What exactly are porcelain veneers you might wonder? Porcelain or dental veneers are made of a thin porcelain tooth colored shell that is permanently placed over your teeth to give you a new shape and color. Porcelain veneers are bonded to your teeth and are custom made to give you a new smile. Many patients choose to receive veneers for their front six teeth that are the ones most shown. 

It’s normal for our dentist to have to remove a small amount of your enamel in order to make room for the porcelain veneers. This process is pain-free and fast. You should know that your enamel will never grow back and that this is a lifetime commitment. Without veneers on your teeth, your teeth might look rough and not have much protection from bacteria and decay. If you’re worried about removing part of your enamel, you could always opt for different veneers like Lumineers or Durathins. Those options do not require your enamel to be removed prior to placing the veneers. This is because these veneers are made of a thinner material.

The preparation of veneers preserve the most amount of tooth structure, as very little needs to be removed.  They can improve the appearance of your teeth, and gum tissues respond well to dental veneers.  The color can be custom selected, and in the case of porcelain veneers they are stain resistant.

Typically, a veneer lasts approximately 5-10 years. They do not require any special care other than regular brushing, flossing, and visits to the prosthodontist. If they are properly cared for then they can last much longer. Professional cleanings every 6 months and yearly exams are highly recommended.

You can eat most foods but each patient has a different bite. Therefore, we recommend eating softer foods the first few days until the patient gets used to the new bite position. After several weeks there is no limitation unless your case has specific needs. The most common foods to avoid are: ice, hard biscuits, hard candy, caramel apples, hard nuts, pumpkin seeds, and popcorn.