Veneers
Carefully designed veneers can transform the shape, colour and proportion of your teeth, creating a natural-looking smile that is planned around you.
See how veneers workA carefully designed change to your smile
Veneers are thin restorations placed over the front surface of the teeth to improve their appearance. They can change tooth shape, proportion, colour and surface while helping to create a more balanced overall smile.
What can veneers improve?
Veneers may be considered when a greater change in the shape, colour or surface of a tooth is required than can be achieved with more minimally invasive treatments alone.
Tooth shape
Improve teeth that appear small, irregular or out of proportion with the rest of your smile.
Discolouration
Improve the appearance of teeth where colour cannot be satisfactorily changed with teeth whitening alone.
Chipped teeth
Restore damaged edges and create a smoother, more even appearance.
Worn teeth
Restore lost shape and proportion where wear has affected the appearance of the smile.
Small gaps
Veneers can help improve small spaces while maintaining balanced tooth proportions.
Smile proportions
Veneers can be used as part of a carefully planned smile makeover where several teeth need to work together aesthetically.
A real veneer result
Every case is individually planned. Here is one example of cosmetic treatment carried out for a patient at Triangle Dental.
Before
AfterReplacement of two existing upper front veneers.
Why might veneers be considered?
Veneers allow us to change several aspects of a tooth at the same time, while carefully controlling shape, colour and proportion.
Natural-looking aesthetics
Modern ceramic and composite materials can create highly aesthetic, natural-looking results when carefully planned and shaped.
Individually designed
Each veneer is planned around the shape of your teeth and the proportions of your smile.
Colour stability
High-quality ceramic veneers are highly resistant to staining and retain their colour well over time.
Greater transformation
Veneers can achieve changes across the front surface of a tooth where composite edge bonding alone would not provide the desired result.
Planning your smile
Veneers should never be approached as simply covering teeth. Careful planning is essential to make sure the final smile works with your face, bite and natural tooth proportions.
We will also consider whether another treatment — such as teeth whitening, Invisalign or composite edge bonding — could achieve your goals with less intervention.
Your plan may include
Your veneer journey
From initial planning through to the final fit, each stage is carried out carefully so you understand exactly what is being proposed.
Free cosmetic consultation
Tell us what you would like to change. We will assess your smile and discuss whether veneers or a less invasive alternative could help achieve your goals.
Planning your treatment
We consider tooth shape, colour, proportions and your bite before designing a treatment plan around your individual smile.
Preparing the teeth
Ceramic veneers usually require a small amount of the existing tooth or filling surface to be reduced. We aim to keep this reduction as minimal as possible and will explain exactly what is required before treatment begins.
Your veneers are made
Your final veneers are carefully made to the planned shape, shade and proportions. You will have temporary veneers while the final veneers are being created.
Fitting your new smile
The veneers are carefully checked for appearance and fit before being securely bonded to the teeth and polished.
Review and maintenance
We review the veneers after treatment and explain how to care for them alongside your normal dental and hygiene appointments.
Ceramic or composite veneers?
Different materials can be used to make veneers. Ceramic and composite can both create natural-looking results, but they have different properties and are maintained in different ways.
Ceramic veneers
Ceramic veneers are made outside the mouth and bonded to the front surface of the teeth. They are strong, highly resistant to staining and can reproduce the colour, translucency and detail of natural teeth.
A small amount of the existing tooth or filling surface usually needs to be reduced before a ceramic veneer is fitted.
Composite veneers
Composite veneers are created by bonding composite material directly across the front surface of the tooth. They can often be placed without removing any natural tooth structure at all.
Composite is less strong than ceramic and can pick up some staining over time, but it is easier to repair, modify and polish again when required.
Your cosmetic dentists
Successful veneer treatment relies on careful diagnosis, planning and attention to the smallest details.
Dr Jon Cowie
GDC 245635
Jon is a Principal Dentist at Triangle Dental with a particular interest in restorative and cosmetic dentistry. He combines careful smile planning with minimally invasive techniques to create natural-looking results that complement the patient's existing teeth.
Dr Suzie Boulos
GDC 244343
Suzie has a strong interest in cosmetic dentistry and takes a thoughtful approach to smile design. She works closely with patients to understand what they would like to change and aims to create balanced, natural-looking improvements.
Dr Wilson Wong
BSc BDS MFDS RCS (Eng) | GDC 295775
Wilson has a particular interest in cosmetic dentistry and smile planning. He takes a personalised approach to treatment and considers the shape, proportions and overall balance of the smile when planning cosmetic improvements.
Veneer questions
Some of the questions patients commonly ask when considering veneers.
Do veneers damage your teeth?
Ceramic veneers usually require a small amount of the existing tooth or filling surface to be reduced. We aim to keep any reduction of the tooth as minimal as possible. We will also consider minimally invasive alternatives such as teeth straightening, teeth whitening and composite edge bonding, which can sometimes achieve the desired result while preserving more of your natural tooth structure.
Do veneers look natural?
Well-planned ceramic and composite veneers can look very natural. Tooth shape, shade, proportions and surface detail are all considered carefully so the result complements your face and surrounding teeth.
How long do veneers last?
Veneers are not permanent and will eventually require maintenance or replacement. Their longevity depends on the material, your bite, oral health, habits and how well they are cared for.
Can veneers stain?
Ceramic veneers are highly resistant to staining. Composite veneers can sometimes pick up staining over time, but they can often be polished to refresh their surface and appearance.
Is having veneers painful?
Treatment is normally carried out with local anaesthetic when some reduction of the tooth is required. Some temporary sensitivity can occur, but your dentist will explain what to expect before treatment.
Can veneers be whitened?
Teeth whitening does not reliably change the colour of ceramic or composite veneers. For this reason, whitening may be carried out before veneers if you would like to brighten your overall smile.
Should I have veneers or composite edge bonding?
Composite edge bonding adds composite mainly to the edges or selected areas of a tooth and can be a minimally invasive way to improve smaller changes in shape, chips, uneven edges or small spaces. A veneer covers the front surface of the tooth and can be used when a greater change in shape, colour or overall appearance is required. We will discuss which approach best suits the changes you would like to make.
What is the difference between composite edge bonding and composite veneers?
Composite edge bonding usually involves adding material mainly to the edges or limited areas of a tooth. A composite veneer uses the same type of material but covers the front surface of the tooth to create a more extensive change in its shape or appearance.
Can veneers straighten my teeth?
Veneers can improve the appearance of some minor irregularities, but they do not move the teeth. If tooth position is the main concern, Invisalign may provide a more minimally invasive solution.
Could veneers be right for your smile?
Book a free cosmetic consultation to tell us what you would like to change and explore whether veneers — or another cosmetic option — could help you achieve the result you are looking for.
A £30 refundable booking deposit is taken to secure your consultation.