Okuzeka
Dentistry vocabulary · Fillings and Restorations

Veneer

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/vəˈnɪr/nounCommon term

In dentistry, veneer means: A thin shell of porcelain or composite bonded to the front surface of a tooth to improve its color, shape or apparent position.

In Turkish: lamina, laminate veneer, yaprak porselen

How it is used

Mostly a cosmetic treatment for front teeth. Dentists talk about porcelain and composite veneers, minimal preparation and bonding. Patients sometimes ask for 'a smile makeover'.

Example sentences

  1. Porcelain veneers could hide the stains on her front teeth.

  2. One of his veneers has chipped at the edge.

Common collocations

  • porcelain veneer
  • composite veneer
  • bond a veneer
  • no-prep veneer
  • crownA cap made of ceramic, metal or both that covers a damaged tooth completely and restores its shape and strength. The word also means the part of a tooth visible above the gum.
  • compositeA tooth-colored filling material made of resin mixed with fine glass or ceramic particles. It is bonded to the tooth and usually hardened with a blue curing light.
  • tooth whiteningA cosmetic treatment that makes teeth lighter with a peroxide gel, applied either in the clinic or at home in custom-made trays.
  • incisorOne of the eight thin, flat-edged teeth at the front of the mouth, four upper and four lower, used for biting into food.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Fillings and Restorations

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.