A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain or composite bonded to the front of a tooth to change its shape, colour or size. You would consider one when a chip, gap, worn edge or deep stain on a front tooth bothers you and simpler fixes have not done enough.
When you might need this
- A front tooth is chipped or worn shorter than the one beside it.
- A gap between your front teeth that you want closed without braces.
- One tooth is a different shape or noticeably smaller than its neighbours.
- Staining that does not lift with whitening, often from an old injury or medication.
- Old bonding on a front tooth that keeps chipping or has gone yellow.
What happens
Look and talk
Dr. Malik checks the tooth, the gums and your bite, and asks what bothers you. If bonding or whitening would fix it with less drilling, he tells you that first.
Choose the material
Porcelain is made in a lab, holds its colour and lasts longer. Composite is shaped by hand in the chair in one visit, costs less and is easier to repair, but stains and wears sooner.
Prepare the tooth
With the area numbed, a thin layer of enamel comes off the front of the tooth so the veneer sits flush. For porcelain, we take an impression and choose the shade together.
Fit and bond
Porcelain comes back from the lab a few weeks later. Dr. Malik checks the fit and colour, cleans the tooth, bonds the veneer and hardens the cement with a light.
Check the bite
You bite down on the new veneer before you leave and we adjust anything that feels high. If you grind your teeth, a night guard protects it.
Cost and insurance
Porcelain veneers usually take two visits a few weeks apart; composite veneers are usually done in one. Most dental plans treat veneers as cosmetic and cover little or none of the cost, so we check yours before you decide. We bill your insurance directly. You see the estimate in writing before anything starts, and if bonding or whitening would do the job, we quote that instead. No insurance? We tell you the cost up front.
Questions people ask
Are veneers permanent?
The decision is. Enamel that is removed does not grow back, so a veneered tooth will always need a veneer or a crown. The veneer itself lasts many years but may eventually need replacing.
Porcelain or composite: which should I get?
Porcelain if you want the colour to hold and the longest wear. Composite if you want a lower cost, one visit and something easy to touch up later. Dr. Malik goes through both with you.
Does getting veneers hurt?
Removing enamel can make the tooth sensitive, so we numb the area properly and stop if you need a break. Some sensitivity to cold for a few days afterwards is normal.
Can I whiten my teeth after veneers?
Whitening gel does not change the colour of a veneer, only your natural teeth. If you want whiter teeth, whiten first, then we match the veneer to the new shade.
Related services
Book a visit
Book a first visit, point to the tooth that bothers you, and you hear the simplest fix first.