Dental veneers are very thin overlays, which can be bonded to your natural teeth. They may be a good solution for discolouration, chipping and other damage, or to improve the appearance of your smile.
Veneers are made from porcelain, or a similar composite material. A number of types are available at our practice, including Lumineers, which are exceptionally thin and require no abrasion to your teeth before fitting.
One of our dentists can advise on the type which suits your needs and in all cases, fitting is quite painless. Where abrading the tooth surface is required, a local anaesthetic can be used if you wish.
Fitting Veneers
The first stage is for your dentist and you to be sure that dental veneers are a good answer. Small chips may be repairable with naturally coloured filling material, a weak tooth could be better with a crown.
Careful examination and the cosmetic skills of our dentists will provide a sound diagnosis and treatment plan. Where veneers are chosen, the procedure is straightforward.
Depending on the veneer type, a thin layer of the shiny, outer enamel surface of your tooth may need to be removed. This ensures the veneer can be bonded permanently in place, using a specialist dental adhesive.
The enamel removal is superficial, you won’t need a temporary veneer between stages, or see the shape of your tooth change. Shade matching to select the veneer colour is carried out on adjacent, untouched teeth.
Your dentist then takes an impression of the tooth, which is sent to a dental technician. They produce individually tailored, wafer thin veneers, which can have thicker sections if an area of damage requires this.
On a second visit, your dentist will show you the veneer in place and once you are happy, this will be bonded to your tooth. Any nominal adjustments can be made and the tooth polished to a natural sheen.
Closing Tooth Gaps
Apart from restoring chipped, or discoloured teeth, veneers can be used to eliminate gaps in your teeth. Possibly where the gap is relatively small, or if orthodontic treatment is not suitable for any reason.
Having a diastema (a space between your teeth) is quite common in childhood and they normally close over time. Unusual bone, or tissue structure can however prevent closure in a proportion of people.
Whilst treating the cause, or opting for orthodontic care may be an option, there are cases where dental veneers can provide a solution. Perhaps helping with speech, alongside an aesthetic improvement.
Detailed analysis of current tooth size, angles and spacing will determine whether closing a gap with veneers makes sense. As with all dental treatment we provide, this is based on shared understanding and advice.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of dental veneers, from cost to procedure, to suitability, please get in touch with our friendly team.
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