Teeth veneers are thin slivers of porcelain that are made in a dental laboratory, they are made to fit precisely on the front of a patients teeth. Veneers are used to cover imperfections of teeth; small chips, cracks or gross discoloration that does not respond to teeth whitening.
Patients whose teeth are otherwise healthy often opt for veneers because, as porcelain they resist staining and they look real. Veneers are extremely thin; they mimic very closely the natural enamel cover. Many people do not realize it but the enamel of their teeth is translucent, the same is true with veneers; this allows light to penetrate and reflect off the tooth dentin exactly the way it does with natural enamel.
As good as veneers are they are not the solution for every cosmetic problem, it is important that you discuss your goals with your dentist. If your dentist is of the opinion that you are a good candidate for veneers the entire process can be accomplished in two appointments about a week apart. During your first appointment your dentist will remove a very thin layer of enamel, the amount removed is basically equal to the thickness of the veneer. The dentist will make an impression which is used by the lab to make the veneers. During the next appointment a week later your dentist will affix the veneers with special dental adhesive, trim the edges and the job is done. During the one week wait the dentist can request that the teeth be covered with a temporary veneer although this usually adds to the price.
When the veneers are ready for bonding to the natural teeth the dentist will first ensure that the shape, size and color are perfect. If the veneer is a little too big it can be trimmed, if the color is not exactly what you want this can be accommodated by using a different color adhesive.
Although most dentists find that tooth veneers custom made in the lab are the best solution there are dentists that can make the veneers on the spot. The dentist uses a combination of dental imagery and a specialized milling device to produce the veneers, this is quicker of course as the entire process is done during one appointment with the dentist but as noted, the majority of dentists believe the traditional approach results in a superior veneers.
