Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
Porcelain veneers in Pompano Beach are the most transformative thing cosmetic dentistry can do to a smile, and the least reversible. Both halves of that sentence matter.
Quick answer
A porcelain veneer is a thin custom shell bonded to the front of a tooth to change its colour, shape, length or alignment. A small amount of enamel is removed first so the veneer sits flush, which makes the treatment permanent: the tooth will always need to be covered afterwards. At South Florida Smile Spa in Pompano Beach, Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS plans veneers from photographs and the bite, and will suggest whitening or bonding first where either would achieve what you actually want. Veneers commonly last ten to fifteen years and often longer with a night guard.
Porcelain Veneers
What a veneer is, and what it costs you
A veneer is a shell of porcelain, usually a few tenths of a millimetre thick, bonded to the prepared front surface of a tooth. Because the porcelain is translucent and the bond is strong, the result behaves optically much like enamel.
The trade-off is the preparation. Enamel is removed so the veneer does not leave the tooth looking bulky, and enamel does not come back. From that point the tooth is committed: when a veneer eventually needs replacing, it gets replaced rather than simply removed.
That is not an argument against veneers. It is an argument for being certain that something reversible would not have done the job, which is why we start with photographs and a conversation rather than a shade guide.
Porcelain veneers or composite bonding
These are the two ways of changing the front surface of a tooth, and the right answer genuinely depends on the case.
| Porcelain veneers | Composite bonding | |
|---|---|---|
| Visits | Two, with temporaries in between | One |
| Enamel removed | Yes, a thin layer | Often little or none |
| Staining | Highly resistant | Picks up stain over years |
| Typical lifespan | Ten to fifteen years, often longer | A few years before repolish or replacement |
| Repairable | Usually replaced | Easily added to or repaired |
| Reversible | No | Often yes |
Our longer patient guide, porcelain veneers without sacrificing your oral health, goes further into how to keep the tooth underneath healthy.
The Process
What getting veneers involves
- Planning. Photographs, a look at how much tooth shows when you talk and smile, the bite, and a gum health check. Whitening, if you want it, happens now rather than later.
- Design. Shape, length and shade agreed before anything is prepared. A digital scan with the iTero scanner replaces impression trays.
- Preparation. A thin layer of enamel removed under local anesthetic, then a scan for the laboratory.
- Temporaries. Provisional veneers you wear for a couple of weeks. This is your preview, and the moment to say what you would change.
- Fitting. The final veneers are tried in, checked for shade and bite, then bonded. Adjustments happen here rather than afterwards.
If you grind your teeth, a night guard is part of the plan rather than an afterthought. Bruxism is the most common reason porcelain chips.
Who veneers suit, and who they do not
- Good candidates. Healthy gums, enough sound enamel to bond to, a stable bite, and concerns about colour, shape, chips or small gaps across the teeth that show.
- Treat first. Active decay, untreated gum disease, or an unmanaged grinding habit. Veneers placed over any of these fail early.
- Consider alternatives. If the only issue is colour, whitening is cheaper and removes nothing. If teeth are noticeably out of line, Invisalign first means less porcelain and less drilling.
- Not a substitute for a crown. A heavily filled or cracked tooth needs a crown, which covers the whole tooth, rather than a veneer on the front of it.
Looking after veneers
- Brush and floss normally; the margin where porcelain meets tooth is where decay would start
- Wear the night guard if one was made for you
- Do not open packaging, bite nails or chew ice with your front teeth
- Keep your recall appointments so the margins and the gum line are checked
- Expect the natural teeth around them to keep changing colour, which is worth factoring into the shade you choose
Thinking about more than the front teeth? A smile makeover plans several treatments as one result rather than one at a time.
Care in Pompano Beach
Why patients choose South Florida Smile Spa
Dr. Nicole M. Berger has practiced in Pompano Beach for more than twenty years and will tell you when a cheaper, less invasive option would get you most of the way there.
- Veneers planned from photographs and the bite, not from a shade guide alone
- Digital scanning rather than impression trays
- A temporary stage you can actually assess before the final veneers are made
- IV and oral sedation available for longer appointments
- English and Spanish spoken
- One location on E McNab Rd, serving Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek
New here? See what to expect on your first visit, or meet the team.
Before you commit to porcelain
Come in with photographs of what bothers you. We will tell you whether veneers are the right answer or whether something reversible would get you there.
South Florida Smile Spa · Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS · 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 · (954) 785-1100
Frequently Asked Questions
How much tooth is removed for veneers?
Typically a fraction of a millimetre from the front surface, enough that the veneer sits flush rather than bulking the tooth forward. It is not much, but it is enamel, and enamel does not regrow. That is the single most important thing to understand before agreeing to veneers.
Are veneers reversible?
No. Once enamel has been reduced, the tooth will always need to be covered by something. If a veneer eventually fails it is replaced, not removed and forgotten. This is why we try bonding or whitening first when either could reasonably achieve what you want.
How long do porcelain veneers last?
Commonly ten to fifteen years, and often longer with good care and a night guard if you grind. Some fail earlier through chipping, decay at the margin, or the gum receding and exposing the edge. Nobody can guarantee a number, and the way you use your teeth matters more than the brand of porcelain.
Porcelain or composite bonding?
Porcelain resists staining, holds its polish and lasts longer, but costs more and requires enamel removal. Composite is done in a single visit, can often be added with little or no drilling, and is easier to repair, but it stains over time and needs replacing sooner. Neither is simply better.
Do veneers stain?
Porcelain itself does not stain the way natural enamel does, which is part of the appeal. The cement line at the edge can discolour over years, and the natural teeth around the veneers continue to change colour, which is why shade is chosen with the long term in mind.
Can I whiten veneers?
No. Whitening gel does not change the colour of porcelain, composite, crowns or fillings. That is why whitening, if you want it, is done before veneers are made, so the veneers are matched to the shade you intend to keep.
Will veneers fix crooked teeth?
They can disguise mild crowding or a small gap. They cannot correct a bite, and using porcelain to mask teeth that are genuinely out of position means removing far more tooth than necessary. For anything beyond mild, straightening with Invisalign first and then doing less porcelain is usually the better answer.
Do veneers hurt?
Preparation is done with the area numbed, so the appointment itself is comfortable. Some sensitivity to cold while you are in temporaries is normal and settles once the final veneers are bonded.
What are temporaries like?
Provisional veneers are worn between the preparation and fitting visits. They are not as refined as the final result, they can feel slightly bulkier, and they are a useful preview of shape and length. Tell us what you would change while you are wearing them, because that is the moment to adjust.
How many veneers will I need?
It depends on how far your smile shows when you talk and laugh, not on a fixed number. Some people need two, many need six to eight across the upper front teeth, and matching a single veneer to natural neighbours is the hardest case of all.
Can veneers come off?
A debonded veneer is uncommon but does happen, usually from trauma or heavy grinding. If one comes off, keep it, avoid chewing on that side, and call the office. In most cases it can be rebonded rather than remade.