Porcelain veneers are thin custom-made shells designed to enhance the appearance of your teeth. These ceramic coverings are expertly crafted to fit over the front surface of your teeth, concealing imperfections like discolouration, chipping, or misalignment. Cosmetic veneers offer a minimally invasive way to transform a tooth, as only a very thin layer of enamel is removed prior to fitting.
Veneers provide a quick and effective solution for achieving a radiant, flawless smile. Whether you’re looking to correct minor dental issues or completely transform your teeth, veneers offer a durable, natural-looking, and long-lasting solution that can boost your confidence and leave you grinning with pride. Dental veneers are extremely thin but once bonded to the tooth are unbelievably strong.
Unlike tooth straightening that may require several months for you to see results, veneers only need a couple of appointments for you to see your new smile or teeth. Thanks to modern materials, we can create thin and strong veneers that require less tooth removal. In some cases, we don’t have to treat the tooth at all.
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Book me in!Initially, you will come and visit us for a consultation so we can make sure your teeth and gums are healthy and suitable for veneers. We then take impressions to create models of your teeth. These models are used for a ‘wax-up’ where we show you a preview of how your veneers can transform the appearance of your teeth.
Once you’re happy with how your smile will look, we will prepare your teeth. They may need to have a bit of enamel removed first. We’ll provide temporary veneers to keep your teeth protected.
Once you are completely satisfied, your veneers will be crafted at the dental laboratory using the models of your teeth. When we receive your veneers, we’ll see you again for your fitting. We make sure the look is exactly what you expected before we fix the veneers using a dental adhesive.
After fitting, it is important to keep your veneer well-maintained with regular brushing and flossing. Your dentist and hygienist will show you how to keep on top of your dental hygiene and keep a close eye on the health of your teeth and gums.
Porcelain veneers offer the most aesthetic solution and look simply amazing! In the right situation they will last many years and need very little maintenance. The downside is that it is usually necessary to remove about 0.5mm of enamel over the front of the tooth. Also, should any repairs be necessary, the veneer has to be removed and remade. However, if properly assessed and looked after, porcelain veneers should last many years without the need for any further work.
Composite veneers offer a more conservative solution as often no enamel has to be removed and the resin is bonded onto the front of the tooth. They can look really good too. Composite veneers can be repaired with ease, often requiring little of the existing veneer to be removed. However, they are likely to require more maintenance than a porcelain veneer and may well need repolishing from time to time. Largely they are fabricated by the dentist at the treatment appointment and so are a little less predictable in the final outcome.
Although veneers are resilient, it is important to treat them with care, so try not to bite your fingernails or chew pen tops or use your teeth to open anything. Also, it is probably best to steer clear of very hard foods that could cause damage to the veneer.
In many cases, fitting porcelain veneers requires some of your natural tooth enamel to be removed. Therefore, they are an irreversible treatment, designed to be kept on your teeth permanently. Your veneers themselves can last up to 15 years or more before needing to be replaced, depending on how well you look after them.
You shouldn’t find either the treatment for veneers or the veneers themselves painful. We use local anaesthetic to minimise your discomfort during the preparation and fitting process, and ensure you are relaxed and ready before beginning any treatment. Most patients experience no pain or discomfort at all. You may feel some sensitivity once your veneers have been fitted, but this will go after a few days.
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by Dental Design
