Understanding your options
A veneer covers the visible surface of a tooth. Different materials and preparation approaches exist, but some removal of tooth tissue may be required. This makes careful planning and informed consent important.
Benefits and points to consider
Veneers can alter the visible shape, shade or surface of selected front teeth. They may help when discolouration does not respond to whitening, when a tooth has an irregular outline or where a durable facing is considered appropriate. Their potential benefit is a planned change to the front surface while retaining much of the tooth behind it, but preparation can still be irreversible. Decay, gum disease, limited enamel, heavy grinding and certain bite relationships can reduce suitability or change the recommended design.
Your assessment in Ely
We assess tooth health, existing fillings, gum condition and bite. We also discuss the result you are hoping for and alternatives such as whitening, bonding or orthodontic treatment.
What treatment involves
Records are taken so the veneer can be planned and made. The tooth may be prepared before the restoration is bonded in place. The exact number of visits depends on the clinical plan.
Care and next steps
Veneers can chip, loosen or need replacement over time. Brush and clean between teeth carefully, avoid using teeth as tools and attend reviews so the veneer, its margins and supporting tooth can be checked.
Potential benefits
- Can alter selected shape, shade and proportion concerns
- Ceramic surfaces resist staining better than composite resin
- Planning can coordinate several visible teeth
- Alternatives can be compared before irreversible treatment
What the treatment involves
- 1Assess the tooth structure, existing fillings, gum condition and bite, and discuss your expectations so the proposed change is realistic for the teeth involved.
- 2Agree the intended shape and shade together, sometimes using photographs, mock-ups or shade guides, so the planned result can be discussed before any preparation begins.
- 3Prepare the tooth only as the plan requires, removing the minimum of enamel, and explain what this involves because the preparation of tooth tissue cannot be reversed.
- 4Take impressions or digital scans for the dental laboratory and provide a temporary covering or interim care where the plan needs one between visits.
- 5Bond the veneer in place, check the bite, margins and appearance carefully, and explain the cleaning and review arrangements for the finished restoration.
Comparing the options
| Option | Typical use | Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Veneer | Front-surface change | May require preparation |
| Bonding | Smaller shape changes | Can stain or chip |
| Whitening | Natural tooth colour | Cannot change shape |
Making an informed decision
Dental treatment should be based on an examination, a clear diagnosis and a conversation about what matters to you. At Broad Street Dental Care, we explain reasonable options, including the choice not to proceed, so you can weigh likely benefits, limitations, costs and maintenance. No webpage can determine whether a treatment is suitable for an individual mouth.
Dr Junaid Abbas Choudhry is the principal dentist at the practice and is registered with the General Dental Council under number 302053. You can also review the practice's independent regulatory information on its Care Quality Commission profile.