Who makes the veneers? Ask for the lab and the material
Porcelain veneers are usually made by a dental lab technician; ask which lab, where it is, and what material it uses.
Most porcelain veneers are not made by your dentist. They are made by a dental laboratory technician working from your dentist's scan or impressions and written instructions. The quality of that lab, and the communication between the lab and the dentist, shows up in every edge, shade and contour of the final result.
How the process works
Once the design is agreed, the dentist prepares the teeth and sends an impression or 3D scan to a lab, where a technician makes the veneers. Cleveland Clinic notes the lab can take a few weeks, and you may wear temporary veneers in the meantime. Composite veneers and bonding are different: the dentist usually builds them directly in your mouth.
What Florida law requires
Florida has specific rules here. Under Florida Statutes section 466.021, a dentist who uses a dental lab must provide a dated, signed written prescription that includes the dentist's license number, describes each piece of work and specifies the materials. Both the dentist and the lab keep copies for four years.
The same statute requires a Florida-registered lab to disclose in writing to the prescribing dentist, at delivery, the materials used, any certificates of authenticity, and the point of origin of manufacture of each restoration, with the lab's address and contact information. In short, your dentist should know exactly where your veneers were made and from what. You can ask.
Questions to ask
- Which lab makes the veneers, and where is it located?
- Is the work made in a Florida-registered lab, elsewhere in the U.S., or overseas?
- What material will be used, and why is it right for my case?
- Does the technician see photos of my face and smile, or only a model of my teeth?
- Will I have a try-in before the veneers are permanently bonded?
- Can I get a copy of the material information for my records?
Why it matters
Two practices can describe the same procedure and deliver very different results because they work with different labs. Material choice affects strength, translucency and how natural the teeth look in daylight. Knowing the lab and the material also helps any future dentist repair or match your work. Good cosmetic dentistry does not announce itself, and it rarely comes from a lab nobody will name.
Sources
Educational content, not individual medical advice. Every mouth is different, so talk to a licensed dentist about your own teeth. The Real Miami Dentists is powered by 5 Star Smiles.
