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how does it work?

To produce porcelain veneers, the dentist needs two patient visits. The time span between these two visits is normally 1-2 weeks.

Present status of teeth is established. Then a treatment plan is decided together with the dentist		A thin layer of enamel is removed. The veneers are normally produced in 1-2 weeks by a dental technician.		The surface of the enamel is etched and the veneer is cemented directly onto the tooth.

1. The consultation and the evaluation by the dentist
First the dentist has to evaluate and document your present status of your teeth. As a part in the examination the dentist has to take an x-ray and pictures of your teeth. The dentist needs also to make an impression. From this impression, a plaster model is made.

During your visit, you should tell all your wishes and modifications you want to do with your teeth. The dentist will evaluate if the desired changes will be possible or not.

To better understand how it will look like, the dentist will improve the plaster model. Some dentists use special software to simulate the result instead of using plaster models.

2. Preparation of a tooth for a porcelain veneer
To prepare a tooth for a porcelain veneer, the front and the sides of the tooth has to be ground down. Usually the goal is to grind the same amount as the veneer takes place. In this way the size of the tooth will not change.

The quantity of enamel which is ground down is about 0.5 - 0.7 mm. The amount is roughly the same as the thickness of an egg shell and comparison to other treatments, it's a small amount. Before the dentist start to grind down the tooth, you will be asked if you want local anaesthesia ("Novocain").

Before the dentist start to grind down the tooth, you will be asked if you want local anaesthesia ("novocaine")

When the correct quantity of enamel has been ground down, your dentist has to make another impression of your teeth. It's from this impression your porcelain veneer will be made. The impression will be sent to a dental lab and a new appointment is made.

It's possible that the dentist has access to his own computer-controlled milling machine. The dentist will make an optical impression of your teeth. The impression will be send to a computer which is connected to a milling machine. The milling machine will mill a veneer from a ceramic block. This takes some minutes. The advantage of this technique is that the porcelain veneer can be ground and cemented to the tooth in one dentist appointment.

If your dentist does not have this equipment, it could be for a good reason. Many dentists know that porcelain veneers looks more aesthetic and their physical qualities are much better if a dental technician will make them by hand instead of using a milling machine.

In those cases there your porcelain veneer will be made by a dental technician and you had to wait 1-2 weeks. The question is if you need a temporary veneer or not during this time.

	Cases where s you do not use a temporary porcelain veneer Because the enamel has been ground down, you can expect that the front of the tooth will feel rough. You will also feel the tooth edge with the tongue. However, you will get used to it. The tooth would also be sensitive to cold and warm. This is normal. Avoid too hot food or drinks!
	Cases where a temporary veneer is used It's possible that your dentist can produce a temporary veneer while you are waiting at a new one. There is sometimes a reason why the dentist does not want to use temporary veneer - They can easily loosen or break.

If you absolutely want a temporary veneer, tell this when you are making your appointment because it takes extra time to fasten them.

3. The porcelain veneer is cemented onto the tooth
Before the dentist can cement the porcelain veneer onto the tooth, it must be tried first. It can be necessary to shorten, rounded or straighten the veneer so the looking will be as good as possible.

Sometimes it is hard to get it right, because the veneer is resting loosely on the tooth. Then the colour of the cement should be decided, this because the veneer is transparent and it's the cement that gives the tooth its colour.

The dentist chooses a colour of cement that have the same shade as your other teeth. Without letting the cement harden, some of it is placed into the veneer. This is because you should see it for yourself what shade your tooth will have.

If you feel the colour does not match your other teeth, the dentist can show how the colour of the veneer will change and another material with other shade will be used instead. It's important for you to understand that you must be satisfied with the shade before the dentist continues to harden the cement. When the veneer is finally cemented, the colour cannot be changed.

After the choosing colour, the veneer will be washed and prepared for the cementing process. Your tooth will be polished and the surface of the enamel will be etched with an eroding gel. The gel has, if you magnify it with a microscope, a defrosted surface. This rough surface will help the cement to fasten on the tooth more easily.

The cement will be applied to the veneer and cemented onto the tooth. The dentist checks if the veneer is on its place. To fasten the veneer, the dentist will light on it with a special light (often blue). The light penetrates through the transparent veneer and on the cement. The light starts a catalyst in the cement which will harden. This takes a moment.

Now the veneer is attached on the tooth. The dentist grinds and polishes away superfluous cement that is on the edges of the veneer. After that, a bite test is performed to see if the veneer is fitted properly onto the tooth.

4. Check up
Many dentists asks their patients to come back after around one week. The dentist wants to evaluate how the gum tissue is reacting to the new veneer. If necessary, the dentists will do small adjustments on the veneer.

When the new porcelain veneer is attached to the tooth, you can sometimes feel shooting pain. This pain will normally vanish by itself; otherwise the dentist will suggest some solution.