Dental Veneers

How do dental veneers work?

Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance. These shells are bonded to the teeth, changing their color, shape, size, or length. Veneers can be made from porcelain or resin composite materials.

Here’s how the process of getting veneers typically works:

1. Consultation and Planning

The first step involves consulting with your dentist to discuss the desired outcome for your specific situation. We will discuss the pros and cons of veneers to ensure you make an informed decision.

2. Tooth Preparation

We will remove about 0.5 millimeters of enamel from the tooth’s surface, which is approximately the thickness of the veneer to be added.

3. Making the Impression

After the tooth is prepared, we will make a model or impression of your tooth and send it to a dental lab, which constructs your veneer. It usually takes 2 to 4 weeks for the veneers to come back from the lab but we will place temporary veneers in the meantime.

4. Fitting the Veneer

Once your dental veneers are ready, we will temporarily place them on your teeth to examine their fit and color, making any necessary adjustments to ensure a perfect fit and appearance. The tooth will then be cleaned, polished, and etched to roughen the tooth surface, allowing for a strong bonding process.

5. Bonding

A special cement is applied to the veneer and then placed on your tooth. Once properly positioned, your dentist will apply a special light beam to the dental veneer, which activates chemicals in the cement, causing it to harden very quickly.

6. Final Adjustments

After the veneer is bonded, we will remove any excess cement, evaluate your bite, and make any final adjustments in the veneer as necessary.

Are veneers permanent?

Yes, veneers cannot be removed and are meant to always be worn. On average, porcelain veneers last 10-20 with proper dental care, at which point they will need to be replaced. Even though you have veneers, you still need to practice great oral hygiene as the teeth underneath the veneers can still develop tooth decay which could compromise the veneers.

Veneers vs. crowns—what’s the difference?

Dental veneers and dental crowns are both used for cosmetic purposes—to resolve chips, stains, discoloration, or crooked teeth. The main difference between the two is that dental crowns cover the entire tooth surface whereas veneers only cover the front portion of the tooth. Crowns (2 mm) are much thicker than veneers (1 mm) and the price for each is similar. Crowns provide additional support to damaged teeth whereas veneers do not. However, veneers are a much less invasive procedure and require less removal of the original tooth structure. 

Veneers and crowns are both great solutions for patients looking to get a white, straight smile that looks and feels natural. If you’re interested but unsure which option is right for you, contact our office today to schedule a consultation.

Do dental veneers hurt?

No, most patients experience no pain at all during the procedure! Since this procedure is minimally invasive, only requiring the removal of a thin layer of enamel, we can use a local anesthetic to ensure that the patient feels no discomfort at all.