Getting Porcelain Veneers: The Process, Step by Step

If you've been thinking about porcelain veneers, part of what holds you back may be not knowing what happens once you say yes. It's a big decision for your smile, and it feels a lot easier when you can picture each step before it arrives. In this post we walk through the porcelain veneer process the way it unfolds at our New Haven dental office, from the first conversation to the day you see your finished smile, so you know what you'll be asked, what we'll do, and where you get a say.

How the veneer process works

The porcelain veneer process moves through five stages: a conversation about what you want, a design built around your face, a gentle preparation of your teeth, careful work with our dental lab, and a final fitting where you help decide when it's right. The ADA describes veneers as thin shells that cover the front of your teeth to improve how they look, and ours are custom porcelain, shaped for you.

How long it all takes depends on how many teeth are involved and what else your plan includes. We give you a realistic timeline at your consultation, so you can plan around it from the start.

Each step, from first talk to final smile

Talking through what you'd love to change

Every veneer case starts with a real conversation about what's been bothering you and what you want to feel when you smile. We call this co-discovery: you spend unhurried one-on-one time with our cosmetic dental assistant, our treatment coordinator and Dr. Lerch, mapping out what's possible for your smile. There's no pressure, and where possible you go home with a concrete plan and pricing in hand, so you can think it over at your own pace.

Designing veneers that suit your face

Once you know what you'd like, we design your veneers as a set. Dr. Lerch looks at your whole face, how your lips move, which teeth show when you smile, and how the light catches each tooth, so your finished smile has the gentle variation that real teeth have. If you'd like your smile brighter overall, we plan any teeth whitening first, because whitening only changes natural enamel and we want your veneers matched to your final shade.

Preparing your teeth with care

To make room for the porcelain, we remove a small amount of enamel from the front of each tooth. That change can't be undone, which is why we plan so carefully before we begin and explain exactly what your case involves ahead of time. Our team then takes a digital scan of your teeth, giving our dental lab an accurate model to build from. We check in with you throughout the visit and keep you comfortable.

Crafting your veneers with our dental lab

Great veneers are a partnership between you, our team and our dental lab. We share your design, your shade and the details of your smile with the lab, so the porcelain comes back shaped for you. Matching the shade is one of the steps we take the most time over, because our aim is teeth that look like teeth, blending so naturally that people simply notice your smile.

Seeing your new smile for the first time

When your veneers are ready, we place them and look at them together, with a mirror in the room so you can see every angle. You have a say at this stage too: we check how they look and how they feel, refine any detail that needs it, and we consider the work finished once you love how your smile looks and feels. Then we mark the moment with a smile styling visit, photos and a little celebration.

Common worries about getting veneers

Most worries about veneers come down to three questions: whether they'll look natural, whether the process is comfortable, and what happens to the teeth underneath.

Looking natural comes down to design. We shape each veneer to vary the way real teeth do, so your smile looks like your own, only brighter and more balanced. Dr. Lerch was one of the first women to be Accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and that accreditation is built on this kind of natural-looking work.

We plan for your comfort from the start. We keep you at ease throughout and walk you through what each step feels like before we start, so nothing catches you off guard. As for the teeth underneath, well-made veneers protect and beautify them for years, and porcelain resists stains well, so your smile tends to stay bright with everyday care and regular cleanings.

When to talk with us about veneers

If chips, stains, gaps or uneven edges make you hold back your smile, a consultation is a good next step. Veneers can change the color, shape and alignment of your teeth, and they're one of several ways to improve your smile we'll talk through with you. If a smaller change would serve you well, we'll tell you.

If you have more than one change in mind, veneers may become part of a smile makeover that brings several treatments together into one plan. You can learn more about our custom porcelain veneers, or simply bring your questions to our New Haven, CT dental team.

Frequently asked questions

How many visits does the veneer process take?

It depends on how many teeth you're treating and what else your plan includes, such as whitening first. We give you a realistic timeline at your consultation, so you know what to expect before anything begins and can plan your appointments around your life with confidence from the very first step.

Can I help design my veneers?

Yes. During co-discovery we map out your smile together, and you're a partner in every choice, from shape to shade. You have a say at each stage, including the fitting, and we consider the work finished once you love how your smile looks and feels, so the result reflects what you wanted.

Will my veneers match my other teeth?

We match the shade, shape and proportion of your veneers to your face and to any natural teeth that show when you smile. If you'd like a brighter smile overall, we whiten your natural teeth first, then match your veneers to that new shade, so everything blends together in one natural, balanced smile.

Does getting veneers hurt?

We keep you comfortable throughout the process and walk you through what each step feels like ahead of time. Preparing your teeth involves removing only a small amount of enamel, and we check in with you all through the visit. If you feel nervous, tell us, and we'll set the pace together so you feel at ease.

Your next step toward veneers

When you picture your smile after veneers, we'd love to help you get there. Call us at (203) 624-5256 or request a consultation. Our New Haven dental office is at 375 Orange St, two blocks from the New Haven Green, with free patient parking behind the building.

Published by Center for Esthetic Dentistry.