What to Expect at Your First Veneer Consultation in Singapore

Want a more even, brighter smile but not sure if veneers are right for you? Here’s what actually happens at your first visit, no drilling on day one. 

A veneer consultation is where you find out if veneers suit your concern and what alternatives exist. Nothing is done to the teeth at this visit.

Step 1: Smile Goals (10-15 min)

We discuss what you notice: staining not responding to whitening, chips, gaps, mild crowding, short teeth, gum show, old bonding not matching. Bring old photos and examples you like.

If the concern is alignment, Invisalign/braces may be suggested to keep enamel untouched where suitable. If a tooth is missing, different treatment.

Step 2: Examination & Digital Scans (20 min)

Health first: decay, gum inflammation, cracks addressed before cosmetic work.

1. Intraoral scanning: handheld scanner captures digital impression in minutes
2. Photographs: rest, smile, side for proportion/shade
3. Shade matching under controlled light
4. Bite assessment
5. CBCT only if needed for underlying structure

Step 3: Designing Your Smile

From the scan, the dentist designs shape, length, and alignment digitally. You see the design before confirming. A mock-up with temporary material may be placed over teeth without preparation to preview shape. Easier to change now than after fitting.

What Makes Veneers at Misora Different?

We use the MINISH veneer system, developed in Korea.

1. Guided minimal-preparation: Designed to remove only a small amount of enamel where needed; in suitable cases with good tooth position, very little preparation may be needed. Amount decided from scan/bite at consultation.
2. Fabrication in Korea: Made at a Korean lab from an intraoral scan, 7-10 working days in suitable cases. Whether MINISH suits you is decided at assessment.

Procedure Steps 

1. Consultation, scan, design, written quotation
2. Preparation where needed, a small amount of enamel so the veneer sits flush. Local anaesthetic where needed.
3. Final scan + temporaries where prepared
4. Lab fabrication: 7-10 working days
5. Try-in and bonding – check fit, shade, smile
6. Bite adjustment + review 1-2 weeks later

Most cases: 2-3 main appointments across a few weeks.

Are Veneers Reversible?

Where enamel is removed, generally not reversible, as enamel doesn’t regrow. Minimal-prep approach may remove less but should not be described as fully reversible. Discuss alternatives like whitening, composite bonding, and alignment if keeping the tooth untouched is a priority.

Suitability for Discoloured Teeth

May be considered where whitening is limited – intrinsic stains like tetracycline, darkened after trauma/root canal, age yellowing in suitable cases. Veneers don’t change shade later; natural teeth may continue to age, so whitening may be done first. A very dark underlying tooth may need a thicker/more opaque veneer.

How Long Do Veneers Last?

Commonly 10-15 years, longer where bite is stable, and hygiene is good in suitable cases. Shortened by grinding (night guard advised), biting hard objects, gum recession, decay. Care: brush twice daily, floss, 6-monthly checks. Porcelain resists staining, but the cement line may pick up colour.

Questions to Ask Before Committing

1. How much enamel may be removed in my case?
2. How many teeth and why?
3. Will I see a mock-up / digital preview before preparation?
4. What shade vs untreated teeth?
5. Should whitening be done first?
6. Where are veneers made, and turnaround?
7. What are temporaries like?
8. What if one chips later, and cost?
9. Total fee and inclusions?

At Misora, veneer cases are planned and carried out by Dr Kang Minsok, DDS (Columbia University, USA), with speciality training in prosthodontics and ~30 years of experience in dentistry.
Digital workflow: scan to design to Korean lab. Written plan before commitment.