Veneer - Definition and Overview

A veneer is a thin covering over something. It generally refers to a building construction method, such as brick veneer, where a thin layer of brick wall is used to cover the inner wall.

In the same vein, a veneer can also be used to describe someone displaying a false emotion on their face.

In dentistry a veneer is a thin layer of restorative material placed over a tooth surface, either to improve the aesthetics of a tooth, or to protect a damaged tooth surface. There are two types of material used in a veneer, composite and or porcelain. A composite veneer may be directly placed (built-up in the mouth), or indirectly fabricated by a dental technician in a dental laboratory, and later bonded to the tooth, typically using a resin cement such as Panavia. In contast a porcelain veneer may only be indirectly fabricated.

The advantages of using a veneer to restore a tooth are many. Very good aesthetics can be obtained, with minimal tooth preparation (ie drilling). Normally a reduction of around 0.5 mm is required for a porcelain veneer on a labial tooth surface. Composite veneers are becoming more popular as they are easy to repair, and porcelain veneers have a tendency to fracture. It can be very difficult to match the shade of an individual veneer to the remaining teeth, hence the tendency to place several; veneers, giving a "hollywood" smile!

Example Usage of Veneer