Do Veneers cause any risk to a tooth's structure?

Research shows that a conservatively designed veneer does not weaken the tooth.

How long does applying veneers take?

Aside from the preparatory/planning visits, getting veneers is a two-appointment process. The first appointment involved preparing the teeth, taking impressions for the laboratory, and making temporary veneers. Approximately two weeks later, the veneers are ready and then get bonded on the teeth. Each of these appointments may be 3-4 hours long. The process requires meticulous care.

What is the average cost of a veneer?

The average cost of one veneer is probably $1500.

What dental problems can veneers correct?

Veneers can change tooth color, shape, and to a certain degree position. In other words, they correct stained/discolored teeth, misaligned or chipped teeth, and may be used to close undesirable spaces between teeth.

Does a veneer protect the tooth from decay?

No. The veneer itself will, of course, not get decayed, but the tooth behind it can still decay.

What are porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers are thin porcelain restorations that are bonded to front teeth in order to improve esthetics. They are used to improve the appearance of discolored and/or misaligned teeth.

How long do porcelain veneers last?

Longevity of veneers is primarily dependent on function, i.e. how heavily the teeth are used and abused. For instance, a small female patient, who does not clench or grind her teeth and has slender chewing musculature, will enjoy her veneers with minimal maintenance for well over a decade. A large male patient who grinds his teeth and will not tolerate a nightguard, however, may simply not be a candidate for veneers.

Will porcelain veneers look like my natural teeth?

They certainly can (or better, that's the whole point, isn't it?). It may be more challenging to obtain a very natural/translucent appearance of the veneers when the natural teeth are extremely dark underneath the veneers. e.g. severe tetracycline staining. In this case, the veneers may need to be made more opaque to block out the dark, which may of course look slightly less life-like. In these cases however, the improvement versus the original will be so dramatic that most patients will be thrilled anyway.