Medically Reviewed by Dr. Dee Dee Meevasin, DMD on July 15, 2026
Veneers seem simple from the outside: thin shell, front of the tooth, done. We’ve placed hundreds of them. When they fail, it’s usually not a placement problem — wrong shade selection, wrong patient, or a grinding history nobody asked about. Getting the clinical picture right before removing any enamel is most of the job.
Dr. Dee Dee Meevasin, DMD has mentored other dentists in CEREC digital fabrication since 2013. That puts us in an unusual position: we know what goes wrong during veneer cases because we’ve helped other practices troubleshoot their own. We’re not going to skip the diagnosis phase to get to the visual part faster. If you’re considering veneers, contact our office to schedule an evaluation and find out whether you’re a candidate.
The Veneer Process, Step by Step
1. Consultation and Smile Assessment
We say no at the first consultation about as often as we say yes. Active gum disease means we stop — the margins won’t hold against inflamed tissue. Crowding: we send them to an orthodontist first. We examine the gums, bite, and tooth structure, use digital imaging to show a rough preview of the result, and then have an honest conversation about whether veneers are the right call. The preview isn’t binding, but it confirms we’re aiming at the same target before removing any enamel.
2. Custom Treatment Planning
Digital scans feed into our CEREC milling system. Shade, shape, and contour get finalized before anything touches your teeth. We’ve found this is where most veneer cases go wrong when they go wrong — rushing through the design stage. Veneer planning covers every detail: number of teeth, material choice, shade matching against your natural teeth, and how the margin relationship to your gum line will hold up long-term. The full treatment plan documents all of it before the drill runs.
3. Tooth Preparation
Getting veneers means removing a thin layer of tooth enamel from the front surface of each tooth being treated. Local anesthesia is used. Typical depth: 0.3 to 0.7mm. Enamel doesn’t come back — that’s the point of no return. Temporaries protect the prepared teeth while the final set is milled. Minimal-prep options exist for some patients with very minor corrections; we assess that case by case.
4. Fabrication
e.max — IPS lithium disilicate — is the ceramic we use for most cases. In natural light, it doesn’t read as ceramic. Other ceramics do. Every veneer is milled individually. Whatever was finalized in the design phase gets machined in at this step.
5. Trial Fitting and Adjustments
Try-in before final bond. We seat them temporarily first. We check the bite in all positions. We look at gum margins. Shade gets confirmed under office lights and then under daylight — they don’t look the same and both matter. We’ve sent sets back to be remilled at this stage when the match wasn’t right. Nothing gets bonded until you’ve signed off on it.
6. Permanent Bonding
Teeth are cleaned and etched. Veneers seated with dental cement and cured with a curing light. Cement cleaned off. Bite verified in every position. Most people walk out with their permanent veneers that day. The difference from the temporaries is usually obvious immediately.
7. Long-Term Veneer Care
Porcelain veneers hold up 10 to 20 years under normal conditions. The thing that shortens that most often is bruxism — grinding chips ceramic. Grinders: the nightguard is not optional. Bruxism is how you shorten a veneer’s life. Soft brush. Gentle toothpaste. Floss at the margin — that’s the spot. Come back every six months — that’s when we catch margin wear before it turns into a larger issue. Coffee and red wine can’t stain the porcelain surface itself. The cement line at the edge is different — that can discolor over time.
Porcelain vs. Composite Veneers: Which Is Right for You?
We recommend composite more often than patients expect. Young patient, chipped tooth, no grinding history, wants it done today: we’ll often recommend composite. Single appointment. Less enamel off. Lower price. The limitations are real — composite stains over time and typically needs replacement in the 4 to 8 year range. But that tradeoff makes clinical sense for the right patient.
Porcelain outlasts composite. Requires two visits. Costs more per tooth. The longevity and optical match to enamel are substantially better, which is why it’s the right call for comprehensive corrections or any case that needs to last 15 to 20 years. We make a specific recommendation for each case based on the exam, not a preference for one material over the other.
During your consultation with Dr. Meevasin, we go through both options with a clinical rationale — not a price list.
Veneers Cost: What Affects the Price in Las Vegas?
No two cases cost the same. Number of teeth is the biggest variable — eight front teeth costs significantly more than two. Porcelain costs more per tooth than composite. Gum work or orthodontics before veneers? That adds to the total. Most dental insurance excludes veneers as cosmetic; some exceptions exist for restorative cases where a veneer is protecting a structurally compromised tooth. We go through the full breakdown at the consultation, before any commitment is made. Financing options are available.
Are You a Candidate for Veneers?
What we say yes to: chipped teeth, staining that whitening never fully addressed, minor gaps between teeth, shapes that have always bothered someone. Who we won’t say yes to right now: active gum disease, not enough enamel left, a bite alignment that needs orthodontics first, grinding that isn’t managed. Some of that second group becomes the first group after addressing the underlying issue. That’s the conversation we have at the evaluation — what’s possible now versus what needs to happen first.
Schedule Your Veneer Consultation at Dee for Dentist
Dr. Dee Dee Meevasin, DMD earned her degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine. She’s trained other dentists in CEREC fabrication since 2013 — the same in-house milling system we use for our patients. Cases here range from single-tooth corrections to full smile rehabilitations, and we plan each one from what the clinical exam actually shows.
Contact our office to schedule a consultation and find out whether veneers are the right fit for what you’re trying to fix.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Veneers
How long do dental veneers last?
Porcelain veneers: 10 to 20 years in most cases. The patients who get the most out of them aren’t grinding and show up for regular check-ups. The things that end them early: grinding through the ceramic, biting hard objects, margin gaps where decay gets underneath. Composite: 4 to 8 years is realistic before staining or wear means a redo. Different material, different timeline.
Are veneers permanent?
Yes — because the enamel removal is permanent. Enamel doesn’t come back once it’s been taken off. Once a tooth is prepared for a veneer, it will always need a veneer or another restoration covering it. The veneer itself gets replaced when it wears out. That’s why candidacy matters — a rushed yes at the consultation becomes a long-term obligation for both of us.
Can veneers fix crooked teeth?
Minor visual correction: yes. We reshape the front surface. Real crowding or bite issues: that’s orthodontics, not veneers. Veneers don’t move teeth. Some patients do both — orthodontics to get positions right, then veneers for cosmetic refinement. At the consultation, we tell you clearly whether veneers cover the problem or whether you need both.
What is the difference between porcelain and composite veneers?
Porcelain outlasts composite. Closest optical match to natural enamel, stain-resistant, 10 to 20 year lifespan. Two visits to complete, higher cost per tooth. Composite is done same day. Lower cost, less enamel removed. It stains over time and typically needs replacement in the 4 to 8 year range. No single right answer. Which teeth, what we’re correcting, how long it needs to hold, the bite forces — we go through all of it.
Do veneers require special maintenance?
Soft toothbrush. Non-abrasive toothpaste. Floss at the margin every day. Six-month check-ups. Nothing beyond the routine. Grinders: the nightguard is not optional — bruxism is the fastest route to a chipped or worn veneer. One thing to know before starting: veneers can’t be whitened once they’re placed. Do the whitening first, so we can match the veneer shade to where you want your teeth to end up.
About the Author
Founder, Dee for Dentist, Las Vegas, NV
Dr. Meevasin is the founder of Dee for Dentist in Las Vegas. Undergrad at UC Irvine. DMD from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine. A CEREC mentor since 2013, her clinical focus includes same-day restorations, dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, and Healthy Start sleep apnea treatment for adults and children. She is actively involved in Team Smile, Smile it Forward, and the Fills Good Program.
