porcelain-veneers-san-diego
Porcelain Veneers in San Diego

How are Porcelain Veneers placed?

Woman choosing color of her veneers

Porcelain veneers can be a great solution to achieve the natural-looking smile you’ve always wanted. 


Veneers are thin porcelain or composite resin shells that look just like natural teeth and are placed directly on one’s teeth to change their shape, color, size or length. 


The process of getting dental veneers placed is simple, and typically only takes a couple of visits in our office.

Initial Consultation

First, we will discuss any issues of appearance with a tooth or teeth you wish to correct. Then we conduct an examination to ensure veneers are an appropriate solution for you. We then discuss the procedure, make impressions, and conduct x-rays as needed to prepare for the creation of your custom veneers.

Preparation

During your second appointment, we will prepare your teeth for the veneers. This preparation involves the following steps:

A thin layer of enamel – about ½ mm – is removed from the surface of the tooth in proportion to the size of the veneer being placed. A numbing agent may be applied to the tooth prior to removal of the enamel.

An impression of the tooth is made and sent to a dental laboratory. There your veneer is custom-made to create a fit and look suited to your smile.

A temporary veneer or veneers will be placed while your custom veneers are made in the laboratory.

After the dental veneer or veneers are made, the fit and color are evaluated to ensure the best possible match before the veneer is bonded to the tooth.

Bonding

To place your porcelain veneers, we first clean, polish and etch your teeth to promote a stronger bond between your tooth and veneer. After making any final adjustments to the finish of your veneers and you approve their overall appearance, we then apply a dental cement to the veneers and secure them in place. Once they are carefully placed, tested for alignment with neighboring teeth and your bite, and observed to ensure the best possible fit and appearance, the cement is then cured using a special light beam.

Any necessary adjustments to the dental veneer (including placement, fit, and removal of any excess cement) are made.

Finally, we may schedule a follow-up appointment with you to ensure everything is working as it should. If you have any concerns, we are just a phone call away.
Share by: