A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain bonded to the front of a tooth. In the right hands it corrects shape, spacing, and color at once, and the best ones are the ones nobody notices.
Veneers aren't right for every situation. Teeth that are badly broken down usually need crowns. Significant crowding or bite problems are often better addressed before cosmetic work. Part of a consultation is telling you which category you're in.
It starts with a conversation about what you'd like to change, photographs, and impressions or a digital scan. From those we design the new shape of the teeth, and for larger cases we can show you a preview in your mouth with temporary material before any tooth is touched.
At the preparation visit, a thin layer of enamel, often less than half a millimetre, is removed so the veneer sits flush. Temporaries protect the teeth while a ceramist builds the final porcelain, which takes about two weeks. At the final visit the veneers are tried in, adjusted, and bonded. The bond is strong enough to eat normally that same day.
We use layered porcelain, which mimics the way light passes through natural enamel and resists staining far better than composite. With sensible care, a night guard if you grind, and regular check-ups, porcelain veneers routinely last fifteen years or more.
It depends on what you want to change and how wide your smile is. Some patients need one to fix a single chipped tooth; a full smile makeover is usually six to ten across the upper teeth. We'll show you both the minimal and the complete option.
The preparation is done under local anesthetic and is comfortable. Mild sensitivity with the temporaries is common and resolves once the final veneers are bonded.
Because a small amount of enamel is removed, porcelain veneers are considered permanent: the tooth will always need a veneer or crown. If you'd prefer something reversible, composite bonding is a good alternative for smaller changes.
Send a request and we'll be in touch within one business day to find a time that works. For anything urgent, the phone is fastest.