Dental Veneers

A confident smile is transformative. Dental veneers are the cosmetic dentistry solution for patients who want to completely redesign their smile in just two appointments.

What Are Dental Veneers?

Veneers are ultra-thin shells—thinner than a contact lens—bonded to the front surface of your teeth. They cover imperfections and create an entirely new tooth shape, size, and color. Unlike whitening or bonding, veneers are custom-fabricated to your exact specifications and look completely natural.

Porcelain vs. Composite Veneers

Porcelain veneers are widely considered the premium option. They’re created in a dental lab from high-quality ceramic that mimics natural tooth translucency. Porcelain is stain-resistant, extremely durable (10-15 years), and looks indistinguishable from real teeth. The process takes two appointments, but results are transformative.

Composite veneers are tooth-colored resin applied directly to your teeth in a single visit. They’re less expensive and require minimal tooth removal, but they’re softer, stain more easily, and typically last only 5-7 years.

Most cosmetic-conscious patients choose porcelain for the superior longevity and appearance.

The Veneer Process

Appointment 1 (Preparation): Dr. Sekhon will numb your teeth, remove a thin layer of enamel (0.5mm—about as thick as a fingernail), and take impressions and photos. You’ll select your desired shade and shape. Temporary veneers protect your teeth while the lab fabricates your permanent ones.

Appointment 2 (Bonding): We remove the temporaries, check the fit of your custom veneers, and bond them permanently with a special adhesive. You’ll see your transformation immediately.

Who Should Consider Veneers

Veneers are ideal if you want to fix:

• Chips and cracks in visible teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Permanent stains that whitening won’t remove
• Misshapen teeth or uneven wear
• Minor misalignment (mild crowding)
• Discolored crowns (by replacing them with veneers)

Veneers are not ideal if you have extensive crowns or fillings, severely misaligned teeth, or untreated gum disease. In those cases, we’ll recommend alternatives.

Your Unique Veneer Design

The beauty of veneers lies in customization. Your lab creates veneers based on your exact specifications. During consultation, Dr. Sekhon will discuss:

Shade and Color: What shade do you want? Bright and white? Natural yellow tone? Something in between? We’ll match your preferences and ensure they harmonize with your complexion and eye color.

Shape and Size: Do you want long, tapered teeth? Short, rounded teeth? Full coverage? Veneers can create completely different smile shapes. Dr. Sekhon shows before-and-afters of different shapes so you see the impact.

Proportion and Symmetry: How wide should veneers be relative to tooth length? Should they match your existing teeth or create a more distinctive look? Dr. Sekhon ensures proportions complement your face shape.

Edge Details: Should veneer edges be straight or slightly tapered? Full-coverage or partial? These details affect the final natural appearance.

The goal is veneers that look like your actual teeth—just perfected. Not fake, not plastic-looking, but authentically yours.

Porcelain vs. Composite Veneers: Detailed Comparison

Porcelain Veneers (Lab-Fabricated)

Process:

• Appointment 1: Tooth preparation, impressions, temporary veneers
• Lab fabricates custom veneers (7-14 days)
• Appointment 2: Permanent bonding

Durability: 10-15 years typical, some last 20+ years with excellent care

Appearance: Superior. Porcelain mimics natural tooth translucency perfectly. Indistinguishable from real teeth.

Stain Resistance: Excellent. Porcelain resists coffee, tea, and wine staining far better than composite.

Tooth Removal: 0.5mm enamel removal (conservative)

Cost: Higher initial investment but excellent longevity value

Ideal for: Major smile transformations, patients wanting premium longevity and appearance

Composite Veneers (Resin, Applied Directly)

Process:

• Single appointment. Composite resin applied and sculpted directly on your tooth.

Durability: 5-7 years typical, rarely beyond 10 years

Appearance: Good but not as natural as porcelain. Slightly duller sheen. More visible as a restoration over time.

Stain Resistance: Fair. Composite can stain if you drink coffee or wine regularly.

Tooth Removal: Minimal or none

Cost: Less expensive than porcelain

Ideal for: Budget-conscious patients, short-term cosmetic improvement, patients wanting no tooth removal

The reality: Most cosmetically-conscious patients choose porcelain because the superior appearance and durability justify the additional cost and two-appointment process.

The Veneer Process Explained

Appointment 1: Preparation and Temporaries

Dr. Sekhon numbs your teeth and carefully removes a thin layer of enamel (0.5mm—roughly the thickness of a fingernail) from the front surface of each tooth receiving a veneer. This is conservative and removes only what’s necessary for the veneer to bond properly.

Next, impressions are taken (or a digital scan made), and you select your desired shade and shape using shade guides. Photos are taken to guide the lab.

Temporary veneers are placed to protect your prepared teeth while the lab fabricates your permanent restorations (7-14 days). Temporaries are basic but functional, allowing you to eat and speak normally.

Lab Fabrication

Your impressions go to a trusted dental laboratory where highly trained technicians handcraft your veneers. Using your specifications, they create custom-shaped, custom-colored porcelain shells. The lab takes weeks because quality takes time—rushing compromises results.

Appointment 2: Try-In and Bonding

You return for your permanent veneer placement. First, Dr. Sekhon removes temporaries and checks the fit and shade of your new veneers. You see them before they’re bonded, ensuring you love them.

Any final adjustments are made, then veneers are bonded permanently using a special light-activated adhesive. You see your transformation immediately.

Living With Veneers

What You Can Eat Normally:

Veneers are durable. You can eat almost everything: steak, nuts, carrots, apples, popcorn. Just avoid the few things that damage veneers (see below).

What to Avoid:

• Don’t chew on: Ice, hard candy, pens, your nails (these can chip veneers)
• Don’t use your teeth as tools: Opening packages, cracking nuts, tearing things
• Consider a night guard: If you grind your teeth, wear a custom night guard to protect veneers

Oral Hygiene is Normal:

Brush twice daily with a soft toothbrush (hard bristles can slightly abrade the veneer surface). Floss normally. See your dentist every six months. Veneers don’t decay, but the tooth underneath can if plaque builds up underneath the edge.

Expected Lifespan and Replacement

With excellent care, porcelain veneers typically last 10-15 years, sometimes longer. When they do need replacement:

• They’re removed (without damaging underlying teeth)
• New veneers are fabricated
• New veneers are bonded on

The beauty of veneers: you can refresh your smile indefinitely. As trends change or your aesthetic preferences evolve, you simply replace them.

Porcelain veneers are a premium cosmetic investment. We offer flexible financing options to make your smile transformation affordable.

Why Dr. Sekhon for Veneer Cases

Cosmetic veneer cases require artistry, precision, and deep experience. Dr. Sekhon has placed hundreds of veneers and understands:

• Proportions that enhance different face shapes
• Shade selection that harmonizes with skin tone
• Subtle asymmetries that create natural appearance
• When veneers solve the problem vs. when aligners or other treatments are better

We use premium lab partners committed to quality and work with you throughout the process to ensure you love your result.

Your Veneer Transformation Starts Here

At Thrive Dental’s five Northern California locations—Dixon, Elk Grove, Yuba City, Stockton, and Santa Clara—we create veneer smiles that patients absolutely love. Schedule your cosmetic veneer consultation with Dr. Sekhon today. During consultation, we’ll examine your smile, discuss your aesthetic goals, show you realistic before-and-afters, and explain exactly what your veneer transformation would involve.

Book your consultation at www.zocdoc.com/practice/thrive-dental-140962 or call your nearest Thrive Dental location. Your dream smile is achievable—let’s create it together.

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Complete Your Smile Transformation

Combine veneers with other cosmetic services: professional whitening brightens adjacent natural teeth, clear aligners straighten before veneer placement, and dental bonding addresses minor imperfections cost-effectively. For underlying bite issues, we also offer restorative solutions. Visit any of our five convenient locations or schedule your appointment today.