Porcelain veneers explained, from how they are made to how long they last

What porcelain veneers are

Veneers change the colour, shape and length of visible teeth, usually the upper front teeth. A separate guide explains what veneers cost and when whitening may be enough.

How a veneer is shaped and bonded

A veneer covers the front of a tooth. Some shells wrap over the biting edge. Others stop just short of it. Like tooth enamel, porcelain lets a little light through. The shell is fixed with a resin-based adhesive that bonds it firmly to the enamel.

Veneers vs crowns and fillings

A crown covers the whole visible part of a tooth. To make room for it, the tooth is ground down all the way round. A filling replaces lost tooth structure, for example after decay. A veneer sits only on the front and mainly changes how the tooth looks.

In 2002, a laboratory study by Edelhoff and Sorensen measured the difference on model teeth. For veneers, about a quarter to half as much tooth structure was removed as for a conventional full crown.

Porcelain vs composite veneers

Veneers can also be made from composite, a tooth-coloured resin. It is easier to repair, but it stains more readily and wears faster. Porcelain is harder and keeps its colour. For more on this material, see fillings and repairs with composite.

When veneers are an option and when they are not

Veneers are mainly an option for discoloured, chipped or irregularly shaped front teeth.

Your teeth and gums must be healthy beforehand. Decay and inflammation are treated first. A badly damaged tooth usually needs a crown. In people who grind their teeth heavily, veneers carry a higher risk. If teeth are noticeably crooked, clear aligners with Invisalign or Angel Aligner may be the better first step. We will check at your examination whether this is right for you.

How porcelain veneers are made

Dental lab or CEREC at the clinic

In a dental laboratory, a dental technician makes the shell from an impression or scan. This is done once the tooth has been prepared, that is, shaped for the shell. Until the shell is ready, a temporary restoration often protects the tooth. The shell is fitted at a second appointment.

With CEREC, the veneer is made at the clinic itself. The shell is designed on screen and cut from a ceramic block by a milling unit. It is then usually polished, or stained and glazed.

Making a veneer with CEREC in four steps

At our clinic, porcelain veneers are made with CEREC directly on site. Making them takes two to three hours. As a rule, one appointment is enough. The appointment and treatment are described under CEREC veneers in Küsnacht.

The four steps:

1. Scan and planning: A scanner records your teeth in three dimensions, without impression putty and without gagging. We plan the shape and colour on screen, in a photorealistic view.
2. Preparation: The tooth is prepared for the shell and scanned again so that the shell fits precisely.
3. Production: With CEREC, the porcelain veneer is made at the clinic.
4. Bonding: The finished veneer is bonded to the tooth.

There is more on how a digital dental impression is taken.

Matching colour and shape

We match the colour and shape to your own teeth. Besides the shade, the brightness and translucent biting edge of the neighbouring teeth matter. Our case study with discoloured front teeth shows the process from scan to bonding.

How much enamel is removed for veneers

For classic porcelain veneers, a thin layer of enamel is usually ground away. This makes room for the shell, so the tooth does not look thicker than before. As a guide, a 1992 study from the University of Siena suggested about half a millimetre. Only an examination can show how much would be removed from your teeth.

Why a thin layer of enamel is removed

Removing enamel makes room for the porcelain. But the removal should stay within the enamel where possible. The adhesive bonds better to enamel than to the dentine underneath. In 2024, a review in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry analysed six clinical studies. Veneers bonded to enamel held up more often and had fewer complications than veneers on exposed dentine.

What decides how much is removed

The amount depends mainly on these points:

• Position: A tooth that sticks out needs more removal than one that is set slightly back.
• Starting colour: A dark discolouration needs more porcelain so that it does not show through.
• Shape: If the tooth is meant to look longer or wider, the space needed changes.
• Enamel thickness: Near the gum line, the enamel is thinner than in the middle of the tooth.

Veneers with little or no enamel removal

Some veneers need very little enamel removal, or none at all. Dentists call them minimal-prep or no-prep veneers. This only works if there is enough room on the tooth, for example with small teeth or teeth set slightly back. Otherwise the tooth looks thicker afterwards.

Enamel removal cannot be undone

Enamel that has been removed does not grow back. A prepared tooth therefore needs a restoration permanently. That stays true when a veneer is replaced later. Take your time over this decision.

How long do porcelain veneers last?

Porcelain veneers are durable and, with good care, last for many years. How long a single veneer lasts depends on care, strain and the condition of the tooth beforehand. Nobody can predict it for one veneer.

What research says about veneer lifespan

In 2021, a review in the Journal of Clinical Medicine analysed 25 studies with around 6,500 porcelain veneers. After ten years, an estimated 95.5 per cent were still in use. A long-term study at the Medical University of Innsbruck followed 318 veneers for up to 20 years. The estimated survival rate was 93.5 per cent after ten years and 82.9 per cent after 20 years.

These are averages from studies, not results from our clinic. In both papers, porcelain fracture was the most common problem.

What shortens the life of veneers

In the Innsbruck study, the risk of failure was 7.7 times as high in people who grind their teeth. Veneers on teeth without a living nerve also failed more often. In everyday life, these things affect the shells most:

• Grinding and clenching, often unnoticed at night.
• Biting on hard things such as fingernails, pens or nutshells.
• Gums that recede and expose the edge of the shell. Look out for early warning signs in your gums.
• Decay at the edge of the shell if plaque is left there.
• Smoking, which can stain the edge.

What to do if a veneer chips or falls off

Keep the shell or the broken piece and call us on +41 44 915 17 77. Do not glue the veneer back on yourself, not even with superglue. The examination shows whether it can be bonded again or a new one is needed.

If the tooth hurts, or the tooth itself has broken, see our first steps in a dental emergency.

Veneer care at home and at the dentist

Veneers need no special care. Normal oral care and regular dental hygiene are enough. What matters is the edge where shell and tooth meet, because plaque easily builds up there.

Brushing and cleaning between teeth

• Brush twice a day with a soft or medium toothbrush.
• Clean between your teeth every day with floss or interdental brushes.
• Guide the brush gently over the line between shell and gum.
• Use a fluoride toothpaste without coarse abrasives.

Food, drink and habits

You can eat and drink as usual. The porcelain hardly stains, but the fine bonding line at the edge can discolour over time. If you grind your teeth at night, mention it at your check-up. A night guard is often recommended in that case.

Check-ups and dental hygiene

At a check-up, the edges, gums and bite are examined, so small damage is noticed early. Professional dental hygiene removes plaque even in places that are hard to reach with a toothbrush. Find out how often to have a dental check-up.