Porcelain Veneers: What They Are and How We Do Them
Veneers are probably the most photographed thing in dentistry and one of the least explained. People arrive knowing what they want the result to look like and very little about what actually happens to get there. This is the plain version: what a veneer is, who it suits, and how we go about it in our office.
What a veneer is
A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain, roughly the thickness of a contact lens to a fingernail, bonded to the front surface of a tooth. It changes what the tooth looks like: its color, shape, length and how it lines up with its neighbors. The tooth underneath stays where it is. We work in porcelain because it handles light the way enamel does, resists staining, and holds its surface for many years.
What veneers are good at
Discoloration that whitening cannot shift, such as tetracycline staining or a darkened tooth
Chipped, worn or uneven edges
Small gaps and teeth that are slightly out of line
Teeth that are small or misshapen compared with the rest of the smile
They are not the answer to everything. Significant crowding is better treated with orthodontics. A tooth that is heavily filled or broken down usually needs a crown. And active decay or gum disease has to be treated first, because a veneer is only as good as the tooth and gum it sits on. Sometimes the honest recommendation is whitening and a little reshaping, and we will say so.
How we do veneers in our office
The principle we work by is simple: you should see where you are headed before anything is done to your teeth.
Consultation and exam. We talk about what bothers you and what you would like to change, then check the teeth, gums and bite to make sure veneers are a sound choice.
Digital scan. We capture your teeth with an intraoral scanner. No trays of putty.
Study model and mock-up. This is where we start in earnest. On a model of your teeth we build the proposed new shapes, so you can see how your smile could be enhanced before committing to the actual veneers. If something looks too long, too square or too white, this is the stage to change it, while changing it costs nothing.
Preparation. Once you are happy with the plan, the teeth are prepared under local anesthetic. A small, controlled amount of enamel is removed from the front surface so the veneer sits flush instead of looking bulky. The mock-up guides this, which keeps the preparation as conservative as possible.
Temporary veneers. You leave wearing temporaries shaped from the approved design. They protect the teeth, and they are also a test drive: you get to live with the new shape and tell us what you think while the final porcelain is being made.
Try-in and bonding. The porcelain veneers are tried in first so you can check color and shape. Only when you approve are they bonded, the bite checked and the margins polished.
Follow-up and night guard. We see you again to check the gums and the bite. If you clench or grind, we recommend a night guard. It is a small thing that protects a considerable investment.
Things worth knowing before you decide
It is generally not reversible. Because enamel is removed, a veneered tooth will always need a veneer or similar covering.
Porcelain does not whiten. If you want lighter teeth overall, whiten first and we match the veneers to the result.
They last a long time, not forever. With good care many veneers last well over a decade, and eventually they may need replacing.
Some sensitivity to cold in the first days or weeks is common and usually settles.
The tooth under a veneer can still decay and the gums around it can still get inflamed. Brushing, cleaning between the teeth and regular check-ups matter exactly as much as before.
Looking after them
Treat veneers like good natural teeth. Brush twice a day with a non-abrasive toothpaste, clean between your teeth daily, wear your night guard if you have one, and do not use your front teeth as tools: no ice, pen caps, fingernails or packaging.
If you have been wondering whether veneers would suit you, the mock-up is the easiest place to start. You see the proposal on a model of your own teeth, and nothing has been done to them. If you like it, we go ahead. If you do not, you have lost nothing.
This post is general information and not a diagnosis. Whether veneers are right for you depends on an exam of your own teeth.
Hashimi Dental, 3701 Market St. Suite E Riverside, CA 92501
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