Porcelain Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are custom made and tailored for each tooth. Porcelain Veneers are used to improve the color, shape, position, and size of the teeth. Porcelain Veneers are routinely used by Cosmetic Dentists to improve the smiles of their clients.

You keep your natural tooth under the veneer, the veneer just fits over your tooth like a jacket. Your tooth is still good and healthy but just would be slightly buffed or reshaped during the veneer process. The tooth is still intact and the veneer is bonded to the tooth. The bonding cement and adhesives provide a seal between the tooth and veneer. This way the veneer will stay in place and so that nothing happens to the tooth under the veneer. It’s still important to take care of your veneers, just like you would with your natural teeth. So the care of the veneers would be: Brushing twice daily, flossing daily, and getting your teeth cleaned professionally twice a year (this is what we recommend for everyone to keep up with their oral health).

You basically can eat everything with veneers. Veneers will act and feel like natural teeth. You can eat your normal diet with veneers without any worries. And yes, you can even bite into an apple with veneers. You can drink coffee, tea, and alcohol after getting and with veneers and you won’t have to worry about any staining as veneers will keep their color over time.

There are certain things that are bad for your teeth and can cause teeth to break or crack. If these things can cause teeth to break or crack, then it could cause that to happen with veneers as well. The things that can cause teeth and veneers to crack and break are: popcorn kernels, hard ice, finger nails, shells, and opening packages with your teeth. There’s a saying that goes, “Don’t use your teeth as tools.”

Veneers are used to improve the color, shape, size, alignment, and overall look of the teeth.  Veneers fix and improve the appearance of the teeth.  Overall, Veneers have a 91%+ worth it/ satisfaction rating on RealSelf.com.   Most people ask this question because they are worried about the “shaving” of teeth that they hear about for veneers.  Veneers generally require some buffing or reshaping of the natural teeth, but this is very minimal. Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that cover the front and edges of the teeth.  They can be as thin as a contact lense.  As materials, technology, and techniques improve, the “shaving” of teeth has become very minimal.

If a tooth is in the ideal and correct final position and ideal thickness, then for a porcelain veneer, we remove 0.5 mm from the edges of the teeth and 0.3mm from the front surface of the tooth.  So basically that the thickness volume of 3 to 5 strands of hair.  Human hair on average is 0.1mm in thickness.

If a tooth is short and needs to be lengthened and if it’s too thin and needs to be thicker, then even less tooth structure has to be removed or “shaved.”  An experienced Cosmetic Dentist can offer no tooth preparation Veneers or Minimal Preparation Veneers.  The majority of people who get veneers love what the veneers do for their smile.

Yes, Porcelain veneers are a permanent option for improving your smile.  Veneers can help improve the color, position, shape and alignment of the teeth.  Porcelain Veneers are a great way to get a new permanently white smile.

Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are bonded to the teeth.  They are custom made for each tooth with a smile.  The cover the front and edge of the tooth to help change the color, shape, size, alignment, and overall look of the teeth and smile.

Once someone decides they want veneers, the next questions we try and answer are:

How many veneers should I get? And, What color should I get for the veneers?

The answers to both of these questions are related.  When deciding how many veneers someone should get, one of the first things we evaluate is how big is the person’s smile?

Then we have to factor in, what is the desired color of teeth that the person wants? How white do they want their smile to be?

When people smile a big smile, they usually show about 8 to 10 teeth of the upper teeth smile.  If someone shows 10 teeth on the upper and wants the teeth to be super white, then we would say that that person would benefit from 10 upper teeth veneers.
If the person has whitened their teeth and the teeth have a good shape and are in good alignment, then we would consider doing less veneers.  It all depends on what we’re starting with and what the end goal is.   When deciding the color, we look at the patient’s skin tone, complexion and facial features to determine the best shade of teeth for them.  If the patient is whitening their teeth and doing a few veneers, then the color chosen would be to match the newly whitened teeth.  If the person is doing a full veneer smile of 10 teeth, then the person can do as white as they want.  Most times we do Laser Teeth Whitening of the lower teeth to balance out the color between the top and bottom teeth.  Some people are happy just doing their upper teeth smile with veneers and others do their top and bottom teeth smile with veneers.

For the Veneer process, the person is generally numb during the procedure, so there should not be any pain.  Most Cosmetic Dentists offer different levels of sedation to make their clients comfortable (from laughing gas to oral sedation pills). Also, there are other amenities, like watching TV or listening to Music during the procedure to make people more comfortable.

The teeth and gums may be sore after getting Veneers but it’s very minimal.  Usually over the counter Advil or Tylenol will help with any post op soreness and discomfort.  Usually if there is soreness, it is usually the day of the procedure.  Most patients are fine to return to work the same day or the day after depending on if they did sedation or not.  Regardless, there is really no downtime for the Veneer process.  After the veneer process is finished, some people may experience sensitivity with the teeth for a few days or weeks after.  This will generally go away over time or after an adjustment or buffing to the veneers.

Veneers can range in price.  This can depend on the area, the expertise of the dentist, and the quality of materials that are used.  On average, Veneers can cost from $1,000 to $3,000 and up per tooth or per veneer.  For smile makeovers, people usually do 6 veneers, 8 veneers, or 10 veneers on their upper teeth smile.

Generally, Porcelain Veneers take about 2 to 3 steps to complete. In just a few weeks, you could have a new smile with veneers!  From the initial consultation visit to the preparation visit often takes a week.  From the preparation visit to the placement of the permanent veneers usually takes two weeks.  So, from start to finish about 2 to 3 visits and about 3 to 4 weeks total time.

Definitely, let your Cosmetic Dentist  know if you’ve had or will be getting lip fillers. The lips are the frame to the smile.  The lips and other facial features serve as reference points for the newly designed smile.  When choosing the new length of the teeth with veneers,  we analyze the amount of teeth showing when your lips are at rest and also the amount of teeth showing when you smile.  Many people who choose to do veneers do so because they want to show more of their teeth when they smile.  Since lip fillers can affect the lips and their volume, sometimes more or less of the teeth and smile can be shown.  So, let your Cosmetic Dentist know if you have filler or are planning on it so they can provide the best result for you.

The worst that could happen is that the veneer would have to be redone or replaced.  Some reasons why the veneers may have to be redone are: If you’re unhappy with the result of the veneers,  if the fit of the veneers isn’t ideal which is causing issues, or if the veneer chips, breaks, or comes loose. By getting the treatment done by an experienced Cosmetic Dentist, the issues above can all be avoided.  Veneers are meant to be a permanent solution for transforming a smile.  They are designed to last many years.  Getting Porcelain Veneers is not a reversible treatment.

It is not common, but yes a veneer can come off or debond.  When the veneers are being placed and bonded it’s important that certain steps are followed.  When these steps are compromised then a veneer can debond or come off.  One of the most important things about having a good bond between the veneers and the teeth are having the gums as healthy as possible.  That’s why it’s so important to keep the gums clean and healthy before the placement of the veneers.

Most celebrities do have veneers! It’s amazing how many celebrities have veneers.  Think of your top 5 celebrities that you follow and I’m confident that at least 3 out of 5 have veneers.  The other 2 out of 5 have probably had professional teeth whitening and possibly teeth straightening.  But the most common cosmetic dental procedure for celebrities is veneers.

For the Veneer process, the person is generally numb during the procedure, so there should not be any pain.  Most Cosmetic Dentists offer different levels of sedation to make their clients comfortable (from laughing gas to oral sedation pills). Also, there are other amenities, like watching TV or listening to Music during the procedure to make people more comfortable.

Most celebrities do have veneers! It’s amazing how many celebrities have veneers.  Think of your top 5 celebrities that you follow and I’m confident that at least 3 out of 5 have veneers.  The other 2 out of 5 have probably had professional teeth whitening and possibly teeth straightening.  But the most common cosmetic dental procedure for celebrities is veneers.

Veneers can not be whitened if they are porcelain veneers.  The great thing about veneers is that the color stays the same over the years.  That’s a good thing if you’re getting a new fresh set of veneers.  It’s not so good if you have an old set of veneers that you wish were whiter.  If you have old veneers and want them to be whiter, then one of the only ways to change the color of the veneers is to have them replaced or redone.

If a person gets resin veneers, composite veneers, or composite bondings, those veneers will stain over time and can’t be whitened either.  To get a fresh look, they should probably be redone to fix the color.

Alternatives to porcelain veneers can be: Composite Bonding, Teeth Whitening, Composite Veneers, or Snap on Smile.  These all can be cheaper alternatives to porcelain veneers.  However, each of these options require a lot more maintenance, the results are not as good, and the results are short term.  These treatments often have to be redone after a year or so.  Veneers will give a more permanent and long lasting result.  If you want the best solution to give you a smile that improves the shape, size, color, and alignment of the teeth, then porcelain veneers should be considered.

Porcelain veneers will maintain their color over years. So, no porcelain veneers don’t turn yellow.  The great thing about porcelain veneers is that the color stays the same over the years.  That’s a good thing if you’re getting a new fresh set of veneers.  It’s not so good if you have an old set of veneers that you wish were whiter.  If you have old veneers and want them to be whiter, then one of the only ways to change the color of the veneers is to have them replaced or redone.

If a person gets resin veneers, composite veneers, or composite bondings, those veneers will turn yellow and stain over time and can’t be whitened either.  To get a fresh look, they should probably be redone to fix the color.

Veneers may need to be replaced after 15 years or longer.  We’ve seen good veneers last even longer than 15 years.

Well made veneers do not make your breath stink.  Veneers that are not made well and are thick and irritating to the gums and that catch food can cause issues with your breath. It’s important to see an experienced Cosmetic Dentist to avoid any of these issues.

Yes, these are cases where veneers have lasted 30 years.   As long as veneers are cared for like natural teeth, they can last for decades.  Brushing twice a day for two minutes each time and flossing daily are key to maintaining a healthy smile with veneers.  Also, getting your checkups and professional dental cleanings done twice a year is important as well.

Most people ask this question because they are worried about the “shaving” of teeth that they hear about for veneers.  Veneers generally require some buffing or reshaping of the natural teeth, but this is very minimal. Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that cover the front and edges of the teeth.  They can be as thin as a contact lense.  As materials, technology, and techniques improve, the “shaving” of teeth has become very minimal.  Experienced Cosmetic Dentists can offer no tooth preparation Veneers or Minimal Preparation Veneers.

The majority of people who get veneers love what the veneers do for their smile. Veneers are used to improve the color, shape, size, alignment, and overall look of the teeth.  Veneers fix and improve the appearance of the teeth.  Overall, Veneers have a 91%+ worth it/ satisfaction rating on RealSelf.com.

There is virtually no downtime with veneers.  It’s like getting other dental work done.  You’re numb for the procedure, but are fine to return to work after the procedure.  If you use some sort of sedation for the procedure, then you will want to take time off immediately after the procedure, but would be fine to return to work the next day.

Generally, no you don’t have to be put under with veneers.  For the Veneer process, you are generally numb during the procedure, so there should not be any pain.  Most Cosmetic Dentists offer different levels of sedation to make their clients comfortable (from laughing gas to oral sedation pills). If you have major dental phobia and anxiety, then having IV sedation or being put under for veneers can be an option as well.  For those who are mildly anxious, there are other amenities, like watching TV or listening to Music during the procedure to make people more comfortable.

For the Veneer process, you are generally numb during the procedure, so there    should not be any pain.  Most Cosmetic Dentists offer different levels of sedation to make their clients comfortable (from laughing gas to oral sedation pills). Also, there are other amenities, like watching TV or listening to Music during the procedure to make people more comfortable.

To get your teeth white, consider doing a Professional Teeth Whitening Session at the Dental Office.  If you want to get super white teeth that will stay white for years and years, then consider getting Porcelain Veneers.  The great thing about the veneers is that you don’t have to worry or do multiple treatments to maintain and keep the brightness and color.

Veneers are bonded to the tooth surface.  After the temporary veneers are removed, the permanent veneers are tried on the teeth to verify the look and fit of the veneers.  Once approved, the veneers are conditioned and the teeth are then conditioned and etched to prepare the surfaces of each for the bonding steps.  An adhesive or bonding agent is applied to the tooth surface.  Generally, a resin based cement is used to coat the inside of the veneer. The veneer is then applied to the tooth surface.  The extra cement is cleaned up and the resin base cement is then cured or activated with a UV Curing Light.  The resin cement is sandwiched between the tooth and veneer and acts to seal the veneer and help protect the tooth under the veneer.

Alternatives to porcelain veneers can be: Composite Bonding, Teeth Whitening, Composite Veneers, Lumineers, Teeth Straightening, or Snap on Smile.  These all can be alternatives to porcelain veneers.  However, each of these options require a lot more steps and/or maintenance.  Besides Teeth Straightening, the other alternatives to veneers give short term results which can be less than ideal and will have to be redone.  These treatments often have to be redone after a year or so.  Veneers will give a more permanent and long lasting result.  If you want the best solution to give you a smile that improves the shape, size, color, and alignment of the teeth, then porcelain veneers should be considered.

Chipped and broken teeth can be fixed with Porcelain Veneers.  Porcelain Veneers would act as protective shell over the tooth surface.  Porcelain veneers can also improve the size, shape, alignment, and look of the teeth.

Crooked teeth can be fixed with Teeth Straightening (Braces or Invisalign) or with Veneers.  If the teeth are severely crooked then it’s advantageous to consider Teeth Straightening. Porcelain Veneers should be considered If there is mild to moderate spacing, crowding, or misaligned teeth.

To correct a gummy smile, a laser gum lift or a surgical gum lift can be great options.

A gum lift is a dental procedure used to reshape or recontour the gums around the teeth that you show when you smile.

Missing teeth can be replaced with fixed Dental Implants, a fixed Dental Bridge, or a removable partial.

Stains that are just on the surfaces of the teeth can be removed and polished off during a professional dental cleaning.  For stains that don’t come off during a cleaning and teeth that are stained yellow, a Professional Teeth Whitening Session could help.  If there is a gray, brown, or deep staining to the teeth, then Veneers could be the best option to improve the stained teeth.  If you want to get white teeth that will stay white for years and years, then consider getting Porcelain Veneers.  The great thing about the veneers is that you don’t have to worry or do multiple treatments to maintain and keep the brightness and color.

Prepless Veneers or No Prep Porcelain veneers are Porcelain Veneers that require very little to no tooth structure removal before the Permanent Veneers are bonded to the teeth.

Yes, veneers can look natural. Porcelain veneers are made to look like natural teeth.  They have a gloss and reflect light similar to natural teeth.  Veneers also have a texture similar to natural teeth.  Veneers are individual to mimic the natural teeth as well.  Veneers fit over the tooth surface and blend in to be seamless with the tooth under the veneer.

Yes, you definitely have to brush veneers and would care for the veneers just like your natural teeth.  To maintain a healthy mouth we want to prevent cavities on our teeth, gum disease around our teeth, and prevent infection of our teeth and gums.  With veneers, we want to prevent cavities, gum disease and infection around the veneers and the teeth under the veneers.  Brushing twice a day for two minutes each time and flossing daily are key to maintaining a healthy smile with veneers.  Also, getting your checkups and professional dental cleanings done twice a year is important as well.

It all depends on what is going on with the specific tooth.  If it’s just a cosmetic enhancement and the tooth is healthy, strong, and cavity free, then a veneer would be the best option.  If the tooth has a large cavity, is weakened, cracked or is breaking down, then a crown may be the best option.  When deciding between a crown or a veneer, it also depends on how much stress the teeth are under and also the bite or how the teeth line up and come together.

Veneers are priced the way they are because they are handcrafted and customized.  Each veneer is designed and made and refined by a Ceramist.  Veneers should be tailored to the individual and their smile and facial characteristics.  Just like a fine piece of jewelry, there is a great amount of detail and craftsmanship that goes into a porcelain veneer.

Ideally, the teeth should be cleaned and cavities should be taken care of before the veneer process.  If the cavities are on the teeth that are getting veneers, then when the Cosmetic Dentist designs the veneer and prepares the tooth for the veneer, they can clean out and take care of the cavity at the same time.  So, the veneer will then take care of the cavity and improve the appearance of the tooth.

Ideally, the teeth should be cleaned and cavities should be taken care of before the veneer process.  If gum disease is present, then it should be addressed before the veneer process starts. This will help ensure the best possible results with the veneers.