Veneers San Francisco
Porcelain and Composite
Anchor Dental | West Portal

At Anchor Dental in West Portal, San Francisco, we offer porcelain and composite veneers to enhance your smile with precision and artistry. Veneers are thin, durable shells that bond to the front of your teeth to correct discoloration, chips, uneven shapes, or gaps  creating a brighter, more balanced appearance. Porcelain veneers provide a long-lasting, stain-resistant finish, while composite veneers offer a more affordable, same-day option. Both deliver beautiful, natural-looking results that restore confidence and harmony to your smile.

That’s what veneers often do — they bridge that quiet gap between how you feel inside and what the mirror shows outside. At Anchor Dental in San Francisco, Dr. Esra Salihoglu Yener, DDS, PhD and her team use veneers to give smiles a natural, healthy, and confident look without making them look “done.”

If you’ve ever thought about fixing chipped, stained, or slightly uneven teeth, this guide will walk you through what veneers are, how they’re placed, and how to decide between porcelain and composite.

What are veneers?

Veneers are thin layers of tooth-colored material  either porcelain or composite resin that are bonded to the front surfaces of teeth. They act like new enamel: covering imperfections, reshaping, and giving a uniform look.

Porcelain veneers are custom-made shells fabricated in a dental lab, while composite veneers are sculpted directly on your teeth by the dentist in one appointment. Both can dramatically improve your smile, but they differ in durability, cost, and maintenance.

At Anchor Dental, we offer both, depending on your goals, timeline, and budget.

Why people in San Francisco choose veneers

Our West Portal patients come in with all kinds of stories:

• A chipped tooth from biking down Twin Peaks.
• Years of coffee stains that whitening can’t touch.
• Small gaps between front teeth that braces would take too long to fix.
• Uneven edges from grinding or normal wear.

Many of them aren’t chasing perfection and they just want a smile that feels balanced and natural. Veneers are perfect for that middle ground: a noticeable improvement without the “Hollywood” look.

One tech professional from SoMa said after her treatment, “I finally stopped covering my mouth when I laugh on Zoom calls.

Porcelain vs. Composite Veneers

Let’s get into what separates the two main types we use at Anchor Dental.

Porcelain veneers reflect light like real enamel, so they’re ideal for front-tooth makeovers. Composite veneers are quicker and more affordable great for smaller changes or those testing the waters.

The process at Anchor Dental

Step 1: Consultation

We’ll sit down and talk about what you like and don’t like about your teeth. We’ll take photos, sometimes digital scans, and discuss whether porcelain or composite fits your situation.

We often tell patients: veneers should fit you, not the other way around. If your teeth are slightly misaligned but healthy, we can often achieve balance without braces.

Step 2: Previewing your smile

For porcelain veneers, we can show you a “mock-up” — a preview of your future smile. Many patients love this step because they get to see what’s coming.

Step 3: Preparing the teeth

We remove a paper-thin layer of enamel (about 0.3–0.7 mm) to make space for the veneer. This feels similar to gentle polishing and is done under local anesthetic if needed.

Step 4: Temporary veneers (porcelain cases)

If you’re getting porcelain veneers, we’ll place temporary ones while your permanent set is crafted at our partner lab. You can still smile and eat normally during this stage.

Step 5: Bonding

At your next visit, we’ll check color, shape, and fit, then permanently bond the veneers using a strong dental adhesive. Composite veneers are shaped and polished in the same session.

When you look in the mirror after that’s the part we love most.

What results can you expect?

• A natural, balanced smile that complements your face shape.
• Brighter color that stays consistent over time.
• Closed gaps or improved symmetry between teeth.
• Better edge alignment for a smoother smile line.

Many of our West Portal patients notice they smile more often after veneer treatment. It’s not vanity  it’s comfort.

How long do veneers last?

• Porcelain veneers: 10–15 years or more with good care.
• Composite veneers: around 5–7 years before touch-ups or replacement.

Longevity depends on daily habits:

• Avoid biting hard foods (ice, pens, fingernails).
• Brush with a soft brush and non-abrasive toothpaste.
• Floss daily.
• Schedule cleanings every six months.
• Use a night guard if you grind your teeth.

We see many San Francisco patients who’ve kept their veneers pristine for over a decade by following these steps.

Cost and insurance

Veneers are considered a cosmetic procedure, so insurance rarely covers them. However, they’re a one-time investment with long-lasting results.

At Anchor Dental, we provide transparent cost estimates during your consultation. We also offer flexible payment options for multi-tooth smile makeovers.

For reference:

• Porcelain veneers: Higher upfront cost, longer lifespan.
• Composite veneers: Budget-friendly, quicker fix.

Veneers vs. other options

Some patients ask, “Why veneers instead of bonding or whitening?”

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Whitening: Best if you just want color improvement, not shape changes.
• Bonding: Ideal for tiny chips or one-tooth repairs.
• Veneers: Perfect for combining color, shape, and alignment fixes all at once.

Veneers are also less invasive than crowns since they preserve most of your natural enamel.

Common questions from patients

Will they look fake?
Not if they’re done right. We match the color, texture, and translucency to your natural teeth. The goal is for no one to notice; except you.

Do I need to veneer all my teeth?
Not at all. Some people do one or two teeth to fix chips or discoloration; others veneer all the front teeth for full balance.

Can I whiten my veneers later?
No. Veneers don’t respond to whitening gels. We’ll pick your ideal shade from the start.

What if one chips?
Composite veneers can be repaired easily; porcelain ones usually need replacement on that single tooth.

Is the procedure painful?
Most patients say it feels like getting a regular filling or cleaning. Slight sensitivity for a few days is normal and fades quickly.

These aren’t extreme makeovers — they’re subtle enhancements that make people feel at ease with themselves.

Why choose Anchor Dental for veneers in San Francisco

Our practice at 345 W Portal Ave #210, San Francisco, CA 94127 has helped countless patients refine their smiles with honesty, precision, and artistry. Dr. Esra Salihoglu Yener combines clinical expertise with an artist’s eye  each veneer case is approached individually, not “template style.”

We serve nearby neighborhoods and San Francisco as well. Patients appreciate that the office feels warm, not clinical  like visiting a trusted friend who happens to make smiles look great.

We also collaborate with top Bay Area dental labs for porcelain work to achieve seamless color and shape matches.

Ready for a confident, natural smile?

If you’ve been thinking about improving your smile, veneers could be the most natural-looking, long-term way to do it.

Call Anchor Dental today at (415) 681-1011 or visit www.anchordentalsf.com to schedule your consultation.

We’ll take photos, talk about what you want, and give you an honest opinion — whether it’s two veneers, ten, or maybe none at all. The goal is simple: help you feel good when you smile again.

Anchor Dental – West Portal’s trusted family and cosmetic dental office
Serving San Francisco and the Peninsula with personalized care that brings confidence back to every smile.