Porcelain veneers are thin layers of ceramic that are cemented over the outer surface of your teeth to improve colour, shape and strength, or to replace a weakened tooth structure.
It is a highly effective conservative treatment option to help you achieve the smile you desire. Porcelain veneers are able to completely redesign your smile to create symmetry and balance in as little as two appointments.
What are porcelain veneers used to correct?
- Permanently close spaces between teeth
- Restore ideal shape to chipped or worn teeth
- Create a more balanced, even smile
- Reshape small/long shaped teeth to ideal proportions
- Make crooked, crowded or misaligned teeth appear straighter
- Cover stained or discoloured teeth
What are the benefits of dental veneers, and how long will they last?
During our pre-procedural work, we work with you to create the ideal colour and shape of the teeth you desire, and a diagnostic wax-up will help you visualise the results before we start.
- Achieve a natural appearing smile
- Painless procedure
- Resistant to staining from things like tea, coffee, smoking and wine
- More affordable and conservative than crowns
- Their strength is comparable to natural tooth structure
- The porcelain itself does not decay
If maintained well, and a good home oral hygiene routine is followed, veneers will last more than 10 years.
What is the procedure for porcelain veneers?
Pre-planning phase: careful preparation is the key to achieving the ideal result.
- Upper and lower moulds of your teeth are taken to create study models
- The study models are sent to the laboratory with instructions on your proposed design to create a diagnostic wax-up
- The diagnostic wax-up is a trial for you to assess your new smile before starting to ensure you will be happy with the final result
- We will then have a complimentary consultation to discuss the diagnostic wax-up, modify anything you are not happy with, and answer any of your questions
- Once you are completely satisfied, we can then proceed to appointment 1
Appointment 1: the teeth are prepared
- Local anaesthetic is administered so it’s a painless and comfortable appointment for you
- Your teeth are prepared by removing approximately 0.5–1 mm of tooth structure so a natural result can be achieved and a strong connection formed between your teeth and the prepared veneers
- Once the teeth are prepared, a mould is taken so a replica can be sent to the laboratory to prepare the porcelain veneers for a perfect fit
- Temporary veneers are then placed as the laboratory takes between 1–2 weeks to fabricate the final result
- A complimentary appointment with the laboratory is available in order for you to achieve the perfect colour match
Appointment 2: your new smile
- Local anaesthetic is again administered for your comfort
- The temporary veneers are removed and your teeth cleaned to ensure the strongest bond takes place
- Your veneers are tried first before final cementation to make sure you are happy with the colour, shape, symmetry and overall fit
- Once you give us the green light, we permanently cement your veneers
- Careful polishing and adjustments take place
- You then walk away with a new smile that you are proud of