Dental veneers

For a smile that will make you feel transformed

First impressions count. So imagine if every time you smiled you had 100% confidence that your teeth were as straight and as sparkling as a movie star. With dental veneers, now you can. By choosing veneers - wafer-thin, specially shaped porcelain pieces that attach to the front of the teeth - you really are saying goodbye to stained, crooked, protruding, damaged or rotting teeth (and even gaps!) forever.

What exactly are veneers?

Veneers are wafer-thin laminates or shells of tooth-coloured material (porcelain, ceramic or composite bonding material) that are cemented to the front surface of the teeth to improve their cosmetic appearance.

Think of veneers in the same way you would think of false fingernails. Veneers work in exactly the same way - in a quick, painless and straightforward procedure they are bonded to the front of your existing teeth, leaving you with a smile that is simply perfect.

Should I consider veneers?

What makes veneers so special is their versatility. Here are just a few reasons why so many people come to us for veneers, and why they recommend them (and us!) time and time again:

• Damaged and chipped teeth - They get chipped through accidents that can sometimes occur and damaged through decay caused by too much sugary food in your diet. Patients who grind their teeth or have an uneven bite tend to wear their teeth down. Your teeth can be repaired easily with porcelain veneers. They can be matched so that they have the same look and colour to match your other teeth so that you get a look that is natural.
• Stained teeth - Just like your face ages so do your teeth. Sometimes teeth whitening does not work because the stains are ingrained through food and drink such as wine, tea and coffee or through smoking then dental veneers are an option for you. They are designed to hide any existing stains that cannot be removed by other means and hides any marks on your existing teeth.
• Crooked teeth - Appearance is becoming more important than ever before. If you suffer from crooked teeth they really can be very problematic. Dental veneers provide the answer when it comes to problems like crooked teeth, . Although dental veneers may not be the first choice for crooked teeth (with correction taking up to a year, or longer with braces) for teeth that are not overly crooked, dental veneers can be placed over the front of of crooked tooth to give a straight appearance.
• Gaps - Have you ever wanted a more balanced looking smile? The spaces and gaps between your teeth create the balance in your smile and uneven gaps can spoil otherwise perfect teeth. . If you have an uneven gap beetween your teeth it is the first thing people see whenever you open your mouth. Veneers solve this problem by completely closing all the gaps between your teeth.

Composite veneers or porcelain veneers. Which should i choose?

Porcelain veneers are the most popular. They are usually a much stronger and longer lasting than composite veneers which although ideal for small chips, they also stain more. Overall, porcelain veneers are designed to offer a more natural appearance.

How long will my veneers last?

Porcelain veneers usually last between 5 and 10 years if you ensure that you take good care of them and have good dental hygiene. On the other hand composite veneers might last for a year or two at the most. To make your denal veneers last longer it is important to follow a good oral hygiene programme and also make sure that you visit your dentist for check-ups on a regular basis ideally every 6 months.

Find a cosmetic dentist today

We can fit your veneers in the shortest time possible. They really do create the ultimate smile makeover - a brand new, straight, white smile that will make you feel transformed.

The Procedure

Stage 1

The first stage will involve a dentalexamination by your cosmetic dentist so that they can see if your suitable for dental veneers and address any concerns you may have. The cosmetic dentist will give an explaination of how the veneers work. In order to minimise any pain or discomfort the cosmetic dentist will inject you with a local anaesthetic to numb the teeth and gums. Once this has taken place your cosmetic dentist will have to reshap, and prepare your teeth so that they can be fitted with the veneers.

Stage 2

Using a specialist dental drill (and some times other dental instruments like a file) a small portion of the front surface of your teeth will be removed. Your cosmetic dentist will remove the same amount as the thickness of the veneer so that it will sit over the the tooth to create a natural look. A mould of your teeth is taken using specialist dental material used for creating an impression of your mouth. The moulding is pressed against your teeth so that a replica of your teeth can be created as guide for fabricating your veneers which can take take between one and three weeks. While you wait for your veneers to be created you might want to be fitted with temporary veneers to protect your prepared teeth which your cosmetic dentist will discuss with you.

Stage 3

It is at this stage that your cosmetic dentist will attach your custom made veneers to your teeth. Depending on how well this fit they may well just sit your veneers over the existing teeth to if they fit and look good, It maybe that they need to be adjusted a little and shaped befor the veneer are fixed permanently.The final part of your treatment invloves the cosmetic dentist cleaning and roughening your teeth with a special acid to ensure that the veneers have a good surface to adhere to. Once the veneers have been fixed into place a specialist dental instrument that consists of a light gun that is used to activate the dental cement / compound. This ensures that it permanently fixes the dental veneers to the tooth and will not move or come lose. The curing process is not painful at all does not take many minutes to work. Any excess cement that may have built up will be polished away leaving your teeth looking like new.