Veneers

Everything made outside the mouth is produced by a specialised partner lab, unlike our other ceramic work, which is made in our own digital lab. A front-tooth veneer lives on colour gradient, translucency and a hand-finished surface; for that, we work with a dental technician who specialises in exactly this.

• With a clear misalignment. If a tooth sits too far back, the shell has to compensate for the entire setback: the tooth ends up too thick and looks bulky, exactly the opposite of what it was meant to achieve. You don't shim a chair so it stops wobbling on an uneven floor. You level the floor first.
• With too little enamel for secure bonding, a partial crown or crown holds better; which ones may apply is covered under Fixed Tooth Replacement.
• With severe teeth grinding, a more robust restoration is often the safer path, and sometimes the grinding itself needs treating first.
• When the goal is a smile that wouldn't suit your own face. We'll tell you that beforehand.

And one more thing that comes before any of this: if it's only surface staining, a professional cleaning reveals your own tooth colour again, with no veneer needed at all.

How long a veneer lasts depends on the material, the bonding surface, and everyday habits. The vast majority of ceramic veneers are still functioning after ten years; even so, every one will need replacing eventually. A veneer bonds far more reliably to enamel than to the dentin underneath, so over-preparation isn't just a loss of tooth structure, it's also a durability risk. That's the second reason to straighten crooked teeth first, if possible.

"Repairable" doesn't mean "as good as new." Fresh composite bonds far less well to material that's years old, a repaired spot stays a weak point. For minor edge damage, repair is still the right path; for larger damage, a new shell is.

Teeth grinding is the main risk factor: veneers come loose and chip more often in people who grind. A night guard lowers that risk significantly, provided it's actually worn.

Otherwise, a veneer needs no special care, just a few considerations: good oral hygiene, not biting into hard things with your front teeth, and your regular check-ups. With composite, also go easy on strongly staining foods. And: a veneer doesn't protect against decay, new cavities can form at a poorly maintained edge.

In the first few days after preparation, the tooth can be sensitive, especially to cold; this usually settles on its own. While the anaesthetic is still working, eat and drink carefully. Get in touch if a veneer chips or comes loose, an edge becomes sharp, or the tooth aches persistently.

If a ceramic veneer is replaced after years of use, the old shell can be removed with a dental laser, without drilling and without the tooth losing any further structure; where else we use the laser is covered under Laser Dentistry.

For most veneers, yes, a thin layer of enamel is removed to make room for the shell. How much depends on which of the four approaches fits your starting situation. There are no-prep veneers that require barely any or no preparation at all; because the shell then adds extra bulk, these suit small teeth or a gap that needs closing best. What's removed stays removed: a prepared tooth will permanently need a veneer or a crown from then on.

The preparation is done under anaesthetic. Afterwards, the tooth can be sensitive for a few days, especially to cold. We don't promise it will be painless, but a veneer usually isn't painful.

Yes, if you'd like. A dental technician builds up the planned shape in wax and transfers it onto your teeth, so you see it in your own mouth before anything is removed. This is the only chance to actually look at the planned shape rather than imagine it. The step is optional, and we still recommend it: it comes before the decision that can't be undone.

What's unusual is the timing, not the amount: two items already appear in the cost plan before treatment begins, the wax build-up in the lab and its transfer onto your teeth. If you then decide to go ahead with treatment, the lab cost of the wax build-up is offset against the cost of your veneers. You only bear it yourself if you decide against treatment, and that's exactly what this step is for.

The goal is a result that suits your face: no artificial white, no flawless one-size-fits-all smile. Ceramic lets light pass through similarly to real enamel, that's why a well-made shell doesn't stand out.

No. This is a common worry, but it doesn't apply here. For a veneer, only a thin layer is removed, ideally within the enamel alone, which sits well away from the nerve. Unlike a crown, where the tooth is prepared all the way around and much deeper, a veneer never comes anywhere near the nerve. What heavy tooth removal costs with a veneer isn't the nerve, it's the enamel, and with it the shell's secure bond.

Up to five appointments, two of them on the tooth itself. For the preparation appointment, plan around two and a half hours; for fitting, around 45 minutes; less for individual teeth. Working and driving are fine right afterwards. In between are around ten working days while our partner lab makes your shell.

For a purely aesthetic wish, it's a private, out-of-pocket service; public insurance covers nothing. For a genuine defect, a fixed subsidy may be possible, though it isn't automatic. We deliberately don't quote a figure here: it depends too much on the individual case. Instead, you'll get a complete, written cost plan before anything begins.

"Lumineers" is a brand name for a particular no-prep variant, not a separate procedure. What's behind it, an especially thin shell without preparation, is something we offer. What matters is your starting situation, not the brand name.