With many patients hiding their smile due to a chipped tooth or stubborn stains, porcelain veneers have taken the cosmetic dentistry world by storm, offering our patients a second chance at a beautiful smile. So, what are porcelain veneers? Veneers are made of a thin shell of porcelain which are bonded over your natural tooth – masking the appearance of stains, chips and an array of cosmetic problems which may be affecting your teeth.  

The treatment aims to fix:

1. Shape and size: Due to damage or natural wear, our teeth can become misshaped. Some patients may find that some of their teeth are portioned slightly smaller than their other teeth. Veneers can assist in lengthening the tooth and altering misshaped teeth. 

2. Stains Some stains can be so severe that teeth whitening has no effect. Veneers can conceal discoloured teeth while being made to blend in with your surrounding teeth, leaving you with a natural looking smile. 

3. Chipped teeth Chipped teeth can affect your mouth’s appearance and having veneers fitted can mask this problem, making your teeth look as good as new.  

How does it work?

Generally, having veneers fitted requires about three visits to our practice. The procedure is as follows:

1. The first step to achieving the smile to want starts with a dental examination where the condition of your teeth will be assessed. Your teeth would have to be strong enough to support the veneer in the long run.
2. The next step will involve taking x-rays, photos and impressions of your teeth to guide the design of the veneer.
3. The veneer will be designed according to the shape, size and colour of your teeth.
4. While your veneers are being made at a dental lab, we will fit temporary veneers into your mouth. As part of the process, a small amount of enamel will be removed from your tooth to accommodate the veneer and to see that the device sits flush. To ensure the shell looks as natural as possible, we will undergo a process called bonding where the veneer will be temporarily placed on your tooth to examine the fit and colour.
5. Your tooth will then be polished, cleaned and roughened before the veneer is fitted onto the surface. Typically, the procedure is not painful but there is a chance you might experience slight discomfort while the veneers are being fitted. Veneer shells are thin, so no pain should exist and our trained specialists will do their best to ensure that you are comfortable during the process

You should be eligible for veneers if:

1. You have healthy teeth with no previous bonding
2. Strong teeth: If a piece of your tooth is missing or replaced by a filling then your tooth will not be strong enough to hold a veneer
3. A large amount of enamel is present on the tooth
4. Your teeth are not severely misaligned

For more information or to book a consultation, contact us today.