Considered porcelain veneers.

Why veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin shells of dental porcelain bonded to the front surface of the teeth. They answer a specific set of cosmetic questions: chips, gaps, persistent staining, mild misalignment, or the wish for a more refined smile line. They are a poor answer to others. Dr. Lina is candid about which cases are a fit and which are better solved another way.

Porcelain is the reason this treatment endures. Its optical depth and surface light catch are unmatched by composite resin or generic chairside materials, which is why a well-made veneer reads as a tooth, not as a covering.

What to expect

The process begins with a consultation: an unhurried conversation about what you’d like to change. From there, Dr. Lina builds a design plan, often using digital previews so you see the proposed proportions before any preparation begins.

Preparation is conservative. A thin layer of enamel is reshaped to make room for the veneer, and a precise impression is taken so the lab crafts each piece by hand. Temporaries are placed while the final veneers are made; how you live with the temporaries informs the final design.

The placement appointment is quiet and methodical. Each veneer is checked for fit and color, bonded individually, and refined until the bite is correct and the result looks settled.

Porcelain vs composite

Porcelain veneers and composite veneers solve adjacent problems with different trade-offs. Porcelain holds its color, surface character, and edge integrity longer; composite is more conservative to place and easier to revise chairside. With proper care, porcelain veneers last 10–15 years or longer, while composite veneers last 5–7 years and tend to need more frequent touch-ups along the way.

When veneers are a good fit

Veneers are a good answer when the underlying teeth are healthy, the bite is functional, and the cosmetic goal is one porcelain delivers: improved proportion, color, or surface character. They are not a substitute for orthodontics, restorative work on compromised teeth, or treatment of active gum disease. Where those underlying issues exist, Dr. Lina addresses them first.

The patients who do best with veneers arrive with a clear sense of what they don’t like about their smile and an open mind about how to address it. The work is collaborative.