Porcelain veneers, or “dental veneers,” can change the appearance of teeth that are chipped, worn, stained, crooked, or generally damaged. A porcelain veneer acts as a thin shell, covering the surface of a tooth. Porcelain veneers are bonded directly to the front of teeth with adhesive cement for an immediate improvement in the shape and color of each tooth.

The color of porcelain veneers can be matched to the color of a patient’s teeth. And because dental veneers are made of porcelain, a glassy composition, they are resistant to staining. Porcelain veneers reflect light in a similar way as tooth enamel, and can be buffed and shaped to look just like natural teeth.

Advantages of Dental Veneers

There are many advantages of using porcelain veneers as a tooth restoration procedure. You can achieve a very good cosmetic appearance with a minimal amount of tooth preparation. This is not often the case with dental crowns. Composite veneers are the more popular of the two, as porcelain veneers have a tendency to fracture. Composite veneers are also thinner and therefore require less tooth structure removal before the veneer is applied. But, the advantage of using porcelain veneers over composite veneers is that porcelain veneers are more durable and less likely to stain, but it is still recommended that a person avoid excessive consumption of foods and drinks that tend to stain, such as coffee, tea or wine. If you tend to grind or clench your teeth, a porcelain or composite veneer can chip or fracture. When a dental veneer breaks, it cannot be repaired. The porcelain or composite veneer must be completely replaced.