Veneers

Actors and actresses used to ask dentists to fix their teeth before making a movie. The veneer began as a temporary means of correcting the appearance of their teeth. Thin, tooth-colored shells were glued to the front of the teeth. Unfortunately, the adhesive available then was not strong enough to keep the veneers attached for long periods of time.

Over the years, the types of dental adhesives and the administration procedures have improved dramatically, making it possible to attach the veneers permanently.

The procedure for bonding the veneers to the front of the teeth requires the enamel to be roughed slightly to allow the adhesive to grab better, but the amount of enamel that needs to be removed is much less than most other tooth restoration procedures.

Both types of veneers are custom-made for each tooth and color-matched to the rest of the teeth, but they are made from different materials.

The first material is porcelain. Porcelain resists stains easily and is strong and long-lasting.

The more economical material is composite resin. Although not as strong as porcelain, if damaged, these veneers are less and expensive and easy to fix.