A dental veneer is a thin layer of porcelain made to fit over the front surface of a tooth, like a false fingernail fits over a nail. The material used is either porcelain or a natural coloured composite material. Dental veneers make teeth look natural and healthy, and because they are very thin and are held in place by a special strong bond (rather like super-glue) very little preparation of the tooth is needed.
Dental veneers can improve the colour, shape and position of teeth. A precise shade of porcelain can be chosen to give the right colour to improve a single discoloured or stained tooth or to lighten front teeth. A veneer can make a chipped tooth look intact again. The porcelain covers the whole of the front of the tooth with a thicker section replacing the broken part. Veneers can also be used to close small gaps, when orthodontics (braces) are not suitable. If one tooth is slightly out of position, a dental veneer can sometimes be fitted to bring it into line with the others.
For more information on dental veneers click here (opens a pdf in a new window)
