A veneer is a thin shell bonded to the front of a tooth to change its shape, colour or surface — while leaving most of the underlying tooth structure intact.
Veneers may be considered for teeth that are:
- Chipped, worn or irregularly shaped
- Discoloured or stained in a way that hasn’t responded to whitening
- Affected by small gaps
- Only mildly misaligned, where orthodontic treatment isn’t appropriate or wanted
Veneers are most commonly made from either porcelain (ceramic) or composite resin. Porcelain veneers are fabricated in a dental laboratory and can be matched closely to the translucency and shade of natural teeth, making them a durable, stain-resistant option for longer-term aesthetic results. Composite resin veneers use the same tooth-coloured filling material as a white filling, built up directly on the tooth by your clinician — a more conservative and immediate option, though generally less durable than porcelain over time.
Porcelain veneers are typically fitted over two visits, since they’re made in a laboratory from an impression or digital scan, while composite veneers can usually be completed in a single visit.
For aesthetic cases, treatment is planned in advance to attempt to visualise the likely outcome before proceeding — for example using a wax-up or digital mock-up of the proposed changes. This planning stage helps you and your clinician agree on the intended shape, proportion and shade of the veneers, and identify any barriers to treatment, before any tooth preparation begins.
A specialist-led, collaborative process. At adelaideCAD, veneer treatment is planned in collaboration with your referring dentist, taking into account your bite, the condition of the tooth, and — where relevant — how the veneers fit into a broader treatment plan such as a full mouth reconstruction.
What to expect. Your clinician will assess whether veneers are suitable for your teeth and discuss the options — including how they compare to alternatives such as a crown for a more heavily damaged tooth — before treatment starts.
If your dentist has raised veneers as an option, ask them about a referral to adelaideCAD. Already been referred? Call (08) 8212 5294 to arrange your appointment.
