Veneers are synthetic covers which are bonded to your teeth, most commonly front teeth.
Veneers and how they’re made
Usually, a veneer is used to change the appearance of a tooth. It can alter its colour, shape and even, to a limited extent, its position. A single veneer can be considered a ‘makeover’ for a tooth; a whole series of veneers can create a full dental smile makeover. They are usually used in the ‘Smile Lift’ procedure, when the patient wants a wider fuller smile, showing ‘more tooth’. Veneers can be almost thought of as a dental version of a false fingernail (although much more permanent) !
So, for example, a veneer can be used to change the colour of a very discoloured (eg. grey) tooth. It can restore a front tooth that is badly chipped. It can sometimes correct a crooked, twisted tooth. It can make a tooth bigger to close a gap.
Veneers can make teeth longer that have been worn down significantly by night-time tooth grinding.
Carefully and appropriately prepared, veneers can be very conservative restorations, requiring either no or minimal tooth preparation. Wherever possible, they are used instead of crowns as they are much more conservative of natural tooth structure.
The pros and cons of veneers
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions and enquiries about veneers here and get clarification for important information and potential concerns you may have.
What are veneers made out of?
Veneers are made of one of two materials; quartz composite or porcelain.
Is porcelain better for veneers?
In general, porcelain is almost always the preferred option because the material (unlike quartz composite) is much harder , does not wear out , needs no additional ‘maintenance’ and retains its beauty for a very long time. Consequently it is considered relatively ‘permanent’, and should last many, many years, perhaps decades. It has to be ‘custom’ made on a tooth replica model by a dental technician in a laboratory. However, it does require slightly more tooth preparation (than composite) and the cost investment is higher.
What are composite veneers?
Composite veneers fulfill a similar purpose to porcelain. However, the material is much softer and so will ‘degrade’ in time, losing its surface texture and shine as well as discolouring and wearing down. It does need maintenance (polishing up every year or two) and may need replacing after about four to six years. So it cannot really be considered ‘long term’ or ‘permanent’. However it can be bonded to the tooth without any tooth preparation and as it is placed in one visit by the dentist in the surgery the fee is much lower.
What our patients say
“We have been with our previous dentist for 37 years but the changes over recent years forced us to change. We chose Alvington House and could not be more pleased. Wish we had moved years ago! The organisation is professional and the care is calm and experienced. I hope we will be around for another 37 years with Alvington. Thank you to Mr Nigel Slattery and Sarah.”
Sheila Burke.
“As a private patient with the practice, I could not be happier with the service I’ve received in the short time I’ve been coming here. Mr Soares is an absolute asset to the practice and made me feel heard from the get go. Which, for someone with anxiety over dental related anything, is a definite plus. Highly recommend this practice if you’ve the finances for private care.”
Rick Cole.
“Fantastic practice and people. On top of routine check-ups, Joel did teeth whitening and a crown for my front tooth that previously had root canal and filling. I’m so happy with the results and feel like I can smile properly again for the first time in years.”
Evan Doble.
“Being a very nervous dental patient, the prospect of a molar extraction was very daunting. I was seen on the same day as I phoned in in pain and my tooth was taken out within two days. Mr Surti was brilliant! I was amazed at how easy and painless it was compared to my awful childhood experiences. Very calm and professional and made every effort to squeeze me in as soon as possible. All the staff were brilliant. I highly recommend this dental practice and especially Mr Surti.”
JoJo.
“Alvington House has been our family’s dentist for several years now and we have no complaints. Our dentist, Mr Surti, is kind and knowledgeable. The receptionists and dental nurses are top notch. Highly recommended dental practice.”
Marsha S.