Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made ceramic shells that cover the front of your teeth to change their color, shape, and size. At North Shore Dental Group, your veneers are planned with general and cosmetic dentist Dr. Adam Calderone and Harvard-trained prosthodontist Dr. Seiichi Yamano — in the same office at 450 Plandome Road.
Prefer to talk first? Call or text (516) 627-3535
A quick guide to how veneers work and what they can change.
A veneer is a thin shell of dental porcelain, made in a dental laboratory to fit one tooth, and permanently bonded to its front surface. Because porcelain reflects light in a similar way to natural enamel, a well-designed veneer blends with the teeth around it. Veneers are usually placed on the teeth that show when you smile.
Veneers can cover discoloration that whitening does not lift, repair chips and worn edges, close small gaps, even out teeth of different sizes or shapes, and improve the look of minor misalignment. Several veneers placed together can change the overall proportion and brightness of a smile.
To make room for the porcelain, a thin layer of enamel is reshaped from the front of each tooth. That change cannot be reversed, so a tooth that has had a porcelain veneer will always need a veneer or other restoration covering it. This is one reason we take time at the smile design stage — so you can see and approve the planned result before any tooth is prepared.
Both treatments improve the look of your teeth. The right choice depends on how much you want to change, how many teeth are involved, and how you weigh durability against a more conservative approach.
| Porcelain Veneers | Composite Bonding | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Custom porcelain shell made in a dental laboratory | Tooth-colored composite resin sculpted directly on the tooth |
| Visits | Several — consultation, preparation, and placement | Often a single visit |
| Tooth preparation | A thin layer of enamel is reshaped | Little or no enamel is removed |
| Stain resistance | Porcelain resists staining | Resin can pick up stain over time |
| Well suited to | Larger changes in color and shape across several teeth | Small chips, small gaps, and worn edges |
Your dentist will recommend an option after examining your teeth and discussing your goals.
Veneers work well for many adults, but they are one tool among several. Here is what we look for — and when another treatment may come first.
Veneers need a healthy foundation. Any decay is treated first, and if gum disease is present, our periodontist Dr. Effie Ahladiotis can help bring your gums back to health before cosmetic work begins.
Patients who are bothered by color, chips, small gaps, or uneven shapes on the teeth that show when they smile are often well suited to veneers.
Veneers bond to enamel. A tooth with a large filling, a crack, or significant structural damage may be better protected by a porcelain crown.
Clenching and grinding put stress on porcelain. If you grind your teeth, a custom night guard is usually part of the plan to protect your veneers.
If teeth are noticeably crowded or rotated, clear aligners with Dr. Calderone may come first, so veneers can be more conservative.
The aim is a smile that suits your face and still looks like you. Smile design lets you preview and refine the plan before treatment begins.
From the first conversation to your final placement visit, here is what to expect.
We talk through what you would like to change, examine your teeth and gums, and review X-rays with Pearl AI analysis. You will leave knowing whether veneers, bonding, whitening, or a combination fits your goals.
Your dentist plans the shape, length, and shade of each veneer around your face, lips, and gum line. Digital imaging and a diagnostic wax-up let you preview the planned result and ask for changes before any tooth is touched.
Under local anesthesia, a thin layer of enamel is reshaped from the front of each tooth. Precise impressions are taken and sent to the dental laboratory with your approved design.
You wear temporary veneers while your porcelain is made. They protect the prepared teeth and give you a chance to try the new shape in daily life and share feedback.
Each porcelain veneer is checked for fit, shade, and shape, then permanently bonded. Your bite is checked and fine-tuned, and you receive care instructions for your new smile.
Veneer cases at North Shore Dental Group are planned by a general and cosmetic dentist and a prosthodontist who work in the same office.
A general and cosmetic dentist and lifelong Manhasset resident. Dr. Calderone earned his DDS from NYU College of Dentistry in 2004 and completed his General Practice Residency at Jamaica Hospital in 2005. He provides veneers, bonding, and whitening, along with clear aligner care.
Meet Dr. Calderone →
A Harvard-trained prosthodontist and Associate Professor of Prosthodontics at NYU. Dr. Yamano focuses on crowns, bridges, smile makeovers, and full-arch implant restorations, and brings specialist training to cases that call for complex restorative planning.
Meet Dr. Yamano →Porcelain veneers need the same daily care as natural teeth, plus a few habits that protect the porcelain.
Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled brush and floss once a day. The tooth beneath each veneer and the gum line around it still need daily cleaning.
Regular professional cleanings and exams let us check the edges of your veneers, your gum health, and your bite.
If you clench or grind, a custom night guard helps protect your veneers while you sleep.
Opening packages, biting fingernails, or chewing ice and pens can chip porcelain. Use your back teeth for very hard foods.
If a veneer feels rough, loose, or different, call or text (516) 627-3535 so we can take a look.
Porcelain does not respond to whitening. If you would like your natural teeth brighter later, talk to us first so everything stays matched.
Before-and-after photos of veneer and cosmetic cases from North Shore Dental Group are shared on our Instagram account, @NSDGManhasset.
See Results on Instagram @NSDGManhassetAnswers from the cosmetic team at North Shore Dental Group in Manhasset, NY. Click any question to expand the answer.
Porcelain veneers are a long-term restoration, and how long yours last depends largely on daily care and habits. Brushing and flossing, keeping up with professional cleanings and exams, and wearing a night guard if you grind your teeth all help protect them. At your consultation, Dr. Calderone or Dr. Yamano will review the factors in your own mouth that affect longevity, such as your bite and the health of your gums.
Most patients find the process comfortable. Tooth preparation is done under local anesthesia, and only a thin layer of the front surface is reshaped. You wear temporary veneers while your final porcelain is made, and some patients notice mild temperature sensitivity for a short time after preparation.
Both can improve the shape and color of your teeth. Composite bonding is tooth-colored resin sculpted directly onto the tooth, often in a single visit, with little or no removal of enamel — a good fit for small chips, small gaps, and worn edges. Porcelain veneers are custom ceramic shells made in a dental laboratory; they resist staining and suit larger changes across several teeth. Your dentist will help you weigh the two during a cosmetic consultation.
Veneers can change the appearance of mildly crooked, uneven, or gapped teeth by reshaping their visible surfaces. When teeth are more noticeably out of position, moving them first with clear aligners from Dr. Calderone may allow for more conservative veneers — or remove the need for them altogether.
Porcelain does not change color with whitening. If you would like brighter teeth, it is usually done first, so your veneers can be matched to the new shade of your natural teeth. We offer in-office Philips Zoom (45 minutes) and Smyle (30 minutes) whitening, along with custom take-home trays.
Cosmetic consultations are requested through our contact page, or you can call or text (516) 627-3535. Our office is at 450 Plandome Road, Suite 102, in Manhasset, with private patient parking off Gaynor Avenue.
Request a cosmetic consultation with Dr. Calderone or Dr. Yamano at our Manhasset office. We will look at your smile together, explain your options, and plan the next steps. You can also explore smile makeovers and all of our cosmetic services.
(516) 627-3535Call or text us — we are here Monday through Saturday.
