Dental veneers are thin pieces of plastic or porcelain that are cemented to the front of anterior (front) teeth. They can be used for a wide variety of cosmetic reasons including closing the gaps between teeth and changing the colour and shape of teeth.
Veneers are resistant to staining and because of their thinness can emulate the translucency of the underlying teeth giving a very natural appearnce. Conventional veneers require that approximately 0.5 - 1mm of a tooth's surface is removed to accomodate the veneer. Lumineers are an ultra-thin veneer that require minimal preparation of the teeth and are bonded directly onto the surface of the tooth.
Veneers normally involve two visits. In the first visit the tooth is prepared by removing a thin sliver from its surface and an impression sent to the laboratory. On the second visit the veneers is tried in to assess fit and shading. The final shade is achieved by selecting an appropriate coloured cement that when combined with the base colour of the prepared tooth and the veneer achieves a final shade that matches adjacent teeth.
Veneers are a proven means of improving the appearance of anterior and be expected to last more than ten years with proper care and maintenance.
