Why veneers need a different brief
A posterior crown is judged mainly on fit and occlusion. A veneer is also judged on how it looks in the patient's smile — length, outline, proportions and how it matches the teeth next to it. The designer cannot see the patient, so the brief has to carry that information.
Veneers are also thin. The design has to respect the minimum thickness the chosen material manufacturer specifies while still achieving the planned shape, which is why preparation and design are closely linked.
What to send for a veneer case
- Scan of the prepared teeth with clear, complete margins
- Antagonist scan and bite registration
- Pre-operative scan or an approved wax-up, if one exists
- Smile photo and retracted photo, with the patient's midline visible
- Material and your lab's minimum thickness requirements
- Shade and any notes on length, shape or texture
How the design is checked
We check that margins follow the preparation, that thickness stays within the limits you gave us, and that the incisal edges and contacts work with the bite. Aesthetics are checked against the photos and wax-up you provided: symmetry, length, outline and how the veneers line up with the neighbouring teeth.
You receive preview images before paying, and revisions are included until you approve. If the patient already approved a wax-up, the veneers are designed from that shape so the result does not drift from what was agreed.
Cost and turnaround
On our price list a veneer is $20 per tooth with a 24-hour turnaround. If you need the shape planned first, a wax-up is $12 per tooth and can then be used as the reference for the veneers.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does outsourced veneer design cost?
- $20 per tooth on our price list, with a 24-hour turnaround on routine cases.
- Do you need photos for a veneer case?
- They help a lot. A smile photo and a retracted view show the midline, lip line and proportions the designer cannot see on the scan.
- Can you design veneers from an existing wax-up?
- Yes. Send the approved wax-up and we design the veneers from that shape.