Frequently Asked Questions

Dental veneers are a great solution for people with discolored, worn down, chipped, misaligned, spaced, uneven or irregularly shaped front teeth.

Getting a porcelain veneer is usually a multi-step process. The first step is to get a consultation with a prosthodontist. At this visit, you can outline your goals and concerns, and a prosthodontist will explain how veneers will work for you. X-rays or impressions of your teeth may be needed. The second step is to prepare the tooth for the veneer. A small amount of tooth structure is removed and an impression is made. The prosthodontist will then place temporary veneers. At the next appointment, temporaries are removed, and the final veneer is bonded to your tooth. In the case of veneers made from tooth colored filling material, or composite bonding, this is a one appointment process in which the prosthodontist will remove a small amount of tooth structure and bond filling material to your teeth. This type of veneer is not as long lasting and doesn't resist staining as well as a porcelain veneer.

The preparation of veneers preserves the most amount of tooth structure, as very little needs to be removed. They can improve the appearance of your teeth, and gum tissues respond well to dental veneers. The color can be custom selected, and in the case of porcelain veneers they are stain resistant.

Once you have had your tooth prepared for the veneer, the process is not reversible. In the case that a veneer cracks, it is difficult to repair without having to replace the entire veneer. It is important to not have habits like pen-chewing or nail-biting as these can crack the veneer. Veneers are not a good option for people with poor gum health. In addition, people who grind or clench their teeth are at risk for chipping or cracking their veneers. Lastly, veneers are still susceptible to decay so it is important that you maintain optimal oral health and visit your dentist regularly.

If you have extensive tooth decay, it's not wise to simply cover it up with veneers. Talk to your prosthodontist about removing the decay before getting started. If you grind your teeth, this could also be a problem but your prosthodontist may offer you a solution to help guard against damaging your veneers, such as a mouth night guard.

Typically, a veneer lasts approximately 5-10 years. They do not require any special care other than regular brushing, flossing, and visits to the prosthodontist. If they are properly cared for then they can last much longer. Professional cleanings every 6 months and yearly exams are highly recommended.

A prosthodontic consultation is needed to determine how many veneers are required or if veneers are the best option. It is a good idea to have an even number of veneers. Two, four, eight, ten or twelve veneers give the best aesthetic results.

Brushing two times each day for two minutes, flossing daily, and wearing a bite guard at night are great ways to protect the veneers. It is also beneficial to avoid eating very hard foods like almonds, or cracking shells with the front veneers.

The porcelain veneer is very strong and should not break under normal circumstances. If gum recession occurs the root of the tooth may become exposed. Patients may want new veneers to cover the roots. The integrity of veneered teeth is marginally compromised, and the veneer is bonded to the existing teeth. There is no higher incidence of decay provided that the veneers are properly cared for as detailed above, regular brushing with toothpaste, and flossing.

The cost of porcelain veneers starts from £695 per tooth.

A digital smile test drive will be done before you actually go in for porcelain veneers. This will give you an idea and feel of how the new smile will look after the actual veneers are fitted. You can use these temporary test drive for a few days to show your loved ones and get a feel of the new smile.

At Dental Concepts, We have experienced and skilled implant surgeons with a combined experience of about 19 years in placing implants. We use very well researched and well respected implant systems like Osstem and Sweden Martina. As a team, we pride ourselves of having well trained implant co-ordinators and nurses along the state of the art technology and equipment which will assure our patients and us of the quality of treatment provided. Remember, we expect our implants to last for a very long time, possibly even for life, so there really isn’t any justification for taking a cost cutting approach to such an important subject. In choosing a clinic, we always recommend patients to look carefully at the training of the surgeons and dentists involved, the materials used and the long term back-up provided. It’s also a good idea to visit our practice and meet with some of the team. That way, you’ll be able to make your mind up very quickly. Our experience is that the decision rarely comes down to price.