Resin veneerFront tooth resin · Resin veneer
- Same day
- Finished the same day
- Shaving
- Barely any
- Anesthesia
- Usually none
- Between visits
- None
- After treatment
- Edges change color
- Cost
- Explained after your exam
A resin veneer matches color and shape right on the front surface of the tooth. Nothing is made separately from an impression. The tooth is barely shaved, and treatment is finished the same day.
It uses the same material as composite fillings in back teeth, but the purpose is different. Front teeth are easy to see, so matching color and translucency is half the work. That is why it has its own page.
If a large part of the tooth is missing, it will not be strong enough. After a few years, the color starts to change from the edges. We do not use it on teeth that are badly broken or have had root canal treatment.
Advantages of resin veneers
Done in one dayNo impressions are taken. The resin is shaped on the tooth and hardened with light, so it is finished on the day you visit.
Barely any shavingWe do not shave away much to make room. A thin layer goes on top of your own tooth.
Color matched on the spotWe match the color by comparing shade samples with the neighboring teeth. You are not receiving a finished piece colored somewhere else.
How resin veneers are done
No impressions are taken. Matching the color is half the work.
- 01
We compare with the neighboring teeth
First we check what is missing. We work out whether the problem is the color, the tip, or a gap, and decide how much to add.
- 02
We add a thin layer
The tooth is barely shaved, and the resin is shaped right on it. We never add a thick layer all at once.
- 03
We match the color
We compare with the neighboring teeth under the light. This step takes the most time. This is what sets it apart from composite fillings in back teeth.
- 04
We refine length and translucency
We shape the tip and the translucent part and finish the same day. You do not need to come back for a check.
Choosing by how much is removed
For front teeth, how much tooth is removed depends on what you want to change. We start with the cases where nothing needs to be removed.
Nothing removed
This is when color is the only issue. If you like the shape and size but the teeth look yellow overall, there is no reason to remove anything. The tooth stays as it is, and we lighten the color inside it. Only the color changes, so any gaps or shape stay the same.
Added on top, nothing removed
This is when the teeth sit slightly inward or are small, so coming forward a little is fine. Without removing anything, we add a thin layer over the tooth. If you do not like it, it can be taken off. But the tooth becomes thicker by that layer, so we do not do this on teeth that already stick out.
A thin layer removed from the front
This is when the teeth already stick out, or the color is so dark that a thin cover will not hide it. We shape the front surface by the thickness of what will be bonded, then bond it there. Once bonded, the tooth is back to its original thickness. But a tooth that has been reduced cannot be restored to how it was.
Porcelain veneer
Removed all the way around
This is when a front tooth is badly broken, or little of it remains after root canal treatment. The front layer alone does not leave enough to bond to, and even if we bond something, the remaining tooth breaks first. We shape the front and back all the way around and cover the whole tooth so it takes chewing force evenly.
Is it the same as a composite filling in a back tooth?
The material is the same, but the purpose is different. Front teeth are easy to see, so there is an extra step to match color and translucency.
Do you shave a lot off?
Barely any. But if a large part of the tooth is missing, resin will not be strong enough, so we consider a crown instead.
How long does it last?
After a few years, the color starts to change from the edges. It varies with how you care for it. If the same spot has been redone several times, it is time to change the approach.
Does it hurt?
The shaving is shallow, so no anesthesia is used. Let us know if it feels sensitive during treatment.
What if it comes off again?
Often the tooth has not broken again; the resin that was bonded to it has come off. If it is the third time, it means bonding itself cannot withstand that force.
