Veneers are very thin porcelain facings that are also specially made in the laboratory. They are often placed on anterior or front teeth that have been stained, chipped or broken down. Porcelain veneers can greatly enhance the appearance of the front teeth.
Minimal reduction of the facial surface of the tooth is carried out, and then an impression (mould) of the tooth is recorded.These are sent to a specialist laboratory where a ceramist fabricates the porcelain tooth veneer. The custom made veneer is then bonded to the front surface of the tooth.
Treatment for a porcelain veneer is normally a painless procedure. The tooth is prepared and impressions are recorded. A shade is taken for the final ceramic appearance of the veneer. All this information is sent to the laboratory where the ceramist fabricates the veneer. It normally takes two weeks in the laboratory. During this period the patient may wear a temporary composite veneer. The treatment time to prepare the tooth in the surgery is normally 1 hour, and 30 minutes to fit the veneer.