The reason to do a veneer is to change the color and/or shape of a front tooth that doesn't have any other problems, which would require more removal of tooth structure (for example, a tooth that has a large amount of decay of large fillings is usually treated with a crown versus a veneer.)

 

Since veneers are fairly thin, they often have a harder time blocking out deeper colors.  Because of this, a bleach is often done first.  If the color is too deep, then a crown would again be in order. 

 

Most typically, a patient who has had veneers done will also need for us to make them a light plastic splint to wear while sleeping, to prevent breaking the veneers. 

 

These plastic splints are also very common in our practice to treat patients who wear down or even break their teeth as they sleep.  It is less costly for the patient to wear a splint, rather than risk crowning or even root canaling teeth that might otherwise break.  (If you get a "zing" in a tooth when you bite down in a certain way, that usually means there is a crack, which requires a crown.)