Porcelain Veneers
Hand-crafted veneers designed one tooth at a time.
The case for porcelain
Porcelain veneers are thin ceramic shells that bond to the front surface of your teeth. Unlike composite bonding, porcelain is color-stable for decades, polishes to a natural sheen, and wears at the same rate as your enamel. For most cosmetic cases, porcelain is the right long-term choice.
How we approach design
We start with a smile study, not a set of veneers. We photograph and measure your face, study the relationship between your lips and smile line, and design the veneers for your individual proportions. Every case is designed by a clinical director, then crafted by one of two ceramists we have worked with for more than a decade.
Minimally invasive preparation
Our veneer prep removes between 0.3mm and 0.5mm of enamel, preserving the underlying tooth structure. A trial smile is placed before any final work is done, so you see and approve the design before the porcelain is made.
What long-term care looks like
Well-placed porcelain veneers last 15 to 20 years. Care is the same as natural teeth: brushing, flossing, and routine cleanings. We include a complimentary night guard with every veneer case to protect the porcelain and the bite.
The ceramist partnership
Your veneers are fabricated by a master ceramist, not a central lab. We partner with two independent ceramists who have worked exclusively with Meridian for over a decade. The ceramist sees your photographs, face tracings, and models, and often communicates directly with Dr. Navarro during fabrication.
The details other practices skip.
- 1.Every case designed by Dr. Navarro personally, then crafted by one of two master ceramists
- 2.Trial smile placed on unprepared teeth so you approve the design before prep
- 3.Minimally invasive prep preserves 80 to 90 percent of your natural enamel
- 4.Night guard and one-year adjustment coverage included in the fee
What the full timeline looks like.
Smile study
90 minutes. Photography, facial analysis, impressions, and design consultation.
Trial smile
60 minutes. Mock veneers placed directly on unprepared teeth. You see and approve the design.
Preparation and provisionals
2 to 3 hours. Minimally invasive prep, digital impressions, and hand-crafted provisional veneers.
Final delivery
2 to 3 hours. Final porcelain bonded, bite adjusted, and night guard fabricated.
One-week review
30 minutes. Final polish, occlusion check, and photography for before and after records.
What your fee actually includes.
3Shape TRIOS digital impression
No traditional impressions. Digital scans sent directly to the ceramist.
Smile Design software
Your photographs overlaid with proposed veneer designs before any treatment begins.
Custom shade matching with VITA Linearguide
Shade-taking under controlled natural-daylight photography.
How it plays out in practice.
Situation · Six upper front teeth with small gaps, minor chips, and tetracycline staining from childhood antibiotic use.
Outcome · Six porcelain veneers. Two visits over three weeks. Night guard included. 7-year follow-up: no chipping, no shade shift.
Situation · Worn lower-front edges from grinding. Upper-front shape asymmetry. Wanted minimal intervention.
Outcome · Four upper veneers plus composite build-up on lower edges. Night guard to protect the work. Total treatment: 2 visits.
Will veneers look fake?
Not at Meridian. Our design process is built around individual facial proportions and tooth anatomy. We intentionally build in the slight asymmetries and translucency that make natural teeth natural. Fake-looking veneers are a design and ceramist problem, not a porcelain problem.
How many veneers do I need?
It depends on your smile line. Some cases are four upper front teeth. Most are six to eight. A few are ten. We make this decision together in the smile study, not during the prep visit.
What happens if I chip a veneer?
Hairline chips can often be polished smooth in a single visit. Larger chips require replacement of the individual veneer. Our ceramist keeps your case records so a replacement matches exactly. Replacements after the one-year coverage period are $1,400.
Talk to us about porcelain veneers.
Complimentary consultation. One hour with a clinical director, imaging, and a written treatment plan.