Our veneer work is carried out with a minimum-prep technique. The vitality of the tooth is preserved and no aggressive reduction is used. Veneers made with IPS e.max (Ivoclar Vivadent) carry a written five-year guarantee.
They are thin porcelain shells bonded to the front surface of the tooth.
A porcelain veneer (laminate veneer) is a thin porcelain shell used to correct problems of colour, shape and alignment. Because it is bonded only to the front surface of the tooth, far less tooth tissue is removed than for a full crown. At our clinic only 0.3 to 0.5 mm of enamel is reduced; the dentine is never reached.
Porcelain veneers are considered in the following situations.
Discolouration
Tetracycline staining, internal discolouration or structural colour changes that do not respond to whitening.
Irregularities of shape and length
Restoration of teeth with wear, chipped edges or congenital irregularities of shape.
Mild crowding
Considered where there is limited crowding, not severe enough to require orthodontics, that the patient wishes to correct visually.
Diastema (a gap between teeth)
A minimally invasive solution for closing gaps between the front teeth.
Porcelain veneer treatment is completed in five steps.
Consultation and digital scan
An impression is taken with an intraoral digital scanner. More conservative alternatives (bonding, orthodontics, whitening) are considered first.
Wax-up and mock-up try-in
A mock-up is placed in the mouth based on the model prepared from the digital design. We do not begin treatment without you seeing the result first.
Minimum prep (0.3–0.5 mm)
Under local anaesthesia the enamel is reduced by 0.3 to 0.5 mm. The dentine is left untouched.
Laboratory work (about two weeks)
The veneers are made in the laboratory using IPS e.max. Temporary veneers are worn during this period.
Adhesive bonding
The veneers are bonded to the teeth with an adhesive system. The brand, model and batch details are recorded in your treatment file; a night guard is recommended.
A written five-year guarantee on veneer work.
Your guarantee certificate is handed over signed once treatment is complete. Work covered by the guarantee is carried out at no additional charge. Wearing a night guard is one of the conditions of the guarantee.