What are porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers, alternatively termed dental veneers or dental porcelain laminates, are wafer-thin shells of porcelain that are bonded onto the front side of teeth so to create a cosmetic improvement for a tooth. Porcelain veneers are routinely used by dentists as a way to make cosmetic changes for teeth that are discolored, worn, chipped, or misaligned, and in most cases require minimal preparation.

What are some of the advantages of porcelain veneers over dental bonding?

Porcelain veneers create a very life-like tooth appearance because like your natural teeth the restored tooth is translucent.This differs from most bonding procedures because the porcelain veneer itself is translucent and mimics natural tooth enamel more closely.

Another advantage of Porcelain veneers is that they resist staining. As a group, cosmetic dental bonding materials have the shortcoming of being susceptible to staining and discoloring. This is especially true when they are used in conjunction with individuals whose consumption habits include the use of tea, coffee, red wine, and tobacco products. Since porcelain is a ceramic, and therefore glass-like, a veneer's porcelain surface will be extremely stain resistant.

One other the advantage to consider is that in most cases porcelain veneers require minimal preparation.

When are porcelain veneers not a good option ?

Since placing a porcelain veneer on a tooth will not provide a strengthening effect, porcelain veneers cannot be placed on severely broken teeth.

If a significant amount of tooth structure has been lost as a result of decay or fracture, or else has already been replaced by a dental filling, the tooth may not be a good candidate for a porcelain veneer. Porcelain veneers will not strengthen the teeth on which they are placed. Teeth that have histories where a significant amount of tooth structure has been lost are usually better served by placing a dental crown on them, not a porcelain veneer. Since porcelain veneers must be bonded to tooth enamel. Some teeth, as a result of excessive wear or previous attempts at dental bonding, may have little or no enamel remaining on their front side. These teeth do not make good candidates for porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are not a good choice for people who clench and grind their teeth. The forces created by these activities, termed bruxism by dentists, can easily chip or break porcelain veneers.

A person may possibly be able to successfully control their bruxing habits during their waking hours, but during sleep a bruxer has essentially no control over this activity. If a person who bruxes does have veneers placed, they must be committed to wearing a plastic dental night guard when they sleep, so to minimize the amount of stress placed on their veneers.