Coverage extent for damaged front teeth

A porcelain veneer is a custom thin shell placed on the front surface of a tooth. A composite veneer is tooth-coloured filling material bonded to the tooth and may need less enamel removal.

A small percentage of teeth receiving crowns, veneers, or bridges may need root canal treatment. This is commonly identified before permanent cementation, though symptoms can also develop months or years later.

Porcelain veneers are strong, long-lasting and tend to cost more. Composite veneers are easier to repair when damaged, but do not resist staining or wear as well as porcelain.

Diet, oral hygiene, cleaning between teeth, smoking, daily wear, and tooth grinding affect how long crowns, veneers, and bridges last. Plaque around crown margins can cause gum bleeding.

Thin gums can occasionally recede and expose a darker root surface or restoration margin. Bleaching natural teeth does not change porcelain crowns, so the colours may no longer match.

A veneer should not be placed over unhealthy teeth because infection and nerve damage are possible when treatment is provided by an unlicensed person or disease is missed. Decay and gum disease need treatment first.

The choice examines the tooth surface to be covered, the amount of enamel that can be removed, gum condition, plaque control, and whether porcelain or composite has the needed balance of repairability and stain resistance.