Dental Veneers: What They Are and What They Can and Can't Fix

Veneers come up when someone is unhappy with how a front tooth looks. What follows is a plain account of what veneers are, what they can conceal, the types you will see named, and what has to be treated first.

What a veneer is

Veneers are coverings that fit over the front surfaces of your teeth, made from materials like tooth-colored composite or porcelain (Cleveland Clinic).

What veneers can conceal

Veneers are cosmetic in nature, and they can conceal imperfections including chips, cracks, gaps and tooth discoloration (Cleveland Clinic).

The types you will see named

There are a few different types of veneers: composite veneers, porcelain veneers, no-prep veneers and removable veneers (Cleveland Clinic).

The two main types are porcelain and composite, and each type has its benefits (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).

• Porcelain. A porcelain veneer is a thin shell custom-made to fit on the front surface of your teeth; porcelain veneers are strong, long-lasting and natural-looking, and they tend to be the more expensive option (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
• Composite. A composite veneer is made from a tooth-colored filling material that is bonded to the tooth; composite veneers may require less tooth enamel to be removed and fewer visits to the dentist, and are easier to fix if damaged but not as stain- or wear-resistant (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).

Two other articles here go further: one on how porcelain veneers are made and placed, and one on the trade-offs of veneers.

What has to be treated first

Veneers are only an option if you are free of extensive cavities and gum disease, and if you have serious oral health issues you should address those first before exploring cosmetic treatments (Cleveland Clinic). Your dentist must first treat any dental issues you have, like decay or gum disease, and placing veneers over unhealthy teeth may worsen existing dental problems (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).

Next step

Our office is at 147 Main St, 2nd Floor, Lodi, NJ 07644, and Dr. Steven Liao is our dentist. We have a veneers page, and if you are thinking about a first visit, start at our first-visit page.

Sources

• Cleveland Clinic. "Veneers." Updated 2022-07-18. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23522-dental-veneers
• American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). "Veneers." https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/veneers