Veneers

If you have badly damaged or crooked teeth, the solution may be a veneer. This is a thin layer of porcelain, or a natural coloured composite material, which made to fit over the front surface of your tooth to improve its appearance, shape, or position. The shade of porcelain used is carefully selected to improve a discoloured tooth or to lighten your front row of teeth.

Porcelain veneers are always used to cover the front of the tooth in its entirety. While the veneer itself is thin a much thicker section is used to replace the broken part of the tooth. In addition to this, in cases where the use of braces is not suitable, veneers can also be used to close up small gaps. If you have one single tooth that is slightly out of position, a veneer could be fitted so it is in line with your other teeth.

To make sure that your veneer can be bonded in place permanently later on, some of the outer enamel surface of your effected teeth may be removed. This will only be a very tiny amount, and will be of the same thickness of the veneer itself to make sure the tooth stays at the same size. Though in most cases it is not need, to ensure you experience no discomfort, an injection of local anaesthetic may be used. When your tooth has been fully prepared, a mould will be taken of your teeth for the dentist to make the veneer.

To have a veneer put in place, you will need at least two visits to the dentist. The first visit is to prepare you tooth and make sure that the shade of the veneer matches your tooth. Your dental practitioner will show you the veneer before bonding it permanently, to ensure you are one hundred percent happy. Once you confirm you’re happy to go ahead, a special type of adhesive is used to bond the veneer.

After the veneer is fitted, only very small adjustments can be made. It is advisable to wait before any changes are made, to give you time to get used to the veneer in its current form. Your dentist will probably carry out a check a week after the veneer is fitted, they will polish the veneer and discuss any concerns that you may have.

The cost of porcelain veneers is calculated per tooth, and can cost between £500-£1000 each.