Porcelain and composite bonding are the most common veneer materials. Composite veneers are made of resin that is shaped and bonded to a tooth to enhance the appearance. Porcelain veneers are usually made in a lab and are more resistant to staining, compared to other materials.

Ask your partner dentist which option is best for you. If the needed changes are minor and the teeth function properly, cosmetic bonding is an appropriate choice. If teeth are spaced, broken, dark, and/or the client clenches or grinds their teeth, then porcelain veneers may be the preferred option.

Dental veneers can be a suitable option for people with discoloured, worn down, chipped, misaligned, spaced, uneven, or irregularly shaped front teeth. Your partner dentist will advise whether veneers are appropriate for your individual situation.

Getting a porcelain veneer is usually a multi-step process. The first step is to get a consultation with a prosthodontist. At this visit, you can outline your goals and concerns, and a prosthodontist will explain how veneers will work for you. X-rays or impressions of your teeth may be needed. The second step is to prepare the tooth for the veneer. A small amount of tooth structure is removed and an impression is made. The prosthodontist will then place temporary veneers. At the next appointment, the temporaries are removed, and the final veneer is bonded to your tooth.

In the case of veneers made from tooth-colored filling material, or composite bonding, this is a one-appointment process in which the prosthodontist will remove a small amount of tooth structure and bond filling material to your teeth. This type of veneer is not as long-lasting and doesn’t resist staining as well as a porcelain veneer.

The preparation of veneers preserves the most amount of tooth structure, as very little needs to be removed. They can improve the appearance of your teeth, and gum tissues respond well to dental veneers. The color can be custom-selected, and in the case of porcelain veneers, they are stain-resistant.

Once you have had your tooth prepared for the veneer, the process is not reversible. In the case that a veneer cracks, it is difficult to repair without having to replace the entire veneer. It is important to not have habits like pen-chewing or nail-biting as these can crack the veneer. Veneers are not a good option for people with poor gum health. In addition, people who grind or clench their teeth are at risk of chipping or cracking their veneers. Lastly, veneers are still susceptible to decay so you must maintain optimal oral health and visit your dentist regularly.

If you have stained or chipped teeth, veneers may be worth considering as they are designed to cover the front surface of existing teeth. They are also a popular option for smile makeovers or for individuals looking to improve the overall appearance of their teeth. Your partner dentist will confirm whether you are a suitable candidate during consultation.

If you have extensive tooth decay, it’s not wise to simply cover it up with veneers. Talk to your prosthodontist about removing the decay before getting started. If you grind your teeth, this could also be a problem but your prosthodontist may offer you a solution to help guard against damaging your veneers, such as a mouth night guard.

A consultation with your partner dentist is needed to determine how many veneers are required or whether veneers are the most appropriate option. It is generally advisable to have an even number of veneers. Two, four, eight, ten, or twelve veneers are typical configurations for aesthetic balance.

The porcelain veneer is durable and should not break under normal circumstances. If gum recession occurs, the root of the tooth may become exposed. Clients may wish to have new veneers to cover the roots. The integrity of veneered teeth is marginally affected by the preparation process, and the veneer is bonded to the existing teeth. There is no higher incidence of decay provided that the veneers are properly cared for, with regular brushing and flossing.

Ask your partner dentist to show you other cases of veneers they have completed, specifically cases that resemble your own situation.
Ask how many clients they have treated with veneers.
Ask if they use a dental laboratory that specialises in cosmetic dental veneers.
Ask if the dentist can show you what your veneers will look like before they are permanently placed.

A digital smile preview can be made by taking a photograph of the client’s face and digitally editing the teeth. This gives the client a useful indication of the potential aesthetic outcome and can help them decide whether veneers are the right option for them.

Clients are typically numbed for the veneering process. There should be no pain during the procedure once numbness takes effect. With smaller cases (two or four veneers) there will be very little or no discomfort after the numbness subsides. Clients should expect some soreness of the gums and possibly the jaw in cases that involve eight or more veneers. The soreness can typically be alleviated with over-the-counter medications.

In some veneer cases, contouring the gums can contribute to a better cosmetic outcome. It is done to create symmetry and lengthen short teeth. Most gum contouring causes no additional discomfort during or after treatment. On rare occasions, surgical contouring may be required if the teeth are very short. Clients are referred to a periodontist for this procedure.

You can eat most foods, but each client has a different bite. We recommend eating softer foods for the first few days until you get used to the new bite position. After several weeks there is generally no restriction unless your case has specific requirements. The most common foods to avoid are ice, hard biscuits, hard sweets, caramel apples, hard nuts, pumpkin seeds, and popcorn.