Dental veneers can transform crooked, stained, damaged or badly worn teeth into a brand new, straight, white smile, as seen on many of the Hollywood greats.

Veneers are wafer-thin lamintates or shells of tooth-coloured material which are bonded to the front surface of teeth to improve their cosmetic appearance in a similar way to false fingernails are applied to fingernails.

There are a wide variety of reasons why patients choose dental veneers, these include:

Damaged teeth - broken, chipped or damaged teeth as well as those teeth that have become worn through grinding or carbonated drinks can benefit from veneers. A small chip on a tooth can quickly be repaired with a composite veneer or a single damaged tooth can easily be repaired with a porcelain veneer that retains the natural color and characteristics of youe natural teeth.

Stained teeth - badly stained teeth that cannot be improved by teeth whitening procedures can cover any existing stains on your teeth.

Crooked teeth - Although veneers are not always the ideal solution for crooked teeth, for teeth that are not severely crooked, veneers placed over their front surface will give an evenly aligned smile in a fraction of the time than the more usual orthodontic procedures like braces.

Spaces & Gaps - spaces & gaps can easily be closed using dental veneers, giving you a more even smile.

Porcelain veneers are the most popular type of veneer as these tend to offer a stronger more durable alternative to the composite veneer. Composite veneers are also more prone to staining and do not last as long as porcelain veneers and as such are usually not recommended to smokers.

Porcelain veneers also offer a more natural looking, translucent appearance and although initially more expensive can work out cheaper in the long run when you consider their superior strength and the amount of time they last. Composite veneers are ideal for small chips, as this treatment preserves more of your natural tooth structure.

How long do dental veneers last?

Porcelain veneers will typically last up to ten years, while composite veneers last two or three years at most. Before you consider veneer treatment you can be sure that this is not a "do once procedure" and they wiill eventually need to be replaced.

Good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups will maximise the amount of time your veneers will last.