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Veneers
A veneer is a thin layer of material (which can be either porcelain, ceramic or composite bonding material) made to fit over the front surface of a tooth. Veneers can be used to transform crooked, discoloured, stained, damaged or badly worn teeth into a brand new, straight and whiter smile. They are “cemented” to the front surface of teeth to improve their cosmetic appearance. Many dentists use the analogy that dental veneers are for your teeth what false fingernails are for your hands.
The most popular type of veneers is porcelain, which offers a stronger and more durable alternative to its composite counterpart. Ceramic veneers give more strength and improved appearance than porcelain veneers. They are an ideal veneer choice for smile makeovers.
What are veneers used for?
There are a wide variety of reasons why patients opt for treatment with dental veneers:
Damaged teeth - teeth that have become badly worn through excessive grinding or by fizzy drinks, as well as those that have been chipped or broken, can benefit from veneers. A single damaged tooth can easily be repaired with a porcelain veneer that has the same characteristics and colour as you natural teeth.
Stained teeth - badly stained teeth that cannot be improved by teeth whitening or can be greatly improved by dental veneers
Gaps- spaces or gaps (diastimas) between your teeth can easily be closed using dental veneers, giving you a more uniform-looking smile.
Crooked teeth - Veneers are not the ideal treatment for crooked teeth, orthodontics or Clearstep braces would be an ideal solution from the point of view of preserving your natural teeth. However, braces treatment can take up to a year or longer. For teeth that are not severely crooked, veneers placed over their front surface will give a straight and perfectly aligned-looking smile.
What is the procedure of having dental veneers?
The first step in the process is the initial consultation and examination, so that the dentist can provide an individualised treatment plan to address your specific needs and concerns. Your dentist will explain the treatment procedure to you and give you an accurate guide to the likely costs of your treatment.
To give you an idea of how your new smile will look before your final veneers are designed, an impression of your teeth can be taken to construct a model of your veneered teeth (diagnostic wax-up).
With the use of special anaesthetic gels and dental anaethetics to numb your tooth, every effort is made to ensure there is no discomfort during your dental treatment session.
Your dentist will then need to reshape and prepare the front surfaces of your teeth so that they can accommodate the veneers. A thin amount of the front surface of your teeth will be removed, this will be equivalent to the thickness of the veneer that will sit over the front of the tooth.
An impression or mould of your prepared teeth is then taken with special dental putty. The impression is sent to the dental laboratory where an accurate model of your teeth is made, which is used as a guide to fabricate your new veneers. This process can take around one week. Temporary veneers may be fitted while you're waiting for your veneers to be fabricated. Not all situations require temporary veneers.
At your next appointment the veneers will be sat over your teeth to see how they look with your smile. The veneers are then cemented into place, and a special curing light is used to activate the dental cement so that it bonds the veneer to your tooth.
0161 445 1010
Dr Irfan Haque BChD
Dr John Latham BDS BSc
Ms Frances Sands Bsc OHS
| Monday - Wednesday: | 9.15 am - 5.30 pm |
| Thursday: | 9.15 am - 7.00 pm |
| Friday: | 9.15 am - 1.00 pm |
