VENEERS–are thin (usually about 0.5mm thick) pieces of porcelain, which

are bonded to the front surface of the teeth. Veneers can be used to improve

the appearance of teeth by changing the shape of the teeth, by changing the

color of the teeth, by masking stains and by replacing small fractured pieces

of teeth.

To construct veneers, your dentist will need to remove a small amount

(0.4-0.5mm) from the front surface of the tooth. Your dentist will then take

an impression of your teeth. This is sent to a dental technician, who makes

the veneers. At the next appointment (usually one to two weeks later), your

dentist will carefully clean the surfaces of the teeth and bond the veneers in

place. In some cases, because so little tooth is removed, no provisional

(temporary) restorations are needed between the two visits.

Porcelain is a very hard, wear resistant, non-porous material that will keep

its appearance far longer than tooth colored resins. Porcelain, however, is

brittle and can chip if hit by hard objects. If you have porcelain veneers, it is

advisable to cease habits such as fingernail biting, pen and pencil chewing,

biting into hard nuts or candy.