The short answer
A veneer is a thin porcelain or ceramic covering bonded to the front of a tooth to change its shape or shade. It usually takes two to three visits. Depending on the case, a thin layer of enamel may be removed first; where it is, that cannot be undone, so the dentist explains this before you decide.
Who veneers suit
Veneers are for changing the shape or shade of the front of a tooth. Your teeth and gums need to be healthy first, so any decay or gum problem is treated before veneers. If you grind your teeth, the dentist may advise a night guard to protect them.
Sometimes whitening or a small repair is enough instead, and the dentist will say so.
Tinatapyas ba ang ngipin?
It depends on your case. A thin layer of enamel may be removed so the veneer sits flush, and in some cases none is removed. Where enamel is removed, it cannot be undone: that tooth will always need a veneer or a crown.
Veneer or crown?
Veneer
- Covers
- The front of the tooth
- Tooth shaping
- A thin layer of enamel, or none, depending on the case
- Often used for
- Changing shape or shade
- Visits
- Usually 2 to 3
- Materials
- Porcelain or ceramic
Crown
- Covers
- The whole tooth
- Tooth shaping
- More of the tooth is shaped
- Often used for
- A badly broken or worn tooth, after a root canal, or on an implant
- Visits
- Usually 2 to 3
- Materials
- Porcelain, ceramic or zirconia
| Veneer | Crown | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | The front of the tooth | The whole tooth |
| Tooth shaping | A thin layer of enamel, or none, depending on the case | More of the tooth is shaped |
| Often used for | Changing shape or shade | A badly broken or worn tooth, after a root canal, or on an implant |
| Visits | Usually 2 to 3 | Usually 2 to 3 |
| Materials | Porcelain or ceramic | Porcelain, ceramic or zirconia |
The visits
- Consultation and preview: a digital scan and a panoramic X-ray, then a preview of the proposed result before any tooth is changed. You hear the plan and the cost before anything starts.
- The shade is chosen with you before the veneers are made.
- Preparation, under local anaesthetic, and temporary veneers for about one to two weeks while the final ones are made.
- Fitting: the final veneers are bonded to the front of the teeth and checked.
Their limits
- They can chip, so avoid biting hard objects.
- They do not whiten later. Veneers keep their shade, so whitening is done first if you want it.
- The tooth underneath can still decay, so brushing, flossing and check-ups continue as normal.
Magkano ang veneers?
It depends on how many teeth are involved and what each one needs, so there is no one figure for everyone. You hear the plan and the cost at your consultation, before anything starts.
General information from the Citismiles dental team, not advice for your own teeth. Every case is different; the dentist explains what suits you at your consultation.