Veneers

Porcelain Veneers are thin bespoke ceramic shells that are bonded to the front surface of your existing tooth, commonly used to disguise imperfections such as crooked or chipped teeth, discolouration, gaps and uneven teeth to conceal the underlying cosmetic issues and create a great new appearance. Recently it has become a favourable option over other cosmetic treatments to achieve an overall smile makeover. We, here, say that ‘veneers are to teeth, what false nails are to hands’

Do it once, do it right!

If you are considering having veneers, then the quality of the work performed is of great importance.  High-quality dental work can be costly, but the greatest costs come from having to do the work more than once. We regularly see patients who have had treatment elsewhere, usually abroad, and who end up coming here to get their ceramic veneers repaired or re-done. Our dentists combine artistic design with years of practical experience to design veneers that look both beautiful and natural.

• Straighten crooked teeth – Where the teeth are out of line, we can place porcelain dental veneers on the teeth to disguise the overcrowding.
• Close gaps in teeth –Depending on the size of a gap between one or more of your teeth, dental veneers can be the ideal solution to close the gaps quickly and easily.
• Discoloured teeth –Teeth can be discoloured for many different reasons.  Common discolouration cases are where the teeth have either just aged and discoloured over time, or there may be conditions present such as staining or Fluorosis and the veneers are ideal to mask that discolouration.
• Overlapping teeth – A common concern is where teeth overlap each other.  Veneers can be used to disguise the overlap by removing the overlapping enamel and placing the cosmetic veneers on top.
• Minor Imperfections –It is very common to see cases where there is very little wrong with the teeth but the individual wants a more perfect looking smile. These kinds of cases always look very natural because very little enamel needs to be taken away.
• Worn teeth –A common issue is where the teeth have been ground down over time, and they have shortened considerably.  Veneers are the ideal solution to restore short or worn down teeth.
• Chipped teeth – Porcelain veneers are an ideal solution to restore the shapes to chipped or broken teeth. Where enough tooth structure still remains, veneers can be used to build them, but in more severe cases – where over half of the tooth has chipped – it is more likely that crowns would be needed for added strength.

The best dental veneers are made of the finest porcelain. There are many brand names for porcelains such as Empress porcelain and Emax porcelain, but which type of porcelain is best depends on the teeth that the dental veneers are being applied to.

There are many factors that the cosmetic dentist needs to consider before being able to determine which product, and which process should be used in each individual case. It is not a simple case of one being better than the other, as there are elements of one which would be best used in one case but not in another. For example, one porcelain may look more natural but is so thin that it cannot disguise the discolouration on the tooth beneath it.

The cosmetic dentist and the lab technician together work closely to determine how best to achieve the optimal end aesthetic result. For the layman researching which teeth veneers are best, you would be advised to seek the opinion of a highly skilled and experienced cosmetic dentist, rather than assuming you know which dental porcelain veneers would be best for your teeth.

There are many different types of veneers.  We find the best results for the majority of cases is porcelain.

1. Porcelain veneers – are extremely durable, long-lasting, natural-looking, glossy, and the results can be outstanding. The material is also non-porous, meaning that it does not pick up any surface staining that cannot be easily brushed off. Ideal for the coffee and red wine drinkers! Porcelain teeth veneers are the perfect solution to disguise imperfections in your teeth, such as crooked teeth, gaps in your teeth, discolouration, chipped or uneven teeth.  Our porcelain dental veneers come with a 5-year guarantee at our clinic, but we expect them to last for 15 years or more if you look after them well. Good oral hygiene and regular hygiene maintenance are all that are required to expect this kind of longevity.
2. Composite veneers – are a different material altogether – not unlike the material used for white fillings.  As such the longevity of composite is nowhere near what can be expected of porcelain dental veneers. Composite is porous, and so it can pick up staining, unlike porcelain.  If you are a smoker or drink lots of black coffee or red wine, you may find the composite teeth veneers will stain much more quickly. Composite veneers not as strong as porcelain veneers and so they can chip more easily.
3. Lumineers – are a great idea in principle, but unfortunately, there are very few cases where lumineers are suitable.  Lumineers are, essentially, veneers. They are fine pieces of porcelain and their only difference from dental veneers is that the teeth do not need to be ‘prepped’ or filed down at all in order to accommodate the lumineers. The porcelain just sticks on top of your own teeth. If you have any teeth that are slightly protruding or overlapping, the lumineers need to come forward to the same point in order for them all to line up correctly. This means that some of the lumineers would be quite thick, and so the end result won’t necessarily look very good. The cases where lumineers work really well, are when the teeth are slightly gapped and slightly set back. The lumineers can then be placed onto the teeth, wrap around the edges to close the little gaps and bring the teeth forward slightly – which would give a fantastic result. Sadly, there are not many cases like this, where lumineers are suitable. However, dental veneers and lumineers are often used in conjunction. Teeth that need to be prepared will be given dental veneers, teeth that do not need to be prepared will be given lumineers. They are both the same thing and it is really just a matter of whether the tooth has been prepared underneath or not.
4. Snap-on veneers! – In a nutshell, snap-on veneers are very much like wearing a gum shield. It is a temporary measure to disguise the appearance of your own teeth. They are made of plastic and as they fit over your own teeth, if you have any protrusion, all of the teeth in the gum shield will need to protrude in the same way in order for them to be lined up. But this defeats the object of reducing the protrusion. The only way to reduce the appearance of the protrusion is by having veneers and filing the tooth, particularly in its most protruding part, to reduce its bulk. Snap-on veneers are not considered to be a viable option to improve your smile as far as dentists are concerned.
5. Cerec veneers – can be placed in just one day. They are created by a machine and are designed according to specific instructions entered into the computer system. The veneers will only be as good looking as the design and instructions that are given by the dentist and this in itself is an art.

Many factors need to be considered in order to achieve natural looking results – where translucency may be desired, realistic teeth characteristics applied, and varying shades of colour are needed to make them blend in perfectly with the surrounding teeth.

In general, dental veneers would be made in a laboratory and hand sculpted by a technician. There is no reason why Cerec veneers cannot be just as good as lab played veneers, but a great deal of skill is required to produce high-quality, natural-looking veneers in this manner.

It may surprise you to hear that cosmetic dentistry is not a specialised field in the UK. This means that any dentist is able to call themselves a cosmetic dentist, no matter how much experience they have in this line of dentistry. If you want to make sure that you find a very good cosmetic dentist, there are a few signs to look out for which will make one stand above the other.

Any cosmetic dentist who has been practising cosmetic dentistry for a long time will have a huge portfolio of before and after treatment photographs of cosmetic dentistry cases that they have carried out. Be wary of stock photos that are not linked to the particular dentist that is carrying out your work…

You will find there are many reviews that have been written online, that will give you the confidence that you have got the right cosmetic dentist for you. It is worth googling the name of the cosmetic dentist that you are seeing so that you can find lots of glowing reviews.

It is also worth finding out whether the cosmetic dentist concentrates solely on cosmetic dentistry, or whether they generally would see patients for general dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry carried out by a general practitioner may not be as good as it could be if you saw a specialist. For example, how

long have you had to spend in the dental chair? With a highly skilled and experienced cosmetic dentist, an average treatment time to place eight upper veneers would be in the region of 2 to 3 hours. Any longer than that and it is not going to be the most comfortable experience. With experience comes skill and we like to minimise the amount of time that a patient is in the chair.

When you visit a cosmetic dentist for a consultation, with regard to having some porcelain veneers placed on your teeth, there are a few ways in which you can feel confident you have chosen the right person. Has the cosmetic dentist provided you with a simulation of how you could expect results to look? Have you seen examples of cases they have carried out? Are you able to have a trial smile prior to the treatment? Are you able to discuss the shapes of the teeth that you would like? If you have not been provided with the above, you need to make sure that you feel comfortable with the dentist in question. It is a big step to have anything done to your teeth, so it is up to you to choose the right person for you. You want to feel relaxed and so picking the right cosmetic dentist is paramount.

We expect our cosmetic dental veneers to last for 15 years; however, if you look after them really well, they may last even longer than that. Providing the teeth veneers have been placed really well, and there are perfect seals between the veneers and the teeth, you can expect them to stay in place for decades. As with your own teeth, annual check-ups with your dental dentist would be advised, along with six monthly hygiene visits to ensure that your gums are in tiptop health. If you look after your gums, the veneers can look after themselves.

Yes, we guarantee our dental veneers for at least five years. Whilst veneers are extremely durable, they are not indestructible. Many people use their teeth as tools and, as a result, they can often break their own teeth. This is no different with your veneers. You still need to take care of them and not apply undue pressure.

Our veneers are currently priced at £795 per tooth. If you simply have a chipped tooth you wish to disguise, one veneer could be all you need. However, if you are looking to rectify a crooked or gummy smile, you may require more.

A full set of veneers is generally between 16 and 20 teeth. If you’re looking for excellent value for money now is the time to invest in your smile, as we have several special offers available:

• 16 veneers cost £14320 – currently discounted to £12172 or £266 per month
• 18 veneers cost £16110 – currently discounted to £13694 or £299 per month
• 20 veneers cost £17900 – currently discounted to £15215 or £333 per month

We appreciate that paying for dental treatment can put a strain on finances. To help, we offer our veneers on finance and you can spread payments over 1-5 years. To discuss your payment options in more detail, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Simply call 020 7971 1909 or email reception@harleystreetsmile.co.uk.

For a more accurate idea of how much your treatment could cost why not complete our online e consultation now? Simply upload a photo of your smile and outline what you’re hoping to change. We will take a look and get back to you with our recommendations and the associated fee.

Great news – no! In the vast majority of cases, just two pain-free appointments are required to fit your new veneers and you won’t feel a thing.

With our 5-star customer service and relaxing surroundings, we aim to make the whole experience – from initial consultation right through to walking out with your finished veneers – as enjoyable as possible.

Thanks to our skilled and experienced team, if you do require a small amount of local anaesthetic, this will be administered with minimal discomfort – you’ll feel no more than a sharp scratch.

Veneer appointments typically last 90 minutes and you should be able to return to work straight after your procedure. It’s perfectly normal to feel a small amount of sensitivity, typically around your gums, but this won’t last long. It can also take a bit of time to get used to your new veneers and it may take a few days for your bite, chewing, talking etc, to feel completely normal. Once they have settled in though, veneers should both look and feel totally natural, leaving you with a radiant smile.

The application of dental veneers has long been a standard procedure in the world of cosmetic dentistry, but recent years have seen a spike in popularity for this particular approach. More and more refined and delicate techniques have been developed, meaning that veneers appear – and perform – better than ever. But what are veneers exactly? See below for a simple guide to help you better understand this smile-changing option and find out whether it might be right for you!

What Do Veneers Do?

 Veneers provide a “coating” or “shell” for the outer surface of the teeth. They can be applied to any number of teeth, and serve a number of purposes. Individuals who suffer from chipped, worn, crooked or gapped teeth often opt for veneers to make their smile appear more even and symmetrical. They’re great for people suffering from intrinsic staining too; if your teeth have been extrinsically discoloured through drinking tea, coffee, red wine or fruit juice, a basic whitening treatment is often enough to return them to a pearly shade, but factors such as the ingestion of  antibiotics or fluoride can result in the internal makeup of the tooth permanently changing colour. Choosing to have veneers applied to your teeth can completely disguise unsightly discolouration and give you a powerful boost of confidence in your look.

What Are Veneers Made Of?

 Veneers are sometimes created from resin composite materials, but are most commonly made from porcelain, which is durable, easy to shape, resists staining and mimics natural tooth material extremely well. The incredible craftsmanship that goes into adjusting the material to match the rest of a recipient’s teeth is so impressive that it now seems impossible to distinguish a veneer from a natural tooth.

How Are Veneers Applied?

It usually takes two visits to a cosmetic dentist to complete the process. The procedure should be completely painless. The first visit is to determine the look of the veneer that is to be created. The correct shade of material is decided by the dentist, and a sliver of tooth enamel is removed; an amount to match the thickness of the veneer, to allow the alignment of the teeth to look natural. A impression of the tooth will be made by the dentist, to allow the veneer to match the shape of your smile. Sometimes, temporary veneers are placed on the treated teeth to keep them safe and protected between the two appointments. The second appointment involves the fitting of the veneer. It and your tooth will be cleaned and gently prepared, then powerful adhesive and dental cement are applied, to make sure the new shell of your tooth stays on firmly. Once the veneer is firmly in place, it is given a final polish, and you’re good to go! There is no recovery time necessary for having veneers applied, but follow-up visits are required to ensure that the procedure has been a complete success.

 How Long Do Veneers Last?

Veneers have been known to last up to twenty years before requiring replacement. A diligent oral health routine will help to extend their life!

For more information read our Complete Guide to Dental Veneers here.

If you’re interested in seeing how you might benefit from receiving dental veneers, just get in touch with Harley Street Smile Clinic today on 020 7486 6777 for a free consultation.

How are porcelain veneers made for me?

Porcelain veneers are handcrafted in the laboratory and made to fit each individual client. Essentially, they are a very thin layer of porcelain used to cover the front surface of the tooth. They create a natural, translucent look (comparable to the natural enamel of a tooth), offer fantastic resistance to plaque and bacteria, and they are available here – at Harley Street Smile Clinic.

How are porcelain veneers fitted?

Just two pain-free appointments are required to fit porcelain veneers, each one lasting around 90 minutes on average. During the first, the dentist will start by examining your oral health. This is simply to make sure you’re a suitable candidate for veneers. They will then take impressions of your teeth and file down a thin layer of enamel where the porcelain veneers are to be fitted.

The second appointment is when the porcelain veneers are actually fitted. The dentist will thoroughly check the veneers to make sure they don’t affect your bite or alignment – and if any issues are identified, subtle alterations can be made. Finally, they will clean the teeth and apply a specialist acid gel, before holding the veneers in place and securing them with a curing light.

Does the porcelain veneers procedure hurt?

We endeavour to make the whole experience as pain-free and relaxed as possible. Modern techniques mean that, even if you do require local anaesthetic, this can be undertaken with the minimum amount of discomfort – no more than a scratch is all you will feel, and you’ll be able to return to work pretty much straight away.

How many porcelain veneers do I need?

The number of porcelain veneers that you will need depends on the type of defect you wish to disguise and the level of perfection you hope to achieve. On average, 4-10 veneers are recommended, and these are fitted in multiples of two from the centre outwards.

Here at Harley Street, we always strive to create a symmetrical natural-looking smile – therefore, once the veneers have been fitted, we usually apply a whitening treatment to the rest of your teeth.

How long do porcelain veneers last?

Dental porcelain veneers are expected to last about 10-20 years. However just like natural teeth, they are susceptible to damage, and it is important that you take care of them properly. It is also possible for the gum tissue to shrink over time, exposing the original tooth surface underneath. If this issue was to arise, the porcelain veneers would then need to be rebonded or replaced.

Get In Touch

If you would like to find out more about porcelain veneers and the options provided at our clinic, please feel free to get in touch by calling us on 020 7971 1909 or filling out our online enquiry form to begin to discuss your needs with one of our experts. Start preparations to improve your smile today with Harley Street Smile Clinic.