Porcelain Veneers in Kitchener

Porcelain veneers are thin shells of dental ceramic bonded to the front of your teeth. They can change the colour, shape, length and apparent alignment of a smile, sometimes quite dramatically, while still looking like natural teeth. They’re also a real commitment, because a little enamel is usually removed to make room for them. At Highland Kitchener Dentist in Kitchener, we spend as much time talking about whether veneers are the right choice as we do placing them. This page lays out what they can do, who they suit, how the process works, and what life with veneers is actually like.

What porcelain veneers can change

Veneers cover the visible surface of a tooth, so they’re best at solving problems you can see when you smile. Patients usually come to us about one or more of these:

• Stubborn discolouration that whitening won’t budge, such as grey staining from certain medications or a single darkened tooth
• Chips and worn edges from years of use, grinding or an old accident
• Gaps between front teeth that you’d rather close without orthodontics
• Uneven shapes or sizes, like a small lateral incisor or teeth that look too short
• Mild crowding or rotation, where a tooth sits a bit out of line but the bite is otherwise fine
• Old bonding that has stained or chipped and needs replacing with something more durable

Porcelain is very stain resistant and reflects light in a way that’s close to natural enamel. That’s why veneers can look so lifelike when they’re well designed.

What veneers aren’t meant for

They aren’t a fix for teeth with large fillings, active decay or significant structural damage. Those teeth often need crowns instead. They also aren’t a substitute for orthodontics when teeth are badly crowded or the bite is off. Covering severe crowding with veneers can mean removing far too much tooth. In those cases we’ll often suggest straightening first, with Invisalign for example, and then deciding whether veneers are still needed.

Are veneers right for you?

A good veneer candidate generally has healthy teeth and gums, enough enamel to bond to, and a bite that won’t put excessive force on thin porcelain. Before recommending veneers, we’ll look at:

• The health of your gums, since inflamed gums make it hard to get a clean fit
• Any decay or old fillings on the teeth involved
• Signs of grinding or clenching, such as flat, worn edges
• How your upper and lower teeth meet when you bite and chew
• Your expectations, and whether simpler options might get you most of the way there

Sometimes whitening, bonding or a bit of reshaping gives you what you want with less tooth removed. We’ll be upfront if we think that’s the case.

Planning and placing veneers at our Kitchener office

Veneers typically take two main appointments, with planning beforehand. It’s not a quick process, and that’s deliberate. Most of the success of a veneer case is decided before the porcelain is ever made.

The planning stage

We’ll start with a conversation about what you’d like to change. Bring photos of smiles you like, or ones you definitely don’t. We’ll take photos, impressions or scans, and check your bite. From there, we plan the shape, length and shade of each veneer. In many cases, a mock-up can be made so you can see a preview of the proposed shape on your own teeth before committing.

Preparing the teeth

At the preparation visit, we numb the area and remove a thin layer of enamel from the front of each tooth, usually less than a millimetre. This makes room for the porcelain so the finished teeth don’t look bulky. We then take a precise impression and send it to a dental laboratory where the veneers are made. You’ll leave with temporaries so your teeth look presentable and feel comfortable while you wait.

Bonding the veneers

When the veneers come back, we remove the temporaries and try the new veneers on to check fit, shape and colour. You’ll see them in a mirror before anything is bonded. Once you and the dentist are happy, the teeth are cleaned and conditioned, and each veneer is bonded with a resin cement that’s hardened with a curing light. We remove excess material, polish the edges and check your bite carefully.

Living with porcelain veneers

Most people adjust within a few days. The teeth may feel slightly different to your tongue at first, and there can be mild sensitivity. After that, veneers are cared for much like natural teeth.

• Brush and floss as usual. Veneers don’t decay, but the tooth underneath and the edge where the veneer meets it can.
• Use a non-abrasive toothpaste. Very gritty whitening pastes can dull the glaze over time.
• Avoid using your teeth as tools. Biting fingernails, opening packages, chewing pens and crunching ice can chip porcelain.
• Wear a night guard if you grind. Grinding is one of the most common reasons veneers fail. A custom guard protects them.
• Keep up with checkups. We’ll check the edges and the gums around them at each visit.

How long do veneers last?

With good care, porcelain veneers often last ten years or more, and many last much longer. Eventually they may need replacing because of wear, chipping, gum recession that exposes an edge, or simply because you’d like a change. Because the teeth underneath have been prepared, they’ll always need some form of covering.

Veneers compared with other cosmetic options

It’s worth knowing how veneers stack up against the alternatives, because the right answer depends on what’s bothering you and how much tooth you want to keep.

• Whitening changes colour only and removes no tooth. It works well for general yellowing but not for grey staining, chips or shape problems.
• Composite bonding is tooth-coloured resin shaped directly on the tooth in one visit. It usually needs little or no enamel removed, but it stains and chips more readily than porcelain and tends to need touch-ups sooner.
• Porcelain veneers handle colour, shape and minor alignment together and hold their appearance for many years. They need more planning, more visits and some enamel reduction.
• Crowns cover the whole tooth. They’re the better choice for teeth that are also weakened by large fillings or cracks.
• Clear aligners move the teeth themselves. For crowding or gaps, straightening first often means fewer veneers, or none at all.

Plenty of smile makeovers use a mix: aligners to straighten, whitening for the back teeth, and veneers only on the few front teeth that need reshaping.

Veneer questions we hear often

Do veneers look fake?

Well-made veneers shouldn’t. Overly white, very flat or perfectly uniform veneers are what give that artificial look. We aim for natural variation in shape and translucency that matches your face and the rest of your teeth.

Can I whiten my teeth after getting veneers?

Whitening won’t change the colour of porcelain. If you’d like whiter teeth, the best time to whiten is before your veneers are made, so we can match the shade to your brighter natural teeth.

Does getting veneers hurt?

The preparation visit is done with local anaesthetic. Afterwards, teeth can feel a little sensitive for a few days. Most patients find it easier than they expected.

Can I get just one veneer?

Yes, although matching a single veneer to neighbouring natural teeth is one of the trickiest things in cosmetic dentistry. It can take extra care with shade, and occasionally a second try.

If you’ve been thinking about porcelain veneers, a consultation is the best way to find out what’s realistic for your smile. Call Highland Kitchener Dentist in Kitchener at 519-885-1598 to book a time to talk it through.

Related treatments

• Tooth whitening
• Dental crowns
• Invisalign clear aligners

Questions or ready to book? Contact our Kitchener office or call 519-885-1598.