Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted from tooth-coloured materials and designed to cover the front side of teeth to improve the overall appearance. They are made of either thin plastic resin or porcelain. The veneer is bonded to the tooth structure with natural coloured resin cement, used to enhance your smile and help protect a tooth from further damage.
Veneers offer a minimally invasive way to transform a tooth as only a very thin layer of enamel is removed (if any) prior to fitting.
Why have veneers?
Unlike tooth straightening that needs a number of months for you to see results, veneers only need a couple appointments for us to get your new smile underway.
Thanks to modern materials, we can create thin and strong veneers that require less tooth needing to be removed. In some cases, we don’t have to treat the tooth at all.
What is involved?
We’ll first need to see you for a consultation so we can make sure your teeth and gums are perfectly healthy. We then take impressions so we can create models of your teeth. These models are used for a ‘wax-up’ where we show you a preview of how veneers can transform the appearance of your teeth.
Once you’re happy with the look that we’ve come up with together, we will prepare your teeth if you need to have a layer of enamel removed. We’ll provide temporary veneers to keep your teeth protected.
Your veneers are 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.
Looking after your veneers
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Question
Veneers are not reversible, as some of your tooth enamel is removed for it to be fitted. If your veneers become damaged or chipped, they can be replaced.
Veneers are strong and resilient, but still do have the potential to break, chip or become damaged. You can give your veneer the best chance of lasting a long time by avoiding biting into or chewing hard foods and other items.
You may feel some discomfort, but veneers treatment is minimally invasive and not painful. We use local anaesthetic to ensure you are relaxed before beginning your treatment. Your teeth may feel more sensitive after veneers have been fitted, but this is temporary and will pass after a few days.
Your veneers are fixed into place with strong dental adhesive and are strong and stable. You can eat just as you did before, although you may wish to avoid biting into very hard foods to avoid any cracking or damage to your veneers.
