Porcelain veneers (dental veneers or dental porcelain laminates) are very thin shells of porcelain that are bonded onto the front side of teeth creating a cosmetic improvement for a tooth. Porcelain veneers are usually used by dentists as a way to make cosmetic changes for teeth that are discolored, worn, chipped, or misaligned. They are used to cover holes, to reshape chipped teeth and whiten the teeth. They are one of cosmetic dentistry's expensive options (at $1000 to $1,800 a tooth), but they are also one of the most natural-looking and long-lasting whitening options.

The application of porcelain veneers requires three consultations with your dentist. First visit: your dentist will diagnose your teeth and plan your treatment-planning session. This is when you and your dentist will discuss your specific needs. Next, return for a preparation session. Your dentist will buff about half a millimeter off your teeth to create room for the veneer, and will also create a mold of your teeth and send it to a laboratory. Within two weeks, the laboratory will do the veneers based on this mold and send it to your dentist. Then you will have the bonding session.
Your dentist will first give you a "trial fitting" of your veneers; he or she will use water or glycerin to stick them to your teeth. This is your chance to comment on the fit and color of the veneers, and to request any final changes or adjustments. When you are satisfied with the veneers, your dentists will clean your teeth with bond-aiding chemicals and cement the veneers to your teeth. Then he or she will flash a light on the veneers to speed up the hardening of the cement.