- E.max and Ivoclar certified ceramics
- Digital Smile Design preview before we start
- Minimal enamel reduction
A veneer is a thin ceramic shell bonded to the front of a tooth. It changes colour, shape and alignment without touching the back or the biting surface — which is what separates it from a crown, where the whole tooth is reduced.
What veneers fix, and what they do not
They are the right answer for enamel that is permanently discoloured, teeth that are chipped or worn at the edges, small gaps, and teeth that are slightly out of line. They are the wrong answer for significantly crooked teeth — moving those with clear aligners first and then veneering, if anything still needs it, keeps far more of your own tooth.
How much tooth is removed
Typically 0.3–0.7 mm from the front surface — roughly the thickness of a fingernail. In some cases almost nothing needs to come off. This matters because it is irreversible: once prepared, a tooth will always need something on it.
This is where the phrase "Turkey teeth" comes from, and it is worth being blunt about. The damage in those cases was not caused by veneers; it was caused by healthy teeth being cut down to pegs for crowns, on a scale nobody would accept at home. Ask any clinic — including this one — exactly how much enamel comes off and whether they are proposing veneers or crowns. The two words are sometimes used interchangeably in marketing. They should not be.
How many do you actually need
Fewer than most packages assume. The number follows your smile line, not a round figure.
| What shows when you smile | Usual number |
|---|---|
| Front four only | 4 |
| Canine to canine | 6 |
| Including first premolars | 8 |
| Wide smile, premolars visible | 10 |
A clinic quoting 20 veneers before seeing you is selling a package, not planning treatment. Some people genuinely need that many; most do not.
Timeline
Five to seven days. Consultation and design, preparation and impressions, a trial fit in temporary material so you can see the shape before it is final, then bonding. The trial stage is where changes are free — after bonding, changes mean remaking.
Cost
Prices change with our current offers, and packages covering several teeth come with additional discounts, so message us for an up-to-date quote. For your case, the price moves with the ceramic (feldspathic, pressed, or E-max), whether a digital smile design mock-up is part of the plan, and how much preparation each tooth needs.
Living with them
Veneers do not stain, but the natural teeth around them do — so the shade you choose is a commitment. They can chip under the same forces that chip enamel: ice, bottle caps, nail biting. If you grind at night, a nightguard is not optional, it is the thing standing between your veneers and a remake.
Common questions
Do veneers ruin your teeth?
Properly prepared veneers remove a fraction of a millimetre of enamel and the tooth stays vital. What ruins teeth is aggressive crown preparation done in the name of a "smile makeover". Ask which of the two you are being offered, and how much enamel comes off.
How long do veneers last?
Ten to fifteen years is typical, and some last considerably longer. They are replaced rather than repaired. The most common reasons for early failure are grinding without a nightguard and gum recession exposing the margin.
Can I have veneers on just one or two teeth?
Yes, and it is common after a chip or trauma. Matching one veneer to natural neighbours is harder than doing six, because there is no room for the shade to be approximately right.
Will people be able to tell?
That depends almost entirely on shade choice and shape. Very white, very uniform, very square is what reads as artificial. We design to your face and your age; if you want the brighter version, that is your call to make with the mock-up in front of you.
Should I whiten first?
Yes, if you are whitening at all. Ceramic does not respond to whitening, so the veneer shade is matched to whatever your natural teeth are at the time. Whiten first, let the colour settle for two weeks, then choose the shade.
What patients say
My veneers look incredible and completely natural. The clinic is spotless.
World-class dentistry at a fraction of UK prices. Couldn't be happier.
Not sure if this is right for you?
Send us a photo. We will tell you honestly what you need — and what you do not.