A Simple Way to Improve the Look of Your Smile
For patients who are unhappy with the appearance of their teeth, Embury Family & Cosmetic Dentistry offers thoughtful, personalized cosmetic care designed to enhance your smile while keeping it natural and true to you. Even small, carefully planned changes can make a meaningful difference in both appearance and confidence.
Our dental team takes a one-patient-at-a-time approach, so you always feel heard, supported, and involved in your care. This allows us to focus fully on your needs, understand what you would like to change, and answer your questions throughout the process.
Dental veneers are a popular cosmetic dentistry option for improving the appearance of your smile. Whether you are concerned about chipped teeth, discoloration, small gaps, or uneven tooth shape, veneers can create a natural-looking result while preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible.
With advanced training and an evidence-based approach guided by Kois principles, our team carefully plans each case around your individual smile, bite, oral health, and long-term goals.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are thin, custom-made coverings placed over the front surfaces of teeth to improve their appearance. They can be used to change the shape, size, color, or proportions of individual teeth while creating a balanced and natural-looking smile.
Depending on your treatment plan, veneers may be made from porcelain or composite resin.
Dental veneers are often used to:
- Improve the overall appearance of your smile
- Close small gaps between teeth
- Improve discoloration that does not respond well to teeth whitening
- Correct minor irregularities in tooth shape
- Improve the appearance of chipped or uneven teeth
Because veneers require careful planning and rely on healthy enamel for predictable bonding, your dentist will evaluate your teeth, gums, bite, and overall oral health before recommending treatment.
Types of Veneers
Different veneer materials and preparation techniques may be appropriate depending on your teeth, smile goals, and treatment plan.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are custom-made by a dental laboratory and designed to closely mimic the translucency and appearance of natural enamel.
Porcelain provides excellent color stability and maintains its shine well over time. It is also more resistant to staining from foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, and red wine than composite resin.
Composite Resin Veneers
Composite veneers are created using tooth-colored resin that is applied and shaped directly on the tooth.
Composite treatment may be completed more quickly in certain cases and can provide a conservative way to improve specific cosmetic concerns. Composite resin can stain and lose some of its polish over time, so long-term maintenance differs from porcelain veneers.
Prep Veneers
Traditional veneer preparation may involve removing a small amount of enamel to create space for the restoration and achieve the desired shape and appearance.
The amount of preparation varies from patient to patient and is carefully planned to preserve as much healthy enamel as possible.
Minimal-Prep Veneers
In some cases, only minimal enamel preparation is necessary. Whether this is possible depends on the existing shape and position of your teeth, the desired result, and your overall treatment plan.
Our goal is always to recommend the most conservative approach that can provide a healthy, predictable, and natural-looking result.
Benefits of Dental Veneers
Dental veneers can provide several aesthetic benefits for patients who want to improve their smile.
They may:
- Create a natural-looking, balanced smile
- Improve tooth shape, size, and proportions
- Improve the appearance of discoloration
- Close small gaps between teeth
- Improve chipped or uneven teeth
- Provide long-lasting cosmetic improvement with appropriate care
Porcelain veneers also offer excellent stain resistance and can maintain their color and shine for many years.
While results vary from patient to patient, veneers can be an effective option when they are carefully planned as part of a comprehensive cosmetic treatment plan.
What to Expect During Veneer Treatment
Veneer treatment is carefully planned so you can understand and participate in the design of your new smile before your definitive porcelain veneers are completed.
Initial Consultation and Smile Records
Your first visit begins with a comprehensive evaluation and a discussion about what you would like to change about your smile.
We will also take photographs and records of your existing smile. These records allow us to communicate carefully with our dental laboratory and begin designing a smile that complements your facial features, bite, and individual goals.
Tooth Preparation
If preparation is needed, a small and carefully planned amount of enamel is removed from the front surface of the tooth to create space for the veneer.
Our approach focuses on preserving as much healthy enamel as possible while creating the proper foundation for a natural fit and predictable bonding.
Impressions and Temporary Veneers
Detailed impressions or digital records of your prepared teeth are taken and sent to our dental laboratory, where your definitive porcelain veneers are custom-made.
While your final veneers are being fabricated, you will wear temporary veneers that act as a prototype of your new smile.
These temporaries give you an opportunity to experience the shape and proportions of your planned smile in everyday life. You can practice speaking, smiling, and chewing while also evaluating how the veneers look and feel.
This stage gives you and your dentist the opportunity to discuss any changes you would like to make before the definitive porcelain veneers are completed.
Definitive Veneer Placement
Once your porcelain veneers are ready, the temporary restorations are removed and your definitive veneers are carefully evaluated for fit, shape, color, and overall appearance.
The veneers are then bonded to the enamel using dental cement and carefully adjusted to work comfortably with your bite.
Our goal is to create a smile that looks natural, feels comfortable, and reflects the result you helped design throughout the process.
A Conservative Approach to Cosmetic Dentistry
At Embury Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we have pursued extensive training in cosmetic and restorative dentistry so that every smile can be approached thoughtfully and individually.
Veneers are not automatically the first or only option for improving a smile.
In many cases, the most conservative and aesthetic result comes from combining treatments. For example, orthodontic treatment may be recommended before veneers to place the teeth in a healthier position and allow us to preserve more natural enamel during veneer preparation.
Other treatment plans may combine whitening, bonding, orthodontics, veneers, crowns, or other restorative care depending on the patient’s needs.
Our goal is to create a treatment plan that is unique to you while preserving healthy tooth structure whenever possible. Every case is designed around your individual smile, bite, oral health, and long-term goals rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
Veneers vs Other Cosmetic Options
Veneers are one of several treatments that may be used to improve the appearance of a smile.
Teeth whitening can improve discoloration while preserving the existing shape of the teeth.
Dental bonding can address certain chips, shape irregularities, or small gaps using tooth-colored resin.
Orthodontic treatment can improve tooth position, alignment, spacing, and bite. In many cosmetic cases, orthodontics is an important part of treatment because moving the teeth into a healthier position first can allow for a more conservative veneer preparation and a more natural final result.
Dental crowns may be more appropriate when a tooth has significant structural damage or does not have enough healthy enamel to predictably support a veneer.
Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth, while veneers are designed to improve existing teeth.
The right treatment, or combination of treatments, depends on your oral health, bite, existing tooth structure, and what you would like to achieve.
Who May Be a Good Candidate for Veneers?
Dental veneers may be appropriate for patients who:
- Have healthy teeth and gums
- Have adequate healthy enamel for predictable bonding
- Want to improve the shape, color, or proportions of their smile
- Have minor chips, gaps, discoloration, or uneven teeth
- Are willing to follow recommended care instructions after treatment
Patients with active gum disease, significant tooth damage, extensive enamel loss, or certain bite concerns may need other treatment before veneers can be considered.
A comprehensive evaluation allows us to determine whether veneers are appropriate and whether orthodontics, restorative treatment, or another cosmetic option should be incorporated into your plan.
Caring for Your Veneers
Proper home care helps protect the strength, appearance, and longevity of your veneers while also supporting the health of the surrounding teeth, gums, and bone.
To care for your veneers:
- Brush three times a day and floss at least once daily before brushing.
- Use a soft or extra-soft toothbrush unless your dentist has recommended an electric toothbrush.
- Choose a non-abrasive toothpaste. Avoid whitening, cinnamon, and tartar-control toothpastes, which may be too abrasive for bonded restorations.
- Use only fluoride products recommended for bonded porcelain restorations. Neutral sodium fluoride is preferred.
- Choose an alcohol-free mouth rinse, since alcohol can weaken the cement used to bond restorations over time.
- Maintain regular dental cleanings and examinations. Routine professional care is important for monitoring the veneers, surrounding teeth, and gums.
- Wear your night appliance as directed if one has been recommended. This can help reduce the risk of chipping or fracturing your veneers while you sleep.
It is also important to remember that veneers should be treated as jewels, not tools. Avoid using your teeth to tear, scrape, pull, or open anything.
To reduce the risk of chipping or debonding, avoid habits such as:
- Biting directly into very hard foods such as raw carrots, apples, thick bread, or hard pizza crust
- Pulling meat from bones with your teeth
- Chewing sticky foods such as toffee
- Chewing ice, pencils, or toothpicks
- Biting your nails
- Opening packages, containers, or bottles with your teeth
Certain foods, drinks, and habits can also affect the appearance or longevity of your restorations. Highly pigmented foods and beverages, acidic drinks, tobacco, and frequent alcohol use should be limited or avoided as recommended by your dentist.
Some mild sensitivity after veneer placement is normal. Your teeth, gums, or jaw muscles may feel tender for a short time, and sensitivity to hot, cold, or chewing may occur while your mouth adjusts. If sensitivity continues longer than expected, contact our office so we can evaluate the area.
Long-Term Expectations for Veneers
Veneers are designed to be durable, but they are not considered lifetime restorations.
Normal wear, changes in your bite, clenching or grinding, trauma, and other factors can affect how long veneers last. At some point, they may need repair or replacement.
Porcelain veneers generally maintain their color and polished appearance very well over time. Composite veneers may require additional polishing, maintenance, or replacement as they age.
Following your dentist’s recommendations and avoiding habits that place excessive force on your teeth can help protect your restorations.
Personalized Veneer Care at Our Office
At Embury Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, cosmetic treatment begins with understanding you, not simply choosing a procedure.
Dr. Carl Embury and Dr. Caitlin Embury take a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to cosmetic dentistry, considering your teeth, gums, bite, facial features, and personal goals when developing your treatment plan.
We take time to listen, explain your options, and design your treatment together so the final result feels natural and uniquely yours.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Veneers
How long do dental veneers last?
The lifespan of dental veneers varies depending on the material used, your bite, oral hygiene, habits such as grinding or clenching, and how the veneers are cared for.
Porcelain veneers are designed to provide long-lasting cosmetic results and generally maintain their color and shine very well over time.
Do veneers damage my natural teeth?
Veneer treatment usually requires some alteration of the natural tooth, which is why careful case selection and conservative preparation are so important.
At Embury Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we plan veneer treatment with the goal of preserving as much healthy enamel as possible. Because veneers bond most predictably to enamel, the amount and quality of enamel remaining are important considerations when determining whether veneers are appropriate.
Are veneers a good option for crooked teeth?
It depends on the position of the teeth and your overall bite.
In many cases, orthodontic treatment may be recommended before veneers. Properly positioning the teeth first can allow us to use a more conservative veneer preparation and preserve more healthy enamel.
Your treatment plan may include orthodontics, veneers, or a combination of treatments depending on your needs.
What is the difference between porcelain and composite veneers?
Porcelain veneers are custom-made by a dental laboratory and are known for their natural translucency, excellent stain resistance, and ability to maintain their color and shine over time.
Composite veneers are made from tooth-colored resin that is shaped directly on the tooth. They can provide beautiful results but are more susceptible to staining and may require additional polishing or maintenance over time.
The best material depends on your individual smile and treatment goals.
How do I take care of my veneers?
Care for veneers includes daily brushing and flossing, regular dental visits, and avoiding habits that place excessive force on the restorations.
You should also avoid using your veneers to bite directly into extremely hard foods or to open, tear, or hold objects. If you grind or clench your teeth, your dentist may recommend a nightguard to help protect your restorations.
Schedule Your Veneer Consultation in West Seneca
At Embury Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we focus on creating a comfortable, highly personalized experience where your goals come first.
Rather than simply choosing a cosmetic procedure, we evaluate your entire smile and determine the most conservative combination of treatments that can help you achieve a healthy, natural-looking result.
If you have been thinking about improving your smile but are not sure where to start, schedule a cosmetic consultation with our West Seneca dental team. We will help you understand your options and create a treatment plan designed specifically for you.
