Porcelain Veneer

Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made ceramic shells bonded to the front of the teeth to improve their colour, shape, alignment and proportions — the basis of a smile makeover. DEN-MED also offers lower-cost composite veneers and direct bonding for smaller changes. Multi-tooth cases can be previewed first with digital smile design so the planned result is agreed before any tooth is prepared.

A porcelain veneer is a wafer-thin shell of dental ceramic bonded to the visible surface of a front tooth to change its appearance. Veneers are used to brighten teeth that do not respond to whitening, to close small gaps, to reshape chipped or worn edges and to make slightly crooked or uneven teeth look more regular, and are often combined across several front teeth as part of a smile makeover. At DEN-MED a multi-tooth case can begin with digital smile design, a computer preview that lets the patient see and agree the planned shape and proportions before treatment starts. Preparing a porcelain veneer usually involves removing a very thin layer of enamel so the shell sits flush; an intraoral scan or impression is then taken and the veneer is crafted to a chosen shade. At a later visit it is bonded into place with adhesive resin and the bite is checked. For smaller or more reversible changes the clinic offers composite veneers and direct bonding, which are sculpted onto the tooth in a single visit at a lower cost, though they are less stain-resistant and hard-wearing than porcelain over time. Veneers suit adults whose main concern is the appearance of otherwise healthy front teeth; they are less appropriate where teeth are heavily decayed or where there is significant grinding, which the dentist will assess. Material choice, the number of teeth and whether a smile-design preview is used are agreed at consultation, and longevity is associated with good hygiene and a protective night guard where indicated.