California Dental Veneers

Tooth veneers are made out of porcelain and are placed over teeth that are damaged, discolored, chipped, for teeth with holes in them, or for irregularly spaced teeth. Porcelain veneers are very thin and designed by a technician in a lab based on an imprint of a patient's teeth taken by a dentist. Even though veneers are made of porcelain, care should be taken about staining them. Substances such as coffee, wine and cigarette smoke will stain new veneers. Veneers are usually bonded by special adhesive to the front of the tooth.

The application of veneers usually takes multiple visits to a cosmetic dentist. Some of the tooth must be cleared away or buffed down to accommodate the new piece of porcelain. A light is used at the end of the veneering process to harden the veneer adhesive. This type of cosmetic dental work is said to have a more natural looking appearance than other aesthetic tooth enhancements. Veneer applications may range in cost from $1,000 to $2,500 dollars per tooth. Cosmetic dentists often use veneers as a substitute for crowns.