Veneers are very thin shells of porcelain which are bonded to the front of the tooth surface. Veneers are most commonly used to align teeth, fix worn or chipped teeth, or to correct discolored teeth. When a porcelain veneer is bonded to a tooth, it becomes not only very strong, but very durable.

Porcelain veneers (or crowns for that matter) have several advantages. The first advantage is that the porcelain veneers we use today give the tooth depth and a more realistic look. The second advantage to a porcelain veneer is that they resist staining from such activities as smoking, or drinking coffee, tea or wine. The third advantage to a veneer is that they are significantly cheaper than a crown.

In some cases, the tooth cannot have a veneer placed due to the decay of the surrounding tooth structure. In that case, a crown can be placed and accomplish the task in a similar manner.

The procedure for prepping teeth for veneers is much like a crown, except only half the tooth is prepped, not all the way around.

If you have any questions regarding this cosmetic procedure, feel free to contact our office: 434-293-8944

Page last modified 7/25/2002
Jeffery E. Hodges, DDS
2250 Old Ivy Road Suite #3
Charlottesville, Va. 22903