If you’re interested in getting dental veneers, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about the procedure. We’ll discuss veneers, their application, and what you can expect from the process. Keep reading to learn more!

There are three types of veneers: porcelain, composite, and temporary. Porcelain and composite veneers are bonded to the teeth, making them fixed and not removable.

Let’s go over the application process for each type of dental veneer.

Porcelain Veneers

Placement of porcelain veneers involves the following steps:

1. Your dentist will remove some enamel from the front and sides of your teeth to make room for the veneer.
2. Your dentist will take a mould, or an impression, of your prepared teeth using an impression material or a digital scanner.
3. Together with your dentist, you will choose a veneer shade that suits your smile.
4. The impression taken will be sent to the dental laboratory to create a tooth model from which the porcelain veneer will be custom-made. This process can take several weeks. In the meantime, your dentist will prepare temporary veneers for you to wear until the procedure is complete. Once the porcelain veneers are ready, you will be called to come back for cementation.
5. Your dentist will remove the temporary veneers on your next visit. The final veneers will then be placed on your teeth for trial fitting so you can check how well they fit and look.
6. Once checked, your dentist will remove the veneers to allow teeth cleaning. Afterwards, the veneers will be bonded to your teeth using bonding cement.

Composite Veneers

For composite resin veneers, your dentist begins by thoroughly cleaning your teeth to prepare them for veneer application. Your dentist may or may not need to remove a thin layer of enamel as tooth preparation.

There are two types of composite veneers, direct and indirect veneers. Direct veneers are moulded directly onto the patient’s teeth inside the mouth, while indirect veneers are fabricated using a model of the patient’s teeth outside their mouth.

Direct Veneers

1. Before applying direct veneers, your dentist will apply a conditioning gel on the surface of your teeth. This will be left on the tooth for 15 to 30 seconds and then rinsed off with water.
2. After drying the tooth, a bonding solution will be applied to the tooth, and a light will be shone on the tooth to allow the composite to stick to the tooth.
3. Thin layers of composite material will be placed on the tooth surfaces. This will be contoured and shaped based on the desired appearance.
4. After ensuring that the composite is shaped well, a light will be shone on the tooth again to allow the composite to harden.

Indirect Veneers

1. After reducing the enamel on the tooth, an impression of the tooth will be taken using an impression material or a digital scanner.
2. A model of the patient’s teeth will be made using the impression, and this will be sent to the laboratory to be used as a mould from which the veneer will be fabricated.
3. The indirect composite veneer will be returned to the dentist. The teeth will be conditioned and prepared the same way the tooth is prepared when placing a direct composite veneer.
4. The indirect composite veneer will be placed on the tooth and hardened with a special light.
5. Lastly, the indirect composite veneer must be polished to blend in with the rest of your teeth.

Temporary Veneers

Applying temporary veneers is a simple process that can be completed in just a few minutes.

1. First, the teeth must be cleaned and dried.
2. Next, a thin layer of adhesive is applied on the front surface of the teeth.
3. The temporary veneers are then placed on the teeth and pressed into place.
4. Finally, any excess adhesive is removed, and the temporary veneers are left to set. Once the adhesive has set, the temporary veneers will provide a natural-looking finish.

Temporary veneers are used to cover the teeth while the porcelain and composite veneers are still being fabricated.