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Porcelain Veneers in San Francisco

Achieve a flawless, radiant smile with custom-crafted porcelain veneers at Madderra Dental Spa. We design luminous, natural-looking smile makeovers that transform your confidence and appearance in the heart of the Castro District.

Transform Your Smile with the Art of Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneer placement at Madderra Dental Spa

Porcelain veneers represent the pinnacle of cosmetic dental artistry, offering one of the most transformative and versatile treatments available today. These ultra-thin, yet incredibly strong, shells of advanced dental ceramic are meticulously designed and permanently bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth. They function as a beautiful new facade, expertly concealing a wide array of dental imperfections to create a seamless, brilliantly white, and stunningly natural smile. From deep-set, intrinsic discoloration that professional whitening cannot resolve, to frustrating chips, cracks, gaps, and even minor orthodontic misalignment, veneers provide a durable, comprehensive, and picture-perfect solution. For discerning patients in San Francisco seeking a truly dramatic yet believable smile enhancement, porcelain veneers are the undisputed gold standard of care.

At Madderra Dental Spa, we elevate the creation of veneers to a unique art form. It is a sophisticated and delicate balance of proven dental science, cutting-edge technology, and a highly refined aesthetic eye. Our guiding philosophy extends far beyond simply covering up dental flaws. We immerse ourselves in a comprehensive, collaborative smile design process, meticulously crafting a final look that harmonizes with your unique facial structure, complements your personality, and aligns perfectly with your personal aesthetic goals. Our primary focus is on achieving results that are not only breathtakingly beautiful but are also highly functional, biomechanically sound, and built to last for decades, enhancing your overall oral health and elevating your confidence for many years to come.

We believe your journey to a new smile should be a pampering, positive, and anxiety-free experience, not a cold or clinical one. Our boutique, spa-like environment, nestled in the vibrant heart of the Castro District, ensures your comfort and relaxation are prioritized at every single step of your treatment. Our practice has been a trusted part of the community since 1991, combining decades of refined clinical expertise with a commitment to integrating state-of-the-art technology. Our use of digital smile design, for example, allows you to become a co-author of your new look and to see a realistic preview of the results before we even begin the physical treatment. This collaborative, transparent, and educational process completely eliminates guesswork and guarantees the smile we create together is the one you have always envisioned.

Why Choose Madderra Dental Spa for Your Veneers?

34+ Years of Cosmetic Excellence

Dr. Madderra's extensive experience since 1991 provides a foundation of trust and proven results. This deep expertise in cosmetic dentistry ensures your veneer case is handled with unparalleled skill, artistry, and a nuanced understanding of smile dynamics that only comes with decades of practice.

Advanced Technology & Materials

We utilize state-of-the-art digital smile design software for predictable outcomes and only partner with master ceramists who use the highest-grade porcelain. This commitment to technology and quality materials results in veneers that are both beautiful and exceptionally durable, a true investment in your smile.

A Conservative, Patient-First Philosophy

Our core principle is to preserve your healthy tooth structure. We take a conservative approach, removing the absolute minimum amount of enamel required for a perfect fit. Your long-term oral health is our highest priority throughout the cosmetic process, ensuring a beautiful smile that doesn't compromise health.

Are You an Ideal Candidate for Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are a fantastic and life-changing solution for adults and older teens who are in good general oral health but wish to correct cosmetic imperfections that detract from their confidence or the harmony of their smile. This treatment is specifically designed for you if you are looking to find a permanent solution for:

Stubborn, deep-set discoloration or stains that do not respond to professional whitening treatments.
Noticeable chips, cracks, or signs of excessive wear and tear on your front teeth that make them look aged.
Persistent gaps or uneven spacing between teeth, such as a prominent diastema between the two front teeth.
Minor crookedness, slight rotational misalignment, or teeth that appear crowded but don't require full orthodontic treatment.
Teeth that are naturally misshapen, disproportionately small (peg laterals), or have an undesirable shape.
A strong desire for a complete and dramatic, yet elegant and entirely natural-looking, full smile makeover.

A Foundation of Health is Key: The most important prerequisite for successful veneer treatment is a foundation of healthy teeth and gums. Any underlying issues such as active cavities, significant tooth decay, or periodontal (gum) disease must be fully and professionally treated before we can begin the cosmetic phase of your veneer journey. Dr. Madderra or Dr. Holmann will conduct a thorough, comprehensive examination to ensure you are a perfect and safe candidate for this procedure.

The Madderra Approach: Where Artistry Meets 34+ Years of Experience

With over three decades of dedicated service to the San Francisco community, Dr. Garret Madderra and Dr. Grant Holmann bring a level of seasoned expertise and refined artistry to cosmetic dentistry that is truly second to none. Our entire approach to designing and placing porcelain veneers is rooted in a deeply held conservative philosophy: we are committed to preserving as much of your healthy, natural tooth structure as possible while achieving the most beautiful, vibrant, and durable results. We believe in a true partnership with our patients, co-creating a smile that not only reflects your unique vision but also enhances your natural beauty with sophistication, elegance, and subtlety.

This unwavering commitment to excellence is powerfully augmented by our integration of state-of-the-art dental technology. We utilize advanced digital smile design (DSD) software, a revolutionary tool that allows us to create a highly realistic virtual simulation of your new smile. This means you can see the expected outcome, request modifications in real-time, and give your final approval on the design before any physical treatment ever begins. This meticulous digital planning phase completely eliminates guesswork and ensures your absolute satisfaction with the final result. This digital precision, combined with our exclusive use of the highest-grade porcelain materials and our close collaboration with world-class master dental ceramists, results in veneers that are genuine works of art—virtually indistinguishable from the most perfect natural teeth.

Your Journey to a Perfect Smile: The 5-Step Veneer Process

  1. 1

    Comprehensive Consultation & Digital Smile Design

    Your journey begins with a private, unhurried, and in-depth consultation with Dr. Madderra or Dr. Holmann. We go far beyond a simple dental exam; we take the time to discuss your aesthetic goals, your lifestyle, and precisely what you envision for your ideal smile. We then use intraoral scanners and advanced digital smile design software to create a virtual, interactive 3D preview of your new look. This is a collaborative and creative session designed to ensure we capture your desired outcome perfectly before proceeding.

  2. 2

    Conservative & Precise Tooth Preparation

    To prepare your teeth for the veneers, we conservatively and precisely remove a very thin layer of enamel (approximately 0.5mm, about the thickness of a contact lens) from the front surface. This is a crucial step that creates the necessary space for the veneer to fit perfectly within your smile and look entirely natural, not bulky or thick. The area is profoundly numbed using advanced techniques to ensure your complete and total comfort throughout the entire process.

  3. 3

    Digital Impressions & Bespoke Temporary Veneers

    After preparation, we take highly precise, goop-free digital impressions of your teeth using a comfortable intraoral scanner. This data is instantly and securely transmitted to our master dental laboratory. Before you leave our spa, we will craft and place a set of beautiful, custom-fitted temporary veneers. These temporaries protect your teeth and allow you to "test drive" the shape and feel of your new smile while your permanent ones are being meticulously fabricated.

  4. 4

    Master-Crafted Ceramic Veneer Fabrication

    This is where true dental artistry comes to life. Our partner master ceramists use your exact digital impressions to handcraft each individual veneer from blocks of high-quality lithium disilicate or feldspathic porcelain. They meticulously layer, shape, and fire the ceramic to perfectly mimic the natural translucency, color gradients, and subtle surface texture of healthy tooth enamel, ensuring a stunningly beautiful and lifelike final result.

  5. 5

    Final Bonding, Seating & Artistic Refinement

    Once your final, custom veneers have returned from the lab, you’ll return for your exciting placement appointment. We will gently remove the temporaries, clean your teeth, and let you preview the final veneers for your enthusiastic approval. After you are 100% happy, we permanently bond them into place using a multi-step, light-cured process. We then meticulously check your bite and make any final, subtle artistic refinements to ensure a perfect fit and a seamless, stunning smile.

What to Expect After Your Veneer Placement: Recovery & Care

One of the wonderful benefits of the veneer procedure is that there is typically no significant downtime, allowing you to return to your daily activities and show off your new smile almost immediately. It is perfectly normal to experience some mild sensitivity to hot and cold stimuli for a few days as your gums and teeth adjust to their new coverings, but this sensation quickly fades. Once the local anesthetic wears off, you can eat and drink normally. We do advise, however, that you avoid extremely hard or sticky foods for the first 24-48 hours to allow the dental cement to cure to its maximum strength.

Long-term care for your beautiful new veneers is as simple and straightforward as caring for your natural teeth. Maintain a diligent oral hygiene routine of brushing twice daily with a non-abrasive toothpaste, and be sure to floss once a day, paying special attention to the area where the veneer meets the gumline. Most importantly, attend your regular six-month checkups and professional cleanings at our office. These visits are crucial for us to monitor the health of your gums, the integrity of the veneer margins, and ensure they provide you with a beautiful, healthy, and confident smile for many years to come.

Hear From Our Ecstatic Veneer Patients

"Dr. Madderra transformed my smile with veneers. The spa-like atmosphere made every visit relaxing, and the results exceeded my expectations. I smile with confidence now!"

Sarah M.

Porcelain Veneers

January 2026

"The attention to detail was remarkable. Dr. Madderra took the time to ensure my veneers looked natural and matched my facial features perfectly. The transformation is stunning."

Patricia W.

Porcelain Veneers

April 2025

"I researched veneers for years before choosing Madderra Dental Spa. The conservative approach and artistic eye made all the difference. My smile looks better than I ever imagined."

Thomas J.

Porcelain Veneers

March 2025

Frequently Asked Questions About Porcelain Veneers

With meticulous care and regular dental check-ups at our practice, porcelain veneers from Madderra Dental Spa can beautifully last for 15 to 20 years, and often even longer. Their impressive longevity is a direct result of the superior-grade ceramic materials we select and our advanced, precise bonding techniques that ensure a perfect seal. Consistent at-home oral hygiene is crucial to maximizing their lifespan and protecting your investment.
The porcelain veneer procedure is considered a permanent cosmetic enhancement and is not reversible. To create a seamless, natural-looking fit without adding bulk, a minimal layer of tooth enamel (typically less than a millimeter) is conservatively removed. Because enamel does not regenerate, the prepared teeth will always require a covering. Our philosophy is one of maximal preservation, ensuring we remove only the absolute minimum enamel necessary for an optimal, beautiful aesthetic outcome.
The primary differences are material, process, and longevity. Porcelain veneers are thin, handcrafted shells of medical-grade ceramic custom-fabricated in a master dental lab, offering unparalleled durability and stain resistance. Dental bonding involves applying a tooth-colored composite resin directly to the tooth and sculpting it in a single office visit. While bonding is an excellent, less-invasive choice for very minor chips or small gaps, veneers provide a more comprehensive, brilliant, and long-lasting solution for a full smile transformation.
The complete veneer journey at our spa typically involves two to three thoughtfully scheduled appointments over a few weeks. The first is your in-depth consultation, collaborative smile design session, and the gentle preparation of your teeth. The second appointment is the exciting placement, where we bond your final, custom-crafted veneers. We often schedule a brief follow-up visit to meticulously check your bite, polish the veneers, and ensure you are absolutely thrilled with your new smile.
It is quite common and normal to experience some mild, temporary tooth sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures for a few days following both the preparation and final placement appointments. This is a transient response as your teeth and gums adjust. We proactively utilize advanced desensitizing agents during the procedure itself to minimize any potential discomfort and ensure your recovery is as smooth and swift as possible.
Yes, it is important to remember that the underlying natural tooth structure is still susceptible to decay, particularly around the delicate gumline and the margins where the veneer edge meets the tooth. For this reason, maintaining excellent oral hygiene is absolutely crucial. This includes diligent daily brushing, flossing, and attending your regular professional cleanings at our spa to protect the health and integrity of your natural teeth for a lifetime.
Caring for your veneers is as straightforward as caring for your natural teeth, with a few key considerations. We recommend brushing twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive gel toothpaste. Flossing daily is essential. It is also wise to avoid using your veneers as tools—for instance, to open packages, tear tape, or bite into very hard objects like ice, bones, or hard nuts—to prevent chipping the porcelain.
Since porcelain veneers are classified as an elective cosmetic procedure, they are not typically covered by dental insurance plans. However, we firmly believe that everyone deserves to have the smile of their dreams. Our dedicated patient care coordinator will happily walk you through flexible third-party financing options, such as CareCredit, to create a comfortable payment plan that fits your budget. We provide a fully transparent, detailed cost breakdown during your initial consultation with no hidden fees.

Related Services

Teeth Whitening

For a truly radiant and uniform result, we often recommend professionally whitening your natural teeth first. This allows us to match your new veneers to a brighter, more vibrant shade, creating a seamless and dazzling smile.

Learn More →

Dental Crowns

For a back molar or a tooth that requires more structural support and protection than a veneer can offer, a full-coverage porcelain crown provides maximum strength while perfectly matching the aesthetics of your new veneers.

Learn More →

Invisalign Clear Aligners

If more significant orthodontic issues like crowding or bite problems are present, Invisalign can straighten your teeth into their ideal position, creating the perfect, healthy foundation for placing veneers for the ultimate cosmetic result.

Learn More →

Ready to Design Your Dream Smile in San Francisco?

Your journey to a flawless, confident, and radiant smile begins with a simple conversation. Contact Madderra Dental Spa today to schedule your personalized porcelain veneer consultation with Dr. Madderra or Dr. Holmann and discover the profound impact of a beautiful smile.