Personalised veneer treatments for a brighter, more harmonious smile tailored to you

What are Veneers?

Veneers are a beautiful way to correct the appearance of discoloured, chipped, broken, or crooked teeth and can sometimes be used to correct unwanted or uneven spacing. They can be made of either porcelain or composite (a white filling material) that is glued to the front of the tooth.

Veneers can be made out of porcelain or a white filling material called composite. Porcelain, once bonded to the tooth, is the stronger of the two, and fantastic aesthetics can be achieved. Some tooth usually has to be cut away to allow these to be made. The same porcelain veneers shown unfitted above can be seen in the mouth as final restorations in the picture below.

They are mainly used to restore the upper front teeth. Some porcelain veneers prior to being fitted are shown below:

What are the benefits of Veneers?

Veneers can amend the shape, colour, and (to a degree) position of a tooth, so there are many potential uses:

• Crooked teeth: Veneers can sometimes be used to improve their appearance by making them look better aligned. This can include correcting uneven spacing between teeth.
• Chipped or worn teeth: Wear and tear to the enamel can result in worn and uneven biting edges, or fractures lines in the “face” of the tooth. As veneers cover the whole of this surface, as well as the biting edge, these problems can be masked, restoring the appearance of a bright white smile and well aligned shapely teeth.
• Fractured teeth: If a tooth has been broken, perhaps in an accident, a veneer can replace the whole of the front of the tooth, with a thicker section replacing the broken piece.
• Worn enamel: With time, tooth enamel can appear worn, discoloured, darkened, or dull. This appearance can be reversed with veneers.

Composite Bonding

Composite is a tooth coloured restorative material. Composite veneers are usually made without removing tooth, although this means that their range of applications is slightly reduced. This material can also be bonded to teeth to repair broken corners, make a tooth look wider or make a tooth look flush with the adjacent teeth amongst other uses. Unlike porcelain, with time, composite can absorb some stain. Fortunately, this can usually be removed by polishing with the dentist or hygienist rather than replacement.

How is it done?

We can advise you as to the treatment options for your teeth. If needed, a mock up can be quickly applied to the teeth temporarily, or created by our dental laboratory to demonstrate what can be achieved.

Both porcelain and composite are translucent materials which complement and reproduce a lifelike natural appearance of teeth. A composite veneer or tooth repair can usually be done directly in the surgery without any intermediate steps. A porcelain veneer needs to be made by a dental laboratory. The tooth will be prepared by your dentist, and moulds taken. Temporary veneers will be fitted whilst the veneers are being handmade at the lab.

If several teeth are being veneered, the temporary veneers may be left in your mouth for a few days to ensure you are happy with the proposed appearance. Any changes you wish can be incorporated into the final design before the mould is taken. The time between moulds and fitting of the veneers is usually two weeks, and you may be asked to attend the laboratory to have the colour of the porcelain matched for your teeth.

At Heathwood Dental Practice, we’d be delighted to help you achieve a smile that feels natural, confident, and uniquely yours