Process Involved in Replacing Composite Veneers with Porcelain Veneers?

I would definitely recommend changing those composite veneers to porcelain veneers. Porcelain is stronger, looks more natural, and lasts longer then composite. To answer your questions, yes your composite veneers would have to be removed in order to prepare the teeth and take an impression. The impression gets sent to the dental lab along with picture and instructions on how we want the veneers to look like. At that point, temporary veneers would be made, and cemented to your teeth with temporary cement. You would be leaving with something similar to your composite veneers. Because you have these temporaries cemented onto your teeth, you shouldn’t experience any sensitivity at all.

Replacing your existing composite veneers with porcelain veneers is a lot easier than you can imagine. They pretty easy to remove as composite is softer than porcelain and you can have an impression and temporary veneers (that will probably look better than the worn discolored old composite veneers) in that first visit. One visit later and you are ready to go with the permanent porcelain veneers in place. It's a great choice and you will find them more lustrous and long lasting. Happy smiles....

When replacing composite veneers with porcelain your teeth will be prepared (thus the composite will be removed) and impression or digital scan will be taken of the teeth and your dentist should place temporaries to cover the prepared teeth. Two-three weeks later your veneers would be bonded into place.

Make sure the dentist is experienced with this type of procedure. You should have pictures and study models taken to do a "wax-up" or mock-up of what the veneers will look like. You don't build a house without plans (blueprint), so you shouldn't build teeth without a wax-up (plan).  This plan is based on your particular smile, and tooth display desired.

Composite needs to be removed to get to clean tooth structure for proper bonding. Teeth are refined to establish margins. The amount of tooth reduction is dictated by the wax-up. Its possible that just by removing the composite there will be enough reduction. Generally need 0.5 to 1mm depending on situation. Impressions are made of prepared teeth and sent to lab. Temporary veneers are made by dentist before you leave the office (made from wax-up). The temporaries will protect the teeth from sensitivity as well as have you looking good for the 2 weeks or so that it takes to make the porcelain. Also, the temps are a "trial" set that you and the dentist can tweak to your liking. An impression of the temps taken after tweaking should be sent to the lab as guide for the finals.

Hope this helps

Dr. T

The composite veneers should be completely removed if they are to be replaced with porcelain veneers.  The teeth will be protected with provisional or 'temporary' veneers while the porcelain veneers are fabricated.  These temporaries will seal and protect your teeth during the interim, and they should prevent any sensitivity issues.