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What is Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are a very versatile cosmetic dental treatment that is relatively conservative. The beauty of having veneers fitted at our Leeds surgery is that relatively little tooth structure needs to be removed. In fact sometimes it may not be necessary to remove any tooth structure, depending on the position of the tooth and the type of veneer.

They are perfect for disguising a wide variety of defects as they can be used to close up or minimise gaps in between the teeth, they can disguise stains or discoloured teeth, and can correct slight chips and cracks. They can also be used to realign slightly crooked teeth, and make a good alternative to having orthodontic treatment. If you have teeth that are slightly misshapen or too small then veneers can be the perfect way to create a more pleasing appearance.

You can choose to have just one or two porcelain veneers fitted to mask specific defects in teeth, or they can be used as part of a smile makeover. This means they might be used in combination with other dental treatments, such as teeth whitening, dental implants Leeds or other crown and bridge work, although people with only minor imperfections in their teeth may find them perfect as a standalone treatment.

If they are to be used for a smile makeover, and you are having a substantial number of veneers, then it’s possible to pick a shade that’s a little lighter than your natural teeth. Anyone using veneers for this purpose is likely to require 8 to 10 veneers on their upper teeth, and approximately 8 on the lower teeth. The exact number depends on how many teeth you can see when you smile.

What Exactly Is a Veneer and What’s the Procedure for Having One?

A veneer is a very thin slip of porcelain that is designed to fit exactly over the front of your teeth, and possibly the top part of your tooth used for biting. It is relatively strong once cemented into position, but you do need to take care of it and treat it in the same way as you would your natural teeth.

Dr. David Brown or another dentist in Leeds will need to prepare the teeth for the veneers. This usually involves removing a small amount of material from the front of the tooth as the average veneer is around 0.5 mm thick. Once the teeth have been prepared an impression is taken of your teeth and sent to our dental laboratory so that the veneers can be constructed. This generally takes about two weeks. Afterwards you’ll be able to return to our Leeds surgery for fitting. The veneers will be tried in to make sure they fit accurately, and that they look good. At this stage it’s important you’re sure you like the way they look as minor alterations can still be made. Once you’re happy with the appearance of your new teeth, then they’ll be permanently cemented into place.

One thing to take into consideration with porcelain veneers in Leeds  is that if you do have material removed from your teeth it can never be replaced. This means you’ll need to budget to replace the veneers at regular intervals. Some people are suitable for a different type of veneer, sometimes called no prep veneers. These don’t require the removal of any tooth material as the veneers are ultrathin. The beauty of this system is that you can always choose to have the veneers removed without needing to replace them.