Thin shells that are comprised of tooth-colored material, veneers are designed to improve the appearance of the front teeth. Veneers are often used to fix discolored, misaligned, or chipped teeth. Comprised of ceramic or porcelain, veneers are bonded to the front of the teeth. An alternative to crowns, veneers are an option for changing a tooth’s shape, color, and size.
In preparation for a veneer, the dentist will remove a portion of the enamel from the surface of the patient’s tooth. Subsequently, the dentist will make impressions of the tooth. The impressions are then delivered to a dental lab, which will create the veneers. After the veneers are ready in about one to two weeks, the dentist will generally add a special type of cement to the veneer before it is placed on the tooth.