Dental veneers are thin, durable, and custom made to fit the front of your teeth. They can completely reshape your teeth to create a beautiful smile. Often they are an alternative to crowns and can work with many dental conditions. Although very durable, veneers are not permanent and may require replacement after many years. Veneers made from porcelain and ceramic must be fabricated in a dental lab. The teeth also need to be prepared ahead of time, as the front surface of the tooth must be ground down to make room to fit the veneer. With this type of veneer, your dentist will need to do much less preparation work. They will create the veneer by adding layers of composite material to the front of your tooth, then shape and cure it using a special light.