel like. Dr. Kralj evaluates your dental health, facial structure, and aesthetic goals — then presents a digitally simulated preview of your proposed smile design.
THE ORA PROTOCOL
From First Conversation to Final Reveal
02
Digital Smile Design
Using advanced 3D imaging and Smilefy design software, we construct your smile with precision before a single tooth is touched. You approve the design. Changes are made in real time. You know exactly what you are getting before treatment begins.
03
Preparation & Temporaries
A conservative amount of enamel is recontoured to create space for the For porcelain veneers. Custom 3D printed temporaries are placed so you can preview the final result and make adjustments. Your permanent veneers are crafted by our lab ceramicist.
04
Bonding & Reveal
Your completed veneers are bonded with precision and artistry. Final adjustments are made for bite and aesthetics. The moment the temporaries come off and the permanent veneers are placed is one our patients describe, without exception, as life-changing.
Chicago has hundreds of dentists.
Very few are artists.
Dr. Kralj's approach to cosmetic dentistry is rooted in a single conviction: a great smile should never look like it came from a dental office. It should simply look like the best version of you — confident, natural, and completely unremarkable as work that was done. That invisibility is the goal. That invisibility is the art.
From the portfolio
In Downtown Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood
A Practice Built for
Chicago's Standard
ORA is located in Chicago's Gold Coast — steps from Michigan Avenue, the Magnificent Mile, and the neighborhoods where Chicago's professionals, creatives, and tastemakers live and work. We designed our practice for patients who expect the same level from their dentist that they expect from every other part of their lives.Patients travel from Lincoln Park, River North, Streeterville, Wicker Park, and the North Shore to see Dr. Kralj — and from cities across the country for treatments available only at ORA.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Everything You Want to Know About Porcelain Veneers in Chicago
How much do porcelain veneers cost in Chicago?
Porcelain veneers in Chicago typically range from $1,500 to $3,000 per tooth, depending on the complexity of your case, the number of veneers, and the ceramicist crafting them. A full smile transformation covering 8–10 teeth generally falls between $20,000 and $30,000. At ORA, we offer complete pricing transparency during your consultation — and for patients seeking a more accessible option, our 3DVNR (3D printed veneers) are available from $10,000 for a complete set. Financing through CareCredit is available.
Are porcelain veneers permanent?
Yes — and ORA is the only practice in downtown Chicago that can deliver this. Our in-house SprintRay Midas 3D printer means your veneers are fabricated on-site while you're with us. There's no lab courier, no 10-day turnaround, no second appointment. Scan, design, print, place — same day.
How long does getting porcelain veneers in Chicago take?
The traditional porcelain veneer process at ORA typically involves two to three appointments over two to four weeks. The first appointment covers your smile design and tooth preparation; custom temporaries are placed while your final veneers are crafted in the laboratory. At your second appointment, temporaries are removed and your permanent veneers are bonded. For patients choosing ORA's 3DVNR option, the entire process — design to placement — can be completed in a single day.
Do porcelain veneers look natural?
When designed and crafted correctly, porcelain veneers are entirely indistinguishable from natural teeth. The ceramic used at ORA replicates the translucency and light-diffusing properties of natural enamel. The design process — customized to your face, coloring, and existing tooth structure — ensures the result looks like a very good version of you, not a cosmetic procedure. At ORA, the goal is that nobody should know you have veneers unless you tell them.
Am I a candidate for porcelain veneers?
Most adults with good overall dental health are candidates for porcelain veneers. The ideal candidate is someone looking to address cosmetic concerns — discoloration, chips, gaps, uneven length, or overall smile symmetry — who does not have significant untreated decay or active gum disease. During your consultation, Dr. Kralj will evaluate your candidacy and may recommend a preparatory treatment if needed before veneers can be placed. Patients with significant bite issues may be better served by orthodontic treatment first, or may be excellent candidates for the no-prep 3DVNR option.
What is the difference between porcelain veneers and ORA's 3DVNR™?
ORA's 3DVNR™ are 3D printed veneers made in-house using the SprintRay Midas system — a technology exclusive to ORA in downtown Chicago. Unlike traditional porcelain veneers, 3DVNR™ require zero enamel removal (making them fully reversible), can be completed in a single visit, and are available at approximately half the investment of porcelain. Traditional porcelain veneers offer a longer track record, superior stain resistance, and the highest possible aesthetic ceiling — ideal for patients seeking a permanent, definitive solution. Both options are available at ORA; your consultation will clarify which is right for you.