Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain and are bonded to the top of the tooth. The thinner material allows for minimal tooth drilling, which means a quicker easier appointment resulting in a beautiful new looking tooth.
Before the advent of porcelain veneers, the only options patients had to cover chipped teeth or to improve esthetics (such as discolorations, closing spaces, mis-shapen teeth) was to cover the entire tooth with a dental crown. Today, porcelain veneers provide the patient with a more non-invasive option.
Porcelain veneers are an alternative to orthodontic treatment to help re-align certain teeth or can be used in conjunction with orthodontic treatment. In some cases, when the teeth have been mal-aligned for a long time and have worn down unevenly, even after orthodontics is done to straighten the teeth, some of the teeth may need to be reshaped to look normal and natural again. Porcelain veneers are a great option for finishing the look with a thin conservative covering that looks and feels beautiful.