Clinical review: Dr. Samreen Ejaz, BDS, RDS ·
When porcelain might suit you
We may suggest porcelain if you want to change the shape, surface or colour of a tooth and the tooth is healthy enough. There needs to be enough room and good enamel to bond to. A veneer only covers the front, while a crown covers the whole tooth, and we’ll tell you clearly which one we’re proposing.
Before any tooth is trimmed
Dr. Samreen checks your enamel, old fillings, gums and how your teeth bite together. She’ll explain how much tooth may need trimming, how the shade is chosen and what a trial version can show you. Trimming can’t be undone, so it’s worth being sure. If your concern is small, whitening or a small repair might be enough.
The visits
We take impressions or records so the lab can make your veneers. You may wear temporaries while you wait. At the fitting, we check the edges, the look and your bite before bonding them in place. Ask when you’ll get to see the planned look so you can say what you think.
Looking after porcelain
Don’t use your teeth to open packets or bite hard things. Clean around the veneers and come for your check-ups. If porcelain chips, fixing it is different from fixing composite, and sometimes the veneer has to be replaced. Ask about repair and replacement costs before you choose. If you grind your teeth at night, tell us, as a night guard may help protect them.
BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT
Questions about porcelain veneers
Is a porcelain veneer the same as a crown?
No. A veneer covers the front surface. A crown covers the whole tooth. Which one you need depends on the tooth.
Can I take veneers off later and go back to my own teeth?
Usually not, if your teeth were trimmed for them. Think of veneers as something you’ll look after for life, not an accessory.
How many visits will it take?
Usually two or more: one to prepare and take records, and one to fit once the lab has made them.
This is general information. What’s right for your tooth depends on what Dr. Samreen finds when she examines it.
Background reading: ADA: veneers. These are overseas sources, so their prices and rules don’t apply here.