Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin custom shells bonded to the front of your teeth — a way to change shape, shade and alignment together.
A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain bonded to the front surface of a tooth. Because it covers the visible face, it can change colour, shape, length and apparent alignment at once — which is why veneers get considered when several things bother someone rather than one.
What veneers can address
- Discolouration that whitening cannot shift, including tetracycline staining
- Chipped, worn or uneven edges
- Teeth that are slightly crowded or rotated, where full orthodontics is not wanted
- Gaps between front teeth
- Teeth that are smaller or shorter than the ones beside them
What to weigh up
Veneers usually involve removing a small amount of enamel, and that is not reversible — a tooth prepared for a veneer will need one from then on. Porcelain also does not respond to whitening later, so the shade is chosen deliberately at the start. None of this is a reason not to do it; it is a reason to be sure before starting.
Common questions
- How long do veneers last?
- Porcelain veneers commonly last well over a decade with good care. They can chip or come loose, particularly if you grind your teeth, in which case a nightguard is usually recommended.
- Will they look false?
- That depends entirely on how the shade and shape are chosen. Veneers look artificial when they are too white and too uniform for the face they are in. The aim here is teeth that look like yours on your best day.
- Do veneers stain?
- Porcelain resists staining better than natural enamel does. The bonded margins can pick up stain over time, which is one of the things checked at routine visits.