Understanding Porcelain Veneers

A porcelain veneer is a wafer thin shell applied to the front of a tooth. A porcelain veneer is typically used to correct a cosmetic issue with a tooth. A person who has a discolored tooth, a chipped tooth, a crooked tooth, or a tooth that is worn down from grinding is a good candidate for a porcelain veneer. A porcelain veneer can also be used to close a gap between teeth and eliminate the need for orthodontic treatment.

Dental bonding has been around for years. A porcelain veneer applies the science of dental bonding by using an adhesive to fix the veneer to the front of a tooth resulting in a very strong, durable cosmetic fix for a dental problem.

Types of Porcelain Veneers

There are two main types of porcelain veneers, Da Vinci Porcelain Veneers™ and LUMINEERS® veneers.

Da Vinci Veneers™ have been featured on Extreme Makeover. They require very little tooth preparation, keep their color for years, are made of a very strong porcelain that makes them last longer, and look like natural teeth.

LUMINEERS® porcelain veneers do not require any tooth preparation so the process is less painful and they can be removed in the future. Fewer dentist appointments are needed since the tooth preparation step is omitted.

The Porcelain Veneer Process

A consultation with a dentist is required to get a porcelain veneer. The dentist will weigh the options and if a porcelain veneer is the best option, then an appointment will be made to prep the tooth unless LUMINEERS®, which don't require tooth preparation, are used. During the tooth preparation appointment the dentist will numb the area around the tooth and will trim the tooth's surface to allow room for the veneer. The goal of tooth trimming is to shave just enough of the tooth's enamel to allow the dentist to bond the veneer without dramatically changing the size or shape of the tooth.

The dentist will use impression putty to create a mold of the tooth, which he will send to a laboratory to create the veneer. Labs usually require one to two weeks to create a porcelain veneer. Porcelain veneers generally cost between $625 and $1,100 per tooth. A temporary veneer may be applied to the tooth while the permanent veneer is being created. If you want a temporary veneer while you are waiting for your permanent veneer, make sure the dentist's cost estimate includes the temporary veneer.

Once the porcelain veneer has been sent from the lab the dentist will bond the veneer to the tooth using a special adhesive and a light to set the adhesive.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Porcelain Veneer

Since porcelain veneers are glass-like, they look more like a real tooth than other types of bonding materials. This glass-like property also makes porcelain veneers highly resistant to staining. With other bonding materials, the risk of staining the bonding agent is problematic.

Porcelain veneers must be bonded to tooth enamel. If a tooth is unhealthy or does not have enough enamel, then a porcelain veneer is not an option. A porcelain veneer will not strengthen a tooth. If the tooth is damaged, a crown may be a more appropriate solution. Teeth grinding will chip or damage a porcelain veneer. A dental guard may need to be worn at night to ensure teeth grinding does not damage the veneer.

Since a porcelain veneer does not last forever, you should factor in the cost of one or more replacements over your lifetime.

Tooth sensitivity can be an issue if the type of veneer is one that requires removing part of the tooth's surface before the veneer is attached to the tooth.

Caring for a Porcelain Veneer

A porcelain veneer will not last a lifetime, but it can last up to ten years. To increase the life expectancy of a porcelain veneer, good dental hygiene is a must. In addition to proper brushing and flossing, care should be taken to ensure that no stress is put on the veneer. Remember that the veneer is essentially glass, like porcelain china. Biting nails, chewing ice or other actions that stress the veneer must be avoided. A mouth guard during sporting events is required.

While the porcelain itself is stain resistant, the adhesive used to attach the veneer to the tooth isn't, thus it is possible to have staining around the edges of a veneer. It is best to avoid stain causing agents such as smoking, red wine, coffee, and tea.