A patient today asked me to explain what a porcelain veneer is and how it works. A veneer is a very thin piece of very strong porcelain that is placed on the front surface of a tooth. They are used to achieve a cosmetic goal such as brightening the smile, correcting poor alignment, or to lengthen the teeth. Because they are cosmetic, they are usually done on the upper or lower front teeth.
They are made of a strong porcelain (for example Lumineer porcelain, Empress porcelain, or zirconium) and they are very thin, often less than 1 millimeter. They are bonded to the tooth with a bonding material that is similar to a white filling material. Once bonded, the veneers are extremely strong cosmetic restorations. Because they are so thin, very little drilling needs to be done on the patient’s teeth. However, the amount of drilling does change depending on what cosmetic goals need to be achieved. Minor tooth position changes or color changes can be achieved with little drilling, while dramatic color changed or tooth shape changes will require more drilling.
Once placed, the patient needs to care for the teeth with veneers just like they were normal teeth. Proper brushing and flossing is important. Tooth grinding (bruxism) has been shown to decrease the lifespan of porcelain veneers and cause them to fracture. If the patient does grind their teeth a night guard to protect the veneers is essential.
For a life long cosmetic correction, porcelain veneers are a great option for many patients.
