Page 47 - Amazing Smiles

figure 49 Miracles in Two Visits- The Porcelain Veneer
figure 49b
present. The reason enamel is needed, even after
some minor tooth reduction, is because the
porcelain veneer adheres to the tooth through its
enamel. When porcelain veneers come back from
the dental lab, they are highly glazed on the out-
side. The inside (the side that will be adhering to
the tooth) is micro-porous and frosty looking.
This frosty appearance was created by application
of an acid at the dental lab. The cosmetic dentist
will use a safe milder acid in the mouth to quickly
etch the remaining enamel on the prepared tooth
to receive the veneer. Once etched, the tooth sur-
face has micro-pores; with both surfaces etched
(figure 49), a liquid composite resin is used to
cement the etched veneer to the etched tooth. If
not enough enamel is present on the tooth, or not
enough tooth structure is available, the porcelain
veneer will not adhere to the tooth, strangly, and
may fall off during function. In order to add addi-
tional strength and stability to porcelain veneers,
the teeth are prepared over the incisal edges and
wrap onto the lingual surfaces. This is known as
a counter bevel. (figure 49b)

39