Enamel thickness
How much enamel is left on the front surface.
Bonding relies on enamel, so it sets the lowest preparation level that still works.
Treatments
Smile Design Center · Gangnam · Cheongdam · Bucheon
Veneers
Veneers are thin porcelain restorations bonded to the front of selected teeth to restore shape, proportion or severe discolouration.
Conceptual illustration, not a patient result or a treatment plan.
On this page
Veneers at a glance
Veneers are thin porcelain restorations bonded to the front of selected teeth. The dentist first checks enamel, tooth position, gum line and bite, then decides whether no-prep, minimal-prep or conventional preparation is appropriate and how many teeth should be included.
- Visits
- 1 to 2
Veneer treatment is usually completed in one to two visits. The minimum stay is confirmed after the exam.
- Preparation levels
- 3
No-prep, minimal-prep or conventional. Enamel, tooth position and bite decide which one applies.
- Checked before the plan
- 4
Enamel, tooth position, gum line and bite are reviewed together, not one by one.
- Planning stages
- 4
Assessment, shape and shade planning, bite and preparation check, then bonding and a final bite review.
What the clinic measures, and why
Four readings decide the plan. Each can move the preparation level up or down.
Tooth position
How far each tooth sits from the planned edge line.
If fitting a veneer to a misaligned tooth would require excessive enamel removal, orthodontic treatment should be considered.
Gum line
Where the gum sits on each tooth and whether it is level.
An uneven gum line changes visible tooth length before any ceramic is made.
Bite and contacts
Where the upper and lower teeth meet, and any grinding wear.
Grinding or biting hard objects can shorten the life of a veneer, so the bite is planned around it.
Conceptual illustration, not a patient result or a treatment plan.
Which of these is closest to your case?
Pick the closest one to see which sections to read first. Not a diagnosis.
Shape and proportion come first
Midline, smile line and the width-to-length ratio of each tooth are planned before any material is chosen. If the teeth are tilted rather than shaped differently, orthodontics may be the better route.
Shade is layered, not painted
The tooth underneath still shows through, so the base colour is recorded before the ceramic is layered. Whitening is checked first when the discolouration may respond to it.
Restoration, not decoration
Veneers are most appropriate when a tooth is chipped, broken or severely discoloured and genuinely needs restoration. The cause of the wear is checked so the same edge does not chip again.
The consultation comes before the veneer
Treating healthy teeth for purely cosmetic reasons can lead to side effects, so specialist dentists always begin with a careful consultation about your teeth and goals before recommending veneers.
Not a diagnosis. The in-clinic examination decides which options are open to you.
Before preparing a tooth, we confirm
- How much enamel is left on each tooth in the plan.
- Whether the tooth is out of line rather than out of shape.
- Gum health and whether the gum line is level.
- Cavities or old restorations that must be treated first.
- Grinding wear, and whether a night guard belongs in the plan.
- How many teeth need to be included for the smile line to read evenly.
How is a veneer case planned?
Three decisions are made in order. Changing one changes the other two, so they are never decided separately.
Shape
Midline, smile line, edge position and the width-to-length ratio of each tooth are set first. This is what makes the result read as natural rather than uniform.
Shade
The tooth underneath still shows through the ceramic, so the base colour is recorded against a shade tab before the layers are built. Existing crowns do not change colour the way natural teeth do.
Preparation
How much enamel is reduced follows from the first two decisions and from how far the tooth sits from the planned position. Less reduction is not automatically the right answer.
Conceptual illustration, not a patient result or a treatment plan.
No-prep, minimal-prep or conventional?
All three are used here. Each follows from what the examination finds.
No-prep
Bonded on the enamel with no reduction.
- What it is
- A thin shell bonded on the existing enamel
- Chosen when
- Tooth already sits close to the planned position
- Enamel removed
- None
- Reversibility
- Enamel is kept, so less tooth structure is committed
- Key condition
- Enough enamel and a bite that leaves room
Minimal-prep
A thin layer of enamel is reduced first.
- What it is
- A thin layer of enamel reduced, then bonded
- Chosen when
- Small shape or colour change with enamel to spare
- Enamel removed
- A thin layer on the front surface
- Reversibility
- Reduced enamel does not grow back
- Key condition
- Gum line and tooth position within range
Conventional
More enamel is reduced before bonding.
- What it is
- More enamel reduced so thicker ceramic fits
- Chosen when
- Large shape change, or an old restoration is replaced
- Enamel removed
- More, including the edge where needed
- Reversibility
- Reduced enamel does not grow back
- Key condition
- Cavity and gum treatment finished first
Schematic comparison, not to scale. These are alternatives, not treatment stages or a prediction for one patient. The method and preparation amount are decided after assessment.
Visit by visit, with the laboratory in between
An example sequence. Each veneer is handcrafted, so the fabrication schedule is planned in advance.
Visit 1 · records
Assessment and design
Enamel, tooth position, gum line and bite are examined and recorded. Shape, shade and how many teeth to include are agreed before anything is touched.
Clinic-provided planning photograph. Visit 1 · same day
Preparation and impression
Preparation follows the level agreed in the plan. An impression or scan is taken and, where the plan calls for it, a temporary is fitted.
Between visits
Handcrafted in the laboratory
Each veneer is built by hand on the working model, layer by layer, against the shade recorded at the first visit.
Clinic-provided laboratory photograph. Visit 2 · fitting
Try-in, bonding and bite review
The veneers are tried in before they are bonded, so the shape can still be corrected. The bite and contacts are checked again after bonding.
Finished restorations on the working model before try-in. Clinic photo.
Before you book flights
The number of days is confirmed after the examination, not before it.
If a cavity or gum problem is found
That treatment comes first and the veneer stage moves after it.
After bonding: what settles, what to avoid
Sensitivity can appear
First days
Cold and hot may feel sharper than usual for a while.
Tell the clinic if it does not settle rather than waiting it out.
The bite is re-checked
First weeks
Small bite adjustments are normal once you have chewed on the new surfaces.
Brush and floss normally; the margin at the gum needs it most.
Habits decide how long they last
Long term
Grinding or biting hard objects can shorten their life.
A night guard is discussed when grinding wear is found.
Conceptual illustration, not a patient result or a treatment plan.
What the clinic states about limits
How long veneers last varies with the material, your bite, oral hygiene and regular check-ups, so a fixed figure cannot be promised.
Reduced enamel does not grow back, and a bonded restoration can chip or debond. Treating healthy teeth for purely cosmetic reasons can lead to side effects, which is why the consultation comes first.
Records from the clinic
Front-tooth restorations photographed at the clinic, with the recorded treatment period.
Treatment record 1
Treatment record 2
Treatment record 3
Treatment record 4
Treatment record 5
Treatment record 6
Treatment record 7
Treatment record 8
Treatment record 9
Treatment record 10
Treatment record 11
Photographs taken at the clinic, published as provided. Results vary by person, and treatment carries risks and possible side effects - see the recovery and precautions section on this page. Published with the patient's written consent for promotional use; periods as recorded.
Who plans the case, and what they confirm first
Dr. Oh Yun-jeong
Minimal-Prep Veneers
Board-certified specialist in Integrated Dentistry (Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea)
All qualifications: Dr. Oh Yun-jeong
Dr. Lee Jeong-baek
Integrated Dentistry
Board-certified specialist in Integrated Dentistry (Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea)
All qualifications: Dr. Lee Jeong-baekReviewed as a team
A plan that touches gums, bite and restoration is discussed by the specialists in each field first.
Questions patients ask
How many days do I need in Korea for veneers?
Veneer treatment is usually completed in one to two visits. Because each veneer is handcrafted, the fabrication schedule is planned in advance, which helps if you are in Korea for a limited time. The minimum stay depends on tooth condition, preparation needs and the fabrication method, and is confirmed after an in-clinic examination.
How long do veneers last?
How long veneers last varies with the material, your bite, oral hygiene and regular check-ups, so a fixed figure cannot be promised. Habits such as grinding or biting hard objects can shorten their life. Your dentist reviews these factors at the consultation and explains realistic expectations and aftercare for your case.
Can I get veneers purely for cosmetic reasons?
If your teeth are healthy, the consultation should first review your goals, the risks and any tooth structure that would need to be removed before veneers are considered.
What does the dentist check before proposing veneers?
Enamel, tooth position, gum line and bite are reviewed together. Those four readings decide whether no-prep, minimal-prep or conventional preparation is appropriate and how many teeth should be included.
Will whitening change the colour of my veneers later?
Existing crowns and veneers do not whiten in the same way as natural teeth. That is why the shade is agreed before fabrication, and why whitening is considered before the ceramic work rather than after it.
Can veneers replace orthodontics?
Not if the tooth's position would mean removing excessive enamel for a veneer. Orthodontic options should be discussed in that situation.
Replies during clinic hours (KST). Results, cost and duration are confirmed after in-clinic diagnosis.