Veneers

If you take good care of them, composite veneers can last around 3-7 years whereas ceramic veneers can last on average for 10-15 years. Once veneers are applied, just treat them like natural teeth. You must maintain regular oral hygiene at home and visit us for routine hygiene to ensure that your new veneers will continue to look great.

You may be a good candidate for veneers if you have healthy gums, sufficient enamel, and concerns such as discolouration, chips, small gaps, or unevenly shaped teeth. During your consultation, your dentist will assess your oral health, discuss your cosmetic goals, and determine whether veneers are the most suitable option for achieving your desired smile.

Veneers are applied in a few steps. First, a thin layer of enamel is gently prepared to create space for the veneer. Impressions or digital scans are then taken so your bespoke veneers can be crafted. Once ready, the veneers are bonded securely to your teeth and polished for a natural finish.

The process is typically not painful, most patients feel only minor sensitivity due to enamel preparation, and this usually subsides quickly. Local anaesthetic can be used if needed to ensure complete comfort throughout the treatment.

The price of veneers will vary depending on which lab technicians we choose to do your case. Non prep veneers are fabricated by our master ceramists in Italy and prices can start from from £1500 per tooth.

You treat a veneer as you would a tooth without the covering. Brush and floss regularly, and avoid staining foods or drink, and habits like tobacco use.

If you do not suffer from gum disease and have enough enamel on the tooth for the veneer, you can get a veneer.

There are no restrictions as to the number of teeth you can cover with veneers. The number of veneers depends on the cosmetic changes you want to make to your smile.

Crown lengthening and gum contouring are procedures used to reshape the gumline and expose more of the natural tooth surface. This helps ensure a veneer or crown fits properly, improves the proportions of your smile, and can correct issues such as a “gummy smile.” These treatments allow your dentist to create a more balanced, even gumline across your upper and lower teeth.

Dentists use crown lengthening to recontour gum tissue, exposing more of the tooth’s surface so that a veneer or crown can fit over it properly. It can help correct a “gummy smile,” or it can prepare the tooth’s surface for further cosmetic or structural procedures. It can also create a gumline that appears more proportionate throughout your top and bottom teeth.

Sometimes some of your tooth’s surface may be hidden beneath the gumline. If too much is unexposed, there will be insufficient structure for a veneer to be fitted or for a veneer to adhere correctly.

Crown lengthening is also performed for cosmetic purposes. Some patients have what is called a “gummy smile,” meaning that a significant amount of their gums are exposed when they smile.

Crown lengthening can correct this by exposing more of the teeth’s surface, pushing back the gums and evening out your smile.

After applying a local anaesthetic, your dentist surgically removes very small amounts of gum tissue until the dentist achieves your desired appearance.

Depending on the patient, it usually takes about 3 months for the gums to completely heal but you will be able to resume normal function after a few weeks.

You may have some discomfort and swelling around the area. You can use over-the-counter medication and cold compresses to relieve these after-effects.

Avoid hot food or drinks for a while to minimise bleeding, and follow a soft-food diet while your gums heal. Also, avoid alcohol and tobacco products. If there is some slight bleeding, you can apply clean gauze to the area, holding it firmly in place until the bleeding stops.

You can chew and drink on the opposite sides of your mouth to avoid irritating your healing gums. You should also avoid acidic foods or anything that is sticky and might get caught around your gumline.

Rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash twice per day. You can use this mouthwash on the tip of a cotton swab to gently brush around the surgical site.

Avoid brushing the area until the stitches absorb or are removed. In addition to using a cotton swab with antiseptic mouthwash, you can use a toothpick to gently remove any trapped food particles until you can brush and floss normally.

Generally, veneers require two visits: one to shape the teeth and one to bond these natural looking veneers to the teeth. Between visits, your dentist can place attractive provisional veneers to help prevent sensitivity, allow function, and provide a nice smile. These provisional veneers are designed to be in your mouth for a limited time but should be comfortable until your new veneers are completed.