Dental veneers – types and uses

Correcting an unattractive smile or defective teeth is easier today than it has ever been. There are a range and variety of cosmetic dentistry treatments available aimed at achieving beautiful and perfect teeth. One of the many cosmetic dentistry options available and widely used in smile makeover programmes is the use of dental veneers.

Dental veneers are custom made and bonded to your teeth and they are often used to change the shape, size, orientation and colour of teeth.
Dental veneers are translucent and look exactly like normal teeth so they can be great for transforming your teeth and smile but they are a non-reversible and permanent procedure and cannot just be removed if you tire of them.

Dental veneers are used for correcting many dental defects like making teeth look whiter, elongating or shortening teeth, straightening them, correcting chipped and cracked teeth as well as to fill gaps.

There are basically three types of dental veneers – porcelain veneers, composite veneers and lumineers. Porcelain veneers and lumineers are usually more costly than composite veneers as they are custom made and tailored to each individual.

Before a dental veneer can be fixed, your teeth have to be prepared for the procedure.
Initially, a small amount of tooth enamel needs to be removed in order for the dental veneer to be bonded to the natural tooth.
Dental veneers can be expected to last for 10-15 years if they are properly cared for but you may need to consider their replacement at some time in the future as they are not made to last for life.