Porcelain
Veneers

Dental veneers are an extremely versatile treatment that can hide minor imperfections in teeth. You might consider veneers if you have any of the following issues including:

• Tooth discoloration that doesn’t respond to teeth whitening treatments
• Unsightly gaps between teeth
• Teeth that are too small
• Rotated or slightly misaligned teeth
• Uneven or worn edges on teeth
• Chips or cracks in teeth

Dental veneers are made from strong, durable porcelain that will not stain or discolor. The modern porcelain used to fabricate dental veneers is extremely lifelike, closely replicating the translucency and hues found in real tooth enamel and creating a very natural appearance.

Veneers are suitable for anyone with reasonably strong and healthy teeth. They are less suitable for teeth with extensive decay or damage, or which already have large fillings. When this is the case, a dental crown that covers the tooth entirely may be a better choice. It’s also important to make sure your mouth is generally healthy and that you don’t have any signs of other dental diseases like gum disease.

There are two main types of veneers, which are conventional porcelain veneers and what are called prepless or prep free veneers. Both types are custom-made in a dental laboratory to our precise prescription and using the highest quality porcelains to create a naturally attractive and more perfect smile.

Conventional Porcelain Veneers

Conventional porcelain veneers are typically 0.5 mm thick. While this is incredibly thin, it is normally necessary for our dentist to reshape your tooth before bonding the veneer onto the tooth. Usually, we need to remove 0.5 mm of tooth enamel to create sufficient room for the veneer. Otherwise, the veneer would feel and look too bulky and unnatural. Because it’s necessary to remove a small amount of tooth material, treatment is irreversible. Afterward, your teeth will always need covering and protecting, whether that’s with a veneer or a crown.

Usually, you will need to visit our dental office at least twice to complete treatment. With conventional veneers, we will need to adjust your teeth slightly, removing a minimal amount of tooth enamel to create enough room for the veneer.

First Visit

We use a local anesthetic to ensure you feel comfortable during the entire procedure. Once the tooth is shaped, we take a detailed dental impression and record the shade of your tooth. The information is sent to our dental lab, where a skilled technician will handcraft your veneers. While your veneers are made, we protect your teeth with temporary veneers.

Second Visit

As your second visit, we remove the temporary veneers and fit your new veneers in place. Our dentist will check the fit carefully, and you will be able to preview and approve the appearance of your veneers before we bond them onto your teeth. We use a strong bonding material that is hardened with a light, a process very similar to placing a composite filling.

As the name suggests, prep free veneers do not require any tooth preparation. Instead, the veneer is placed directly over the tooth and bonded onto its surface. Because we don’t need to remove any tooth structure, this process is more likely to be reversible.Prep free veneers are considerably thinner than ordinary porcelain veneers and are made from a different type of porcelain. Although an excellent treatment, prepless veneers are suitable for specific circumstances. They may not be the right option for everyone. For example, if you have a tooth that is rotated or slightly out of alignment, it would still be necessary to remove some tooth structure to bring it back into line.

You will normally need two visits to complete this treatment. Because it isn’t necessary to prepare your teeth, you should not need any anesthetic.

First Visit

Your first visit is simply to take a dental impression of your teeth. We will also choose the correct shade of porcelain for your veneers. The information is sent to our dental lab so they can hand-craft your veneers to our prescription. You will not need temporary veneers.

Second Visit

During your second visit, we will try in your veneers, ensuring they fit precisely, and you can approve their appearance before we bond them onto your teeth.

It is important to look after your veneers by making sure you brush them carefully and that you floss around them thoroughly. Caring for your veneers will help prolong their life span, and they could last ten years or more. Make sure you have regular dental checkups and hygiene appointments, and we will assess the condition of your veneers at every visit.Although your veneers are strong and durable, it’s important to avoid habits that could harm them. You mustn’t use your veneers to open packets and avoid crunching on very hard objects. If a habit can harm your teeth, it will almost certainly chip your veneers too. Unfortunately, if a veneer is damaged, it will need to be replaced as it is most unlikely that we can mend it.

The cost of dental veneers can vary considerably depending on the number of veneers needed and the type of veneers chosen. Usually, prep free veneers are more expensive than conventional veneers, but they may last longer. When you visit our dental office, we can discuss the costs with you and, where possible, will provide you with more than one option.

Dental veneers can be very effective for perfecting your smile, but there might be other choices available. One option is to have dental crowns, and this can be a good choice for teeth that are damaged or decayed or which are too weak for veneers. Another option is orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic treatment can correct the position of teeth that are out of alignment and any problems with occlusion or your bite. If your teeth are considerably out of alignment, it would be necessary to reshape them substantially in preparation for veneers.Straightening your teeth first could prove to be a more conservative solution and especially if you already have nicely shaped teeth. Once your teeth are realigned, we can assess if veneers are needed. Modern orthodontic solutions like Invisalign are frequently very discreet, and some systems can provide results relatively quickly.