What are veneers, and how do they work?
If you’ve heard of veneers, you likely know they are a versatile cosmetic dental solution that can beautifully transform teeth that are spaced, uneven, worn, chipped, or stained.
Veneers are ultra-thin porcelain shells bonded to the fronts of individual teeth. Each veneer is custom-made to mask the specific imperfections of each tooth, fit your features, and help you achieve your smile goals.
When expertly applied, porcelain veneers don't just brighten your smile; they can enhance your lips, jawline, and overall facial harmony, giving you a look that’s polished and more youthful.
When well cared for, veneers can last for decades, making them one of the most durable cosmetic options available.
How are porcelain veneers made and applied?
Dental veneers are works of high-tech artistry, blending 3D imaging with a dentist’s esthetic eye to create a beautiful, natural-looking smile.
Fabricating custom veneers begins with a digital scan or impression of your teeth taken by your dentist. Those impressions are then sent to a lab team where your veneers will be designed match your smile goals and facial proportions. Each veneer is carefully crafted from high-quality porcelain, then hand-finished to mimic the natural color and light-reflecting qualities of enamel.
How many veneers should I get?
Most dentists recommend placing veneers in pairs to keep your smile looking symmetrical and natural. The right number depends on the look you are aiming to achieve. Sometimes a few veneers can make a big difference, while in other cases, a fuller set is required for a complete smile makeover, creating the most balanced and youthful-looking result.
At Tend, we have competitive per-tooth pricing. The more veneers you get, the more you save, making your full smile makeover more affordable.
How do veneers transform your smile and face shape?
Veneers do more than remake your teeth. They actually transform the shape of your face. As you age, your mouth loses elasticity and muscle tone, making your face less symmetrical. Veneers can help make you look younger by supporting your mouth’s musculature and accentuating your cheekbones.
The effect is similar to what you’d get from a facelift. But unlike a facelift, veneers don’t involve surgery.
So, how exactly do veneers affect face shape? Let’s take a look at the different ways this popular cosmetic treatment can address common signs of aging and improve symmetry, bite, and jawline definition:
Lip Support
As we age, lips can lose volume and elasticity, which sometimes creates a “collapsed” look around the mouth. Veneers help restore natural lip support, giving your smile and lower face more youthful fullness.
Smile Width & Symmetry
By lengthening or widening your teeth, veneers can subtly broaden your smile and bring more balance to your features. Uneven or worn-down teeth often make the face appear less symmetrical, and correcting these issues with veneers helps restore harmony.
Facial Alignment
Sometimes the dental midline (where your two front teeth meet) doesn’t align with the center of your face. Veneers may be able to correct this. When your teeth come together more evenly, it improves both function and the symmetry of your facial features.
Jawline & Cheek Support
By designing veneers to create a fuller smile, it is possible to give the impression of a stronger jawline. In addition, lengthening teeth slightly can lift the area around the cheeks, softening sagging or hollowing that can develop with age.
How do veneers affect different face shapes?
Custom veneer design makes the treatment personal to you, ensuring that your veneers work with your natural face shape and smile goals. When designing your veneers, your dentist will consider how the shape of your veneers will impact your overall appearance.
- Round faces: Longer veneers can add vertical definition, making the face appear slimmer.
- Long faces: Slightly wider veneers broaden the smile, adding balance so the face doesn’t look too narrow.
- Square faces: Softer, rounded edges on veneers reduce harsh angles and create harmony.
- Oval or heart-shaped faces: Balanced veneers enhance natural proportions and symmetry, maintaining a refined and elegant look.
What is the veneer process, start to finish?
At Tend, if you’re interested in veneers, we offer a complimentary, 30-minute virtual consultation to discuss your smile and determine if veneers are right for you.
If they are, and you want to move forward, we’ll match you with a Tend dentist who has been expertly trained in veneer planning and placement. You’ll come in for 3D imaging, and your dentist will show you a digital preview of your new smile. This visit takes about 50 minutes.
Sometimes, the best way to make your smile sing is to supplement veneers with crowns, implants, and other types of restorative work. If your dentist recommends that, we will provide you with an estimate and discuss the details with you.
The next step is temporary veneers. In about 70 minutes, your dentist will remove a thin layer of surface enamel from your teeth, and you’ll leave with a temporary version of your new smile. This gives you an opportunity to test it out with friends and family members.
When you’re ready, we’ll mill your permanent veneers. Our lab uses state-of-the-art technology, and we hand-glaze the porcelain for exquisite natural detail.
In your last visit, also about 70 minutes, your dentist will apply your permanent veneers, and you can start enjoying your new appearance.
FAQs About How Veneers Affect Your Face Shape & Appearance
Before we dive into common questions, it’s worth noting that everyone’s smile is unique. While veneers can enhance facial balance and symmetry in remarkable ways, the results always depend on your unique features, goals, and the expertise of your dentist. To help you better understand what’s possible, here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about veneers and their impact on face shape.
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Are there risks that veneers will make my smile or face look unnatural?
Not when designed correctly. At Tend Dental, we focus on natural detail, proportion, and balance. Our approach helps ensure porcelain veneers and facial balance work together so your veneers enhance your appearance rather than change it unnaturally.
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Are veneers a good alternative to cosmetic fillers or a facelift?
While veneers don’t replace medical esthetics, they can provide a lift-like effect by supporting lips, improving cheek fullness, and enhancing jaw structure. For many patients, this makes veneers a long-lasting, non-surgical alternative for subtle rejuvenation.
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Do veneers change your jawline or chin appearance?
Veneers don’t alter your bone structure, but they can alter how your jawline looks. By adjusting the dental midline with a slight correction and enhancing smile width, veneers can be used to provide improved jawline definition and balance across the lower face.
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Do veneers help with sagging around the mouth and lips?
Yes. Veneers can help to add structure and support to the lips and cheeks, reducing sagging and giving a more youthful appearance without surgery. This extra lip support with veneers can make your smile and lower face look refreshed.
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Will veneers make my face look slimmer or wider?
The answer can be yes to both of these, depending on how your veneers are designed. Depending on your goals, veneers can be customized to provide a slimming effect or widen the smile for more fullness. They can be a key part of your smile makeover to provide face shape changes.
Book a virtual veneers consult with Dr. Schlenoff
Spend 30 minutes talking to Dr. Schlenoff about your smile and whether veneers are right for you. Virtual veneer consults are completely free.