Porcelain veneers are extremely thin casings of ceramic that are bonded to the front of the patients? tooth to create a new smile. Porcelain veneers are placed over the front of teeth that appear too small or large, slightly discolored, or simply are not cosmetically pleasing to the patient. For many patients, teeth may have chipped, become discolored, or are slightly crooked. For the majority of these patients, porcelain veneers can prove to be the perfect solution.

When placing porcelain veneers, we pay close attention to the patients surrounding teeth and design each veneer to complement the overall smile. The result is a beautiful, attractive new smile.

If cared for properly, your veneers will last you a long time. We ensure that your new veneers are constructed of the most durable porcelain materials available.

What Treatments or problems are veneers used for?

There are a wide variety of reasons why patients opt for treatment with dental veneers:

Stained Teeth - badly stained teeth that cannot be improved by teeth whitening or prophyflex treatments can greatly be improved by dental veneers, which function to cover and "hide" any existing stains on your natural teeth.

Damaged Teeth - teeth that have either become badly worn with excessive grinding, by carbonated drinks, or have been chipped or broken in an accident can benefit from veneers. A small chip on a tooth can quickly be repaired with composite bonding or "composite veneers" which are one and the same thing. A single damaged tooth can easily be repaired with a single porcelain veneer that has the same characteristics and colour to match your surrounding teeth so that it looks natural.

Gaps - spaces or gaps (diastimas) between your teeth can be easily closed using dental veneers giving you a more uniform looking smile.

Crooked teeth - although veneers are not the ideal treatment chioce for crooked teeth and from a point of veiw of preserving your natural teeth structure orthodontics or invisalign braces would probably a better solution. However, treatments can take up to a year or longer with braces. For teeth that are not severely crooked veneers placed over thier front surface will give a straight and perfectly aligned looking smile. For this type of treatment many people refer to veneers as "instant orthodontics" since you get a similar end result in a fraction of the time.

So which are better composite veneers or porcelain veneers?
The most popular type of veneers are porcelain, which offer a stronger and more durable alternative to its composite counterpart. Composite veneers are also more prone to staining and do not last as long as porcelain veneers which also offer more a natural looking, translucent tooth-like appearance. Composite veneers are much cheaper than porcelain veneers in general, but considering that they do not last as long and need replacing more often they could end up costing more in the long run. Composite work is ideal for small chips as this treatment preserves more of your natual tooth structure.

What is the proceedure of having dental veneers fitted?

1. The first part of any dental procedure is the initial consultation and examination so that the dentist can get a feel for what you want and understand your needs and concerns. The dentist should explain the treatment procedure to you including an accurate guide to the likely costs of your treatment.

2. Before your veneers are designed your dentist will need to reshape and prepare the front surfaces of your teeth so that they can accomadate the veneers. The first stage is to numb the teeth and gums with a local anaesthic so that you do not feel anything during the procedure.

3. Using a special tool called a burr (a dental drill or file) a tiny amount of the front surface of your teeth will be shaved off. The amount removed should be equivalent to the thickness of the veneer that will sit over the top of the tooth.

4. Next an impression or mould (copy) of your teeth is taken. A special dental "putty" is placed into your mouth on a tray and pushed into your teeth so that it takes an imprint of your teeth, similar to how you would leave a footprint in sand.

5. This "impression" or mould of your teeth is then sent to a dental laboratory. The laboratory use the impression to cast an accurate model of your teeth which is used as a guide to fabricate your new veneers, this process can tae between one to three weeks.

6. whilst you are waiting for your veneers to be fabricated your dentist you may be fitted with some temporary veneers to protect your prepared teeth. Not all dentists will offer temporary veneers.

7. On your second appointment your dentist will fit your new veneers to your teeth. First the dentst may just sit the teeth over your teeth to see how they look with your smile and he or she may need to trim or adjust the veneer.

8. Next your teeth will be throughly cleaned and the front surfaces etched (roughened) with a special acid gel so that they provide a good surface for the dental cement to stick to.

9. The veneers are then cemented into place and a special curing light is used to activate the dental cement so that it permanenetly bonds the veneer to the front surface of your prepared tooth. If there is any excess cement it is usually trimmed away and polished to leave a beautiful and natural looking restoration.