Porcelain Veneer

A thin, custom porcelain shell bonded to the front of a tooth to improve its colour, shape and alignment. Veneers are used to refresh worn, chipped, discoloured or slightly irregular front teeth, and several are usually combined to create an even smile. At SmileOn the design starts from digital scans and clinical photography so the result is planned around your face and existing teeth. A lower-cost composite veneer is also offered.

A porcelain veneer is a thin layer of dental ceramic, custom-made to bond onto the front surface of a tooth and change its appearance. Veneers are a mainstay of aesthetic dentistry for front teeth that are discoloured, chipped, worn, slightly crooked or unevenly spaced, allowing the colour, shape and proportions to be improved while keeping the treatment relatively conservative compared with a full crown. At SmileOn Dental Studio veneer cases are planned using the 3Shape TRIOS 5 scanner and the in-house photography studio, so the proposed shape and shade can be designed in relation to your other teeth, lips and face before any work begins. Making a porcelain veneer usually involves preparing a small amount of the front of the tooth, capturing a digital impression, and bonding the finished ceramic shell in place at a later visit; temporary veneers may be worn in between. Because porcelain resists staining and reflects light much like natural enamel, well-made veneers look highly natural and keep their appearance over time. Veneers are most often planned in groups — for example across the upper front teeth — so the result is symmetrical rather than treating a single tooth in isolation. For patients wanting a quicker or more affordable option, the clinic also offers composite veneers, which are built up directly in the mouth. Veneers suit adults whose teeth are basically healthy but cosmetically compromised; the dentist assesses enamel, bite and gum health and discusses how many teeth to treat to achieve a balanced smile.