Custom Porcelain Veneers: Professional Dental Care in Richmond

How Veneers Are Planned and Placed

Every case starts with planning rather than drilling. We examine your teeth, gums, and bite, take photographs, and talk through the result you want, which is usually more subtle than patients expect once they see options side by side. This is also where we check honestly whether veneers are the right route at all, or whether professional whitening, composite bonding, or clear aligners would get you there with less intervention and less cost.

When veneers are the right choice, we prepare the front surfaces of the teeth conservatively, take precise impressions or a digital scan, and send your specifications to the lab. Temporary veneers protect the teeth while the porcelain is being made. At the fitting appointment we check fit, colour, and bite before bonding anything permanently, and adjust until it is right. Most cases take two to three visits.

What Veneers Cannot Do

Veneers cover the front of a tooth; they do not treat what is underneath. Active decay, gum disease, or an infected tooth has to be dealt with first. Significant crowding or bite problems are better handled with orthodontics, and heavy grinding needs to be addressed before porcelain is placed or it will chip. We will always tell you which of these applies to you.

The Part Worth Thinking About

Preparing a tooth for a porcelain veneer removes a thin layer of enamel, and that is permanent. The tooth will always need a veneer or crown from then on. It is a good treatment, but it is not a reversible one, and that deserves a proper conversation rather than a same-day decision.

Looking After Them

Brush and floss as normal, keep up your regular check-ups and cleanings, and wear a nightguard if you grind. Porcelain resists staining well, though the natural teeth and bonding margins around it still respond to coffee, tea, and red wine.

Cost, Insurance, and Planning

Veneers are priced per tooth, so the total depends on how many you have and on the material chosen. Our fees follow the standard BC Dental Association fee guide with no markup, and you will have a written treatment plan and an exact figure before anything begins. Cosmetic veneers are usually not covered by insurance or CDCP; where a tooth needs restoring for structural reasons rather than appearance, coverage sometimes applies, and we will tell you which category your case falls into.

Book a Veneers Consultation in Richmond, BC

Find us at 6011 No. 1 Road, Unit 120, in Terra Nova, Richmond, with free on-site parking and Saturday appointments available. Our team speaks English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Farsi. Call (604) 238-6666 to book a cosmetic consultation, and bring photographs of smiles you like if you have them. It makes the planning conversation much more concrete.

Common Questions

How long do porcelain veneers last?

Well-made veneers commonly last a decade or more with good home care and regular check-ups. Grinding, biting nails or ice, and gum disease are what shorten that.

Do veneers damage your natural teeth?

Preparation removes a thin layer of enamel, which does not grow back, so the tooth stays committed to a veneer or crown afterward. The tooth itself remains healthy and functional.

Do I need veneers on all my front teeth?

Not necessarily. Some patients only treat two or four. What matters is that the finished result looks balanced, which is part of what the planning stage decides.

Veneers or whitening: which should I do first?

If colour is your only concern, whitening is cheaper, faster, and reversible, so it is the sensible first step. Veneers make more sense when shape, edges, or gaps also need work.

Do veneers stain over time?

Porcelain itself is highly stain-resistant. The surrounding natural teeth can still darken, which is one reason we discuss whitening before finalizing your veneer shade.