Veneers

Veneers are thin, custom-made shells bonded to the front of your teeth to change their shape, shade or alignment, in porcelain or composite, depending on what you need.

Most people are suitable candidates for veneers, but not everyone. Your dentist will need to examine your teeth and gums first to check they’re healthy enough to prepare, and to confirm veneers are the right option for what you want to achieve.

Not typically. Preparing your teeth for veneers involves removing a small amount of enamel, which can cause some mild discomfort, but most patients don’t find it painful. We can use local anaesthetic during preparation if you’d prefer the area numbed.

With good care, veneers are designed to last for years rather than being a permanent restoration. Typically that’s several years to well over a decade, depending on the material and how they’re looked after.

No. Once bonded, veneers can’t be removed without affecting the tooth underneath, because a small amount of enamel is removed to make room for them.

Brush and floss veneers as you would your natural teeth, and avoid biting into hard objects like ice or boiled sweets, which can chip or crack them. Don’t use your teeth to open packaging or bottles either. With that care, veneers hold up well for years.

Yes. If veneers aren’t the right fit, teeth whitening can brighten discoloured teeth, composite bonding can fix chips and small gaps without removing enamel, and Invisalign can straighten crooked or gapped teeth. We’ll talk through which option suits your goals and budget at consultation.