A "veneer" is a wafer-thin layer of material molded to the surface of a tooth to correct a chip or crack, or to enhance its cosmetic appearance. Veneers are made of either porcelain, or a composite synthetic resin, such as acrylic polymer or polymethyl methacrylate. These synthetic resins are liquid materials that can be converted into a permanent hardened material, and are used in dentistry because of their ability to create a strong bond with the tooth, and their ability to mimic the natural color of adjacent teeth. Lastly, a veneer can either be layered directly onto a tooth at the dentist office, or fabricated off-site in a dental laboratory.
With this dental procedure code, the veneer is prepared chair-side with resin, and performed on the labial surface of one of the front six teeth in either jaw. This surface is identified as “labial” because it comes in direct contact with the lips, and the word “labial” means “pertaining to the lips.” Because of the front-facing nature of the teeth in this area of the mouth, this procedure is often used to correct a gap, or what is known technically, as “diastema,” between the front teeth.
The chairside labial veneer process is fairly simple, and first includes removing any decayed or weak areas of the tooth that may exist. When using composite resin, once the dentist has completed this step, your tooth would then be prepared for bonding by etching it with a mild acid solution. After that, the composite would be layered into the areas of your tooth that need to be sealed. Finally, a special light is used to harden these layers and the tooth is shaped and polished to prevent staining and early wear.
To look up and find more cdt dental codes from the American Dental Association, please visit our complete Dental Procedure Code Library.