There are two types of veneers, composite veneers or porcelain laminates. The former can be placed directly on the tooth by the dentist. The latter are in actual very thin sheets of porcelain that can be used to be bonded on the front side of the teeth. These are routinely used by dentists on teeth that are stained or discolored, teeth that are worn, chipped, or misaligned or can be used as an alternative to orthodontic treatment. Veneers are used is a variety of cases by dentists. If after a long time a person finds that their enamel may have dulled or are just worn out, this could be due to natural causes or as a result of bad habits. Teeth can decay due to age, and this decay can cause teeth to chip, crack or give an uneven look. Spacing which is uneven can also be caused due to a genetic condition and as one grows older this spacing between the teeth grows wider.

There are many advantages of using a veneer; they are aesthetically pleasing with minimum dental work. If one uses a composite veneer, then a reduction of .5mm on the tooth surface may be required. The other advantage with composite veneers is that they are easy to repair, whereas the porcelain veneers have shown a tendency to break.

Veneers are used to beautify or change the look of the surface of teeth or to give teeth a good looking alignment. It would also be a good idea to use veneers to straighten teeth as it will avoid a trip to the orthodontist. However this may not be true in all cases, if there is severe crookedness of the teeth, one may have to go in for a combination of veneers plus a trip to the orthodontist. Also cosmetic dentists must be careful to make sure that the actual teeth are not very thick, as the veneer may stick out. Also the veneer must be created in such a way that the patient bites into it with no force or the veneer may chip and ultimately fall off.

Veneers are becoming popular today as they give the enamel a translucent and realistic feeling. Veneers are stain resistant, meaning patients can binge on food and drink that may otherwise stain teeth. Veneers have a long life, lasting up to 15 years. Veneers come in a variety of shades for the patient to pick depending on the natural color of their teeth. A patient that has teeth that are mildly discolored or crooked teeth may have their dentist suggest whitening and orthodontic alignment instead of veneers due to the fact that veneers will require shaping of the teeth with shells that are custom designed. This placement will be permanent, so if one does not have very badly colored teeth they could simply consider going for whitening. Veneers remove tooth enamel that may damage the teeth and make them sensitive to hot and cold beverages and food.