How to Prep Veneers

Dental veneers are very thin shells that fit over teeth to make them more visually appealing. These shells can be constructed from either porcelain or resin material, and are bonded directly to the front of the teeth. Dental veneers are used to fix discolored, worn down, chipped or broken teeth, and the process is not reversible. Before the veneers can be bonded, enamel from the front of the teeth must be trimmed off, and impressions of the teeth need to be made.

Things You'll Need

• Dental veneer
• Dental cement

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Instructions

• 1

  Visit your dentist to get your teeth examined. Your dentist will make sure veneers are appropriate for your teeth, and possibly take X-rays of your teeth.

• 2

  Schedule an appointment with your dentist to prepare your teeth for the veneers. After numbing your teeth, your dentist will remove 1/2 mm of enamel from the surface of each tooth. Your dentist will then make an impression of your teeth, which will be sent to a dental laboratory to be made into veneers.

• 3

  Return to your dentist to get your veneers fitted and trimmed, to perfectly fit your teeth. Your dentist will clean, polish and etch your teeth, then use a dental cement to bond the veneers to your teeth. A special light beam will be applied to the veneers to activate the chemicals in the cement, causing the veneers to bond quickly.