Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin shells of porcelain that are bonded to the teeth to enhance the shape or improve the appearance of the front teeth. Porcelain veneers are placed to mask discolorations, to brighten teeth, and to improve a smile. Highly resistant to permanent staining from coffee, tea, or even cigarette smoking, the wafer-thin porcelain veneers can achieve a tenacious bond to the tooth, resulting in an esthetically pleasing naturalness that is unsurpassed by other restorative options.

Porcelain veneers are an aesthetic and durable alternative for the treatment of cracked teeth, space issues or tooth size discrepancies. What's more, porcelain veneers can correct minor alignment problems as well as tooth shapes or color. The procedure involves three appointments for the entire procedure: diagnosis and treatment planning, preparation, and bonding.

Your first step toward cosmetic enhancement with porcelain dental veneers is to meet with a dentist and discuss your goals for treatment. At this time, the dentist you choose will provide you with a full consultation about the porcelain veneers procedure and determine what you can expect from treatment.

During your second office visit, your teeth will be prepared for your porcelain dental veneers. By lightly buffing the front surface of your teeth, a skilled cosmetic dentist will remove an approximately one-half-millimeter layer of enamel from the front of your teeth. The wafer-thin porcelain veneers will eventually be set in place of this enamel. A mold is then taken of your teeth. From this mold, your porcelain veneers will be custom made to fit your teeth and complement your smile. Porcelain dental veneers can even be specially fitted to reshape crooked teeth that may otherwise require orthodontics.

The porcelain veneers are then placed on your teeth in your third, and final, office visit. At this time, your dentist will be able to precisely match the color of your dental veneers to your surrounding teeth. If you are having porcelain veneers placed on all of your teeth, your dentist will be able to provide you with an appropriate color that has both a beautiful luster and a realistic appearance. After the fit and color of your dental veneers are ensured to be to your liking, the adhesive is hardened using a special light. You then have a bright, long-lasing smile with your new porcelain veneers.

A beautiful smile can lighten the hearts of those around you and give you an extra dose of self-confidence at the same time. If you have spaces between teeth, fractured or unevenly sized teeth, porcelain veneers is your answer, porcelain veneers applied over your natural teeth can easily brighten your smile and your self-esteem.

Porcelain veneer has several advantages over other tooth restoration procedures. Porcelain is an extremely durable material with a color, translucence and texture that is similar to tooth enamel. It is not susceptible to decay and resists staining while maintaining a natural appearance. Veneers can effectively close gaps between teeth, lengthen and reshape teeth, repair chipped, broken, or misshapen teeth, and cover stains and discolorations.

Porcelain veneers are an excellent alternative to crowns in many situations. They provide a much more conservative approach to changing a tooth's color, size, or shape. Porcelain veneers can mask undesirable defects, such as teeth stained by tetracycline, by an injury, or as a result of a root-canal procedure, and are ideal for masking discolored fillings in front teeth. Patients with gaps between their front teeth or teeth that are chipped or worn may consider porcelain veneers. Generally, veneers will last for many years, and the technique has shown remarkable longevity when properly performed.