Veneers

A veneer is a thin facing, usually porcelain, bonded to the front surface of a tooth. Preparing a tooth for one generally means removing some enamel, and enamel does not grow back. Once a tooth has been prepared for a veneer it will need a veneer or a crown for the rest of its life. That is the single most important thing to understand before agreeing to treatment, and it is the part most often skipped.

• Front teeth are discoloured and whitening has not achieved what you wanted
• Teeth are chipped, worn or uneven in shape
• There are small gaps between front teeth
• Mild crowding or rotation affects appearance but not function
• Existing veneers or bonding are failing and need replacing

• Professional whitening, which does not remove tooth structure
• Composite bonding, which is usually reversible or repairable and removes less tooth
• Orthodontic treatment to move teeth into position rather than reshape them
• Reshaping the enamel edge only, in very limited cases
• Doing nothing, which remains a legitimate option for a purely cosmetic concern

• High-quality photographs of your smile, at rest, smiling and from the side
• Photographs of your teeth apart and together
• A recent X-ray to check the health of the teeth and roots underneath
• Whether you grind or clench your teeth
• A history of any previous cosmetic dental work
• What specifically you want to change, in your own words

1. 1

   Assessment and smile discussion

   Examination of the teeth and gums, and a discussion of what is achievable — including whether a less destructive option would meet your goal.

   Carried out by: Partner clinic

2. 2

   Design and preview

   A digital design or a physical mock-up so you can see and, ideally, try the proposed shape before any tooth is prepared. Ask for this.

   Carried out by: Partner clinic

3. 3

   Tooth preparation

   Enamel is removed to make room for the veneer. This step is irreversible.

   Carried out by: Partner clinic

4. 4

   Temporary veneers

   Temporaries protect the prepared teeth and let you live with the proposed shape while the finals are made.

   Carried out by: Partner clinic

5. 5

   Fitting

   The definitive veneers are tried in, adjusted and bonded into place.

   Carried out by: Partner clinic

6. 6

   Maintenance

   Regular checks, careful cleaning, and a night guard if you grind.

   Carried out by: You

Veneer treatment is often completed within a single trip of roughly a week, with preparation early in the week and fitting at the end. Enough time between the two matters — it is what allows the laboratory to work properly and gives you a chance to live with the temporaries and ask for changes before the finals are made.

• The health of the teeth and gums underneath
• How much sound enamel is present to bond to
• Your bite, and whether the front teeth take heavy contact
• Grinding or clenching
• How much movement in position you are hoping for — veneers cannot substitute for orthodontics beyond a limited range
• Whether your expectations of colour and shape are achievable

• How many teeth are being treated
• The material and the technique used to make them
• Which laboratory and technician produce them
• Whether a digital design or mock-up stage is included
• Any preparatory treatment such as gum work or whitening of adjacent teeth
• Whether temporaries are included in the quoted figure

We do not publish price ranges for this treatment. Any figure we could give before a clinic has approved it would be a guess presented as guidance. Your final price comes from the partner clinic in writing, after a dentist has reviewed your case.

• The preparation is irreversible — the tooth will always need covering afterwards
• Sensitivity after preparation, which is usually temporary but can persist
• Veneers can chip, debond or fracture, particularly if you grind
• The colour cannot be changed once fitted; whitening will not affect them
• Gum recession over time can expose the margin at the edge
• They will need replacing at some point, at a cost
• If too much tooth is removed, the nerve can be affected and root canal treatment may become necessary

• Am I a candidate for composite bonding or whitening instead, and why not?
• How much enamel will be removed, and can I see that explained on a model?
• Can I see and try a mock-up before you prepare any teeth?
• Are these veneers or crowns? What exactly are you preparing my teeth for?
• What material, and what laboratory?
• What happens if one chips after I have gone home?
• How long before these need replacing, based on cases like mine?

These are worth asking of any clinic, including ours. A clinic that answers them clearly and in writing is telling you something useful.

This treatment would be carried out by a licensed dentist at the partner clinic you choose, working in restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Dental Anchor does not provide treatment and does not employ dentists.

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