At Oriel Villas Dental Surgery in Cheltenham we fit porcelain veneers regularly, and we turn down requests for them almost as often. This article sets out both sides: what veneers do well, what they cost, what you give up, and who we think they suit. If veneers are one part of a bigger change, our guide to smile makeovers in Cheltenham explains how they fit into a wider plan.
What a porcelain veneer is
A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain or ceramic, made by a dental technician to your measurements and bonded permanently to the front surface of a tooth. Porcelain handles light much as enamel does, letting a little through at the edges and reflecting the rest, so a well made veneer reads as a tooth rather than a coating.
Veneers are good at changing several things at once. They can cover deep staining that whitening cannot reach, lengthen teeth that have worn short, even out teeth of different sizes, close small gaps and disguise mild crookedness. They are mostly placed on the upper front teeth, the ones on show when you talk and smile.
The trade off nobody puts on the leaflet
Veneers need room. To stop them looking bulky, a thin layer of enamel is usually removed from the front of the tooth first. Sometimes it is very little and occasionally none, depending on the case. Where enamel is removed, that is permanent: the tooth will always need a veneer or another restoration from then on. Veneers also need replacing eventually, so choosing them is a long term commitment rather than a single purchase.
That is the real question hiding behind “are they worth it”. For a tooth that is already heavily worn, dark or filled, losing a sliver of enamel is a small price for a strong, stain resistant result. For a healthy tooth with a minor chip, it is a large price for a small gain, and composite bonding usually makes more sense.
How veneers are made and fitted at Oriel Villas
Veneers take two or three appointments. At the first we check that your teeth and gums are healthy, take photographs and scans, and plan the shape, length and shade with you. If you are thinking about whitening, now is the time to say so, because porcelain is made to match your teeth as they are and will not lighten later.
At the second visit, once you are happy with the design, we prepare the teeth, under local anaesthetic where enamel needs reducing, and take the measurements the laboratory needs. Temporary veneers go on to protect the teeth and give you a chance to live with the new shape while the technician builds the porcelain.
At the fitting we try the veneers in first, so you see them in your own mouth before anything is fixed. Only when the result matches what we planned together do we bond them in place with a strong dental adhesive and check your bite.
What veneers cost, and how that compares
Porcelain veneers at Oriel Villas start from £600, as listed on our fees page, with the final figure depending on the number of teeth and the complexity of the case. Your written plan itemises everything before treatment begins.
Cost makes more sense measured over time than on the day. Composite bonding starts from £250 and typically lasts five to seven years. Porcelain starts from £600 and often lasts ten to fifteen years, sometimes longer. Over fifteen years a bonded tooth may need redoing twice, so the difference between the two narrows a good deal more than the starting prices suggest. Porcelain also shrugs off tea, coffee and red wine in a way resin cannot.
Veneers are a private treatment and are not available on the NHS. For larger cases we can arrange finance to spread the cost; we are a credit broker rather than a lender, and the team can explain the options.
Who veneers suit, and who should wait
Veneers tend to suit adults with healthy gums whose front teeth are worn, chipped, stained from within, mismatched in size, or carrying old composite that keeps discolouring. They earn their keep when several of those problems sit on the same few teeth.
We would usually hold back in three situations. If your gums are inflamed, that is treated first. If your teeth are significantly crowded, straightening with Invisalign beforehand can mean fewer veneers, or none. And if you grind heavily and will not wear a night guard, porcelain is strong but brittle under that kind of force. A tooth that is mostly filling, or has had root canal treatment, may be better served by a crown, which wraps the whole tooth rather than its front face.
If you are still deciding between the two main options, our earlier article on composite bonding versus veneers compares them side by side.
Looking after veneers
Brush and floss as you would natural teeth, keep up check ups and hygiene visits, and treat veneers as teeth rather than tools: no nails, pen lids or packet opening. Very hard foods are best bitten with the side teeth. The margin where porcelain meets tooth is still natural tooth and can still decay, so the usual rules about sugar apply.
Frequently asked questions
Do veneers ruin your natural teeth?
Can veneers be whitened?
How long do veneers last?
Will people be able to tell?
Can I have just one veneer?
Talk it through with us
If you cannot decide whether veneers, bonding or something else is right for your teeth, that decision is what the consultation is for. We will look at the teeth you would like to change, explain what each option would involve and give you the figures in writing. Call Oriel Villas Dental Surgery on 01242 523531, use our private line 07741 593675, or email practice@orielvillasdental.com.
Written by Dr Jakub Wojcicki,
Dentist at Oriel Villas Dental Surgery
(GDC No. 84982)