Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that fit over the front of your teeth to create dramatic transformations. They can instantly transform your smile by concealing chips, cracks, gaps, crooked teeth and discoloration. This treatment is growing in popularity as a fast and effective alternative to treatments like orthodontics.
Veneers offer a long-lasting solution to smile imperfections. They can also help to protect your underlying tooth structure, particularly in cases of thinning enamel. If you want to achieve a beautiful and natural-looking restoration without the wait, veneers offer an excellent treatment path that will deliver incredible results.
The veneer treatment requires two trips to the dentist. During the first visit, we will prepare the tooth surface by removing a small amount of the enamel. This will create space for the veneer. You shouldn’t feel any discomfort as you will be numbed throughout. After this stage, we will take impressions of your teeth to create your veneer.
The veneer is custom-made to your face shape and the colour is matched to the surrounding teeth, or we can create it a few shades lighter to deliver a whitening effect. When the veneer is ready, you’ll return to the practice to have this permanently fixed in place with dental cement. We can then make final adjustments to ensure that the veneer is as comfortable as possible.
There is a trend for filing down teeth and replacing them with crowns, often known as “Turkey Teeth”. The amount of dental material that is removed in this type of treatment is often unnecessary and this isn’t how we would recommend the treatment is completed. Instead, we remove a small layer of enamel so that the underlying tooth structure remains strong and sturdy.
Veneers can last around 10 years with the right care. Over time, veneers may become chipped, cracked or discoloured. There is also the risk of the veneer coming loose. If this happens, you will need to have your veneer repaired or replaced.
No, veneers are considered a cosmetic treatment, so you will need to pay for this treatment privately. These may be available on the NHS if there is a clinical need for them, but this is only in very rare circumstances. If your objective is to improve your appearance, then it is unlikely that the treatment will be available on the NHS.
