Dental veneers are cosmetic porcelain restorations used in certain restorative dental procedures to improve the outward appearance of the teeth, as they make it possible to change their shape, shine and colour, as well as hiding any oral problems that may be present.
What dental veneers are for
To fit dental veneers, the thin shell is bonded to the surface of the tooth with a special resin.
This procedure covers the tooth and improves the overall look of your smile. It can be used on both the upper and lower teeth, although crowns are normally used on molars and premolars because of their strength and long-lasting durability.
Their main purpose is therefore cosmetic: they cover the teeth to create a flawless-looking smile. This kind of treatment lets you redesign your own teeth and show off an unbeatable smile (take a look at all our cosmetic and restorative treatments).
It’s important to know that dental veneers do not treat any existing oral health problems, because they are simply a cosmetic treatment that covers these problems up but doesn’t solve them.
That’s why any oral health problems need to be dealt with before dental veneers are fitted, to avoid the risks they could cause.
As a cosmetic treatment, dental veneers can:
- Hide chips, fractures and imperfections. They can conceal any imperfection, chipped enamel or partial fracture caused by a knock or by wear, so you can show off flawless teeth.
- Cover misalignments and unsightly gaps between teeth. Dental veneers are recommended when teeth are widely spaced. They can be an ideal solution for gapped, crooked or crowded teeth, but only in very mild cases, as more pronounced problems may need a different treatment, such as orthodontics.
- Change the appearance of your teeth. They are very practical for changing the look of teeth that are too small or short, stick out unusually or are not aligned. They can be adjusted to achieve the look or shape you want.
- Hide colour problems. This cosmetic treatment is one of the most effective ways to get whiter teeth in cases such as yellowing from coffee or teeth darkened by tobacco, because it doesn’t work on the colour of the tooth itself: the tooth is simply covered with a veneer that is whiter than the original.
When can dental veneers be used?
Overall, dental veneers are a very good option, and people who have them rate them highly for their price and the results they deliver.
Bear in mind that they are an excellent temporary solution for minor cosmetic problems, but they are not suitable for hiding serious misalignment, breaks or infections.
That’s why it’s important to know the condition of the tooth that will be covered and to make sure a veneer can be fitted. In short, dental veneers can cover more than one cosmetic problem at once: broken and gapped teeth, discolouration and fractures, or small and misaligned teeth. If you’d like to know which material suits you best, have a look at the types of dental veneers available or book your appointment so we can assess your case.
