MASTERING VENEERS

Veneers and laminates are minimally invasive esthetic restorations designed to improve tooth color, shape, and alignment while preserving natural enamel. They are classified as direct, fabricated intraorally with composite resin, or indirect, produced in the laboratory with ceramics such as feldspathic porcelain and lithium disilicate. Composite veneers are affordable and repairable but less durable, while porcelain veneers provide superior translucency, color stability, strength, and gingival compatibility. Indications include masking intrinsic stains, closing diastemas, correcting peg laterals, restoring fractured incisors, and replacing defective restorations; contraindications include insufficient enamel, active caries, periodontal disease, severe malocclusion, and parafunctional habits. Preparation is conservative, involving 0.3-0.7 mm facial reduction with supragingival margins, followed by adhesive bonding using phosphoric acid etching, hydrofluoric acid treatment, silanization, and resin cement. Fabrication may use platinum foil, refractory die, or CAD/CAM techniques. Clinical studies show porcelain veneers exceed 90% survival at 10-15 years.