Treatments
Dental Veneers
A thin layer of porcelain across the front of a tooth — used to whiten, reshape and realign a smile that no amount of polishing will fix.
Instant smile lifts
If you’re unhappy with the size, shape or colour of your teeth, veneers may be the answer. Because the porcelain covers the visible surface entirely, they solve problems that whitening and polishing can’t reach — a tooth that has darkened after root canal treatment, an edge chipped years ago, or a smile that reads as uneven however carefully it’s cleaned.
They’re not the right answer for everyone, and they’re not reversible. Where a less invasive option would give you the result you want, we’ll say so — see composite bonding and our minimally invasive smile makeovers.
What veneers can do
Three things veneers are used for
A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain made to fit over the front of a tooth, rather like a false fingernail. Porcelain doesn’t stain or change colour with age, so the result holds.
- Instant whitening — permanently masking discolouration that whitening gel can’t shift, including tetracycline staining and dead or root-treated teeth
- Instant orthodontics — visually straightening teeth that are mildly crooked or spaced, where you don’t want months of aligners
- Instant makeovers — reshaping chipped, pointed, small or irregular teeth so the smile reads as even
What's involved
Veneers take two appointments.
At the first, we agree the shape and shade, then remove a very thin layer of enamel from the front of the tooth — roughly the thickness of the veneer that will replace it — so the finished tooth isn’t bulky. We take a digital scan and fit temporaries.
At the second, the laboratory-made veneers are tried in, checked against your face rather than just your teeth, and then bonded permanently in place.
Because enamel is removed, veneers are not reversible. That’s the main thing to weigh up against composite bonding, which usually is.
Veneers or bonding?
Both improve the look of a front tooth, but they suit different situations.
Bonding is cheaper, done in one visit, and usually reversible — but it stains over time and needs refreshing every few years.
Veneers cost more and remove a little enamel, but porcelain resists staining and lasts considerably longer.
If you’re deciding, the honest answer comes from a consultation. We’ll tell you when bonding would do the job just as well — see also our comparison of bonding versus veneers.
What it costs
An Emax veneer is £891 per tooth. Most people treat the teeth that show when they smile rather than the whole arch, and you’ll have a written quote before anything begins. Finance is available on treatments over £1,000 — see the full fee guide.
Veneers — your questions answered
How long do veneers last?
Well-made porcelain veneers commonly last ten to fifteen years, and often longer. How long depends mostly on your bite, your gum health and whether you grind your teeth.
Will they look false?
Not if they’re planned properly. Porcelain is layered to mimic the translucency of enamel, and we match shape and shade to your face rather than fitting a uniform set of white blocks.
Do veneers stain?
Porcelain itself doesn’t stain, which is why it holds its colour far better than composite. The natural teeth around it can still darken over time, so we usually whiten first.
Do I have to have my teeth filed down?
A very thin layer of enamel is removed so the veneer sits flush rather than looking bulky. It’s minimal, but it isn’t reversible — which is why we talk through bonding as an alternative.
Can I whiten my teeth afterwards?
Whitening gel won’t lighten porcelain, so any whitening should be done before veneers are made. We then match the veneers to your new shade.
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