A facing is more commonly known in cosmetic dentistry as a veneer. They are most commonly used to achieve a perfectly straight, white smile and can restore the look of chipped, broken, cracked, stained, and gapped teeth. Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that are used to recreate the surface of the teeth, or the “face.” Porcelain is preferable to other materials because it has a similar density and durability as natural tooth enamel, however, some veneers are crafted from resin. Resin is a similar material to composite, or “white” fillings. Each veneer is custom made to the shape of the tooth it will be placed on and is permanently bonded to the tooth with a special procedure. Veneers are not removable and require the surface of the natural tooth to be altered to place the veneer. Patients interested in veneers should discuss the benefits and risks of permanent tooth alteration.