Frequently Asked Questions

1. What material is in a Veneer?
   Veneers are made of very thin tooth-colored porcelain.
2. What are the benefits of having a Veneer?
   • Veneers can change the size, shape and color of teeth.
   • Veneers are porcelain and will not stain.
   • Veneers remove minimal tooth structure and are the most
   conservative porcelain restoration
3. What are the risks of having a Veneer?
   In having a veneer, some inherent risks exist both to the tooth and to the veneer itself. The risks to the tooth are:
   • Preparation for a veneer permanently alters the tooth
   underneath the veneer.
   • If the cement seal at the edge of the veneer is lost, decay may form at the juncture of the veneer and tooth.
   • Preparing for and placing a veneer can irritate the tooth and
   cause “post-operative” sensitivity which may last for up to 3
   months.
   • Teeth which have had veneers may need root canal treatment less than 1% of the time during the lifetime of the tooth.
   The risks to the veneer are:
   • Porcelain may chip over time.
   • If the tooth needs a root canal treatment after the veneer
   is permanently cemented, the procedure may fracture the
   veneer and the veneer may need to be replaced.
4. What are the alternatives to Veneers?
   Alternatives to placing a veneer are to either leave the tooth as is or to place a composite restoration. Composite restorations remove decay but are limited because they will stain more and do not change the size and color of teeth as well as veneers.
5. How can an existing bite affect a Veneer?
   Bite problems may lead to the veneer chipping or breaking.
6. Are there any post-treatment limitations once I have a Veneer?
   • Porcelain on a veneer may have a good color match with
   adjacent natural teeth when the veneer is placed but less of a
   match as your natural teeth age.
   • A veneer may chip or break if used for abnormal activities (e.g.,
   biting fishing line, sewing thread, biting finger nails, opening
   bottles).