Porcelain Veneers: Frequently Asked Questions

Cosmetic Dentist Serving San Jose, Sunnyvale and the Bay Area

What are porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers are thin ceramic laminates that are bonded to teeth. Porcelain veneers can be used to change the size, shape, or position of teeth, and also to whiten them. A good analogy is an artificial laminate fingernail.

What are “Lumineers” and da Vinci Veneers?

These are porcelain veneers that have been marketed by name. Lumineer is a brand name of porcelain veneer that is extremely thin. This allows the cosmetic dentist to bond the porcelain veneer to natural tooth structure with little or no removal of enamel. Unfortunately, these can only be used in limited cases and may not look natural.

Da Vinci porcelain veneers are another brand name veneer named after the laboratory and made popular by ABC’s Extreme Makeover program. There are dozens of porcelain veneer options that can work well in different situations. The final result is more dependent on the dentist and technician than on the name of the laboratory or porcelain veneer being marketed.

Will porcelain veneers damage my teeth?

In spite of what you may hear, a quality cosmetic result with porcelain veneers usually requires removal of some tooth structure. Sometimes this is an extremely small amount (contact lens thickness). The current level of technology makes it possible to replace tooth structure with porcelain that is equal in strength to enamel.

Porcelain Veneers

If you would like to learn more about porcelain veneers or any of the procedures or treatments Dr. Wayland provides, or if you would like to find out what cosmetic dentistry techniques he can use to correct your smile, contact him today to schedule your initial consultation.