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If you have chipped, misaligned or discoloured teeth and want to improve your smile, then dental veneers are a common option for restoring your smile. Veneers are ultra-thin coverings applied to the front of your teeth. Whether you're located in Pimlico, near Victoria, or anywhere else in London, look no further than McKennell Dental Practice. You may schedule an appointment with our experts to discuss which veneers treatment will be right for you.
Veneers, also called teeth caps, are thin pieces of composite or porcelain resin, custom-made to fit over the front tooth surface, to improve the appearance of the smile and teeth.
Dental veneers can correct chipped, misaligned, gapped, or discoloured teeth. They also help achieve several results, such as:
Sometimes, the teeth are yellowish or dull, either from natural causes or lifestyle choices such as drinking wine, coffee and smoking. Medical treatments such as trauma that kills the nerves inside the teeth or repeated high doses of antibiotics as a child can cause discolouration. Fluoride treatment can also leave white spots on the teeth, and sensitivity can prevent some patients from undergoing whitening treatments.
Wearing down the enamel can cause translucent teeth. In this case, veneers can protect the teeth and improve their appearance.
Teeth can be naturally shorter or smaller than other teeth, causing self-consciousness when smiling. Veneers allow remodelling of the shape of the teeth and even out the differences.
Some people have small chips in their teeth. While this may not cause a medical problem, some people are self-conscious.
People who want to straighten their teeth without braces may choose dental veneers. Veneers can remove gaps and correct irregular or misaligned teeth. However, the treatment isn't the best for younger patients because it involves the irreversible removal of healthy teeth enamel. Orthodontic treatment may be a good option in this case, and several types of adult braces are available besides the obvious metal braces.
Patients who previously ground their teeth may have ground their enamel from the teeth. Porcelain veneers can restore the appearance of the teeth and protect them from sensitivity to cold and hot substances.
The cost of dental veneers in London varies depending on several factors, including the number of veneers placed, experience of dentist and the type of veneer.
On average, a dental veneer costs between £500 - £1000. In some cases, dental veneers can cost £100 per tooth and as high as £2000 per tooth.
Composite veneers cost about £100 - £400, and porcelain veneers about £400 - £1000. This range is an estimate, but you can get an actual quote when you visit your dentist for a consultation.
Depending on your case, your dentist will examine your teeth and provide an accurate cost. Many dental practices provide financing options to make the treatment more affordable.
The public healthcare service doesn't cover the cost of any cosmetic work, including veneers. However, in rare cases where there is a medical necessity, you can get dental veneers from the public healthcare service.
Dental crowns are a more common treatment option in the public healthcare service. Both treatments are under the Band 3 treatment.
If you have private dental insurance, check if your policy covers cosmetic treatments. Most base-level plans do not cover cosmetic treatments, but the more expensive plans may refund some of the cost.
Other options include dental financing, such as a credit card or a loan. Some people may also travel abroad to a country with more affordable cosmetic dentistry for cheaper veneers.
Many people have travelled to Turkey for dental veneers, as Turkey has an excellent reputation for cosmetic work. Other countries offering high-quality medical care at a lower cost than private practices in the UK include Spain and Hungary.
Dental veneers may still cost less than in the UK, even with the cost of accommodation and flights. Combining the treatment with a vacation may save a lot without compromising on quality care.
Dental veneers can cover any stains or imperfections on the teeth to improve their appearance. They also help protect the teeth from further damage.
The treatment will vary depending on your case. If you only want to change your tooth colour, the process may be straightforward and completed in 2 – 3 stages.
You can place veneers on a tooth or several teeth. You can also fit a full set of veneers to all the front visible teeth. They are custom-made to match the existing tooth colour for a natural result.
For more complex cases, such as covering a chipped tooth or correcting tooth alignment, more planning and testing may be necessary to get the desired result. The dentist will create temporary dental veneers to check different shapes and get the desired solution the dentist needs.
Porcelain veneers require a skilled lab technician, and the production takes time and costs a lot. For composite veneers, the dentist builds and shapes the material as they apply it on the teeth, so it doesn't require lab work.
Ensure you go over the procedure with your dentist before you start treatment. The dentist should give you complete details of the steps and results. While the procedure still requires money and time, it is less invasive, less expensive and quicker than placing a crown or implant.
After the initial consultation, where you can explain your problem to the dentist, including your expectations, the dentist will take photos of your smile and create a dental impression of your teeth. You may need a mouth x-ray to check your current tooth condition. The dentist will also check for oral health issues like gum disease that require treatment before getting veneers.
If you are happy with the treatment plan, the dentist will carry out preparatory work. This often involves removing a thin enamel layer from the teeth to achieve the right size and height to attach the veneers. Some types of veneers do not need to remove enamel.
The process shouldn't be painful because the enamel has no nerves, but your dentist may still administer an anaesthetic.
If you want whiter teeth but don't want to cover all your teeth, you may need dental cleaning and tooth whitening before veneer treatment. If your veneers are colour-matched to your whitened teeth, you will need regular teeth cleaning to prevent natural teeth from becoming yellow.
Composite veneers are a type of veneer you can get in one visit. The dentist will roughen the tooth surface with acid, apply a bonding agent on the teeth, and then build up the composite material in thin layers until they get the required shape. The dentist will harden the composite material at each stage with a special light.
If you are happy with the veneer's shape, colour and look, the dentist will polish the teeth' surface to look and feel natural.
Porcelain veneers take longer because each is custom-made in the lab, which takes 1 – 3 weeks.
After the dentist files down the tooth, they will take a dental impression with putty. The impression will help make the veneers fit perfectly and create a mask, if necessary, to plan the treatment where significant changes are necessary for the teeth' size or shape.
You may get temporary veneers at this point to protect the prepared teeth until your permanent porcelain veneers are ready. When the veneers are ready, you will have your next appointment.
The dentist will thoroughly clean the teeth again and roughen the surface of the veneer and tooth using an acid, then secure the veneer with a strong dental adhesive.
Creating or fitting veneers on the teeth requires expertise and skill. The process may take 1 – 2 hours, depending on the number of teeth you want to treat.
The dentist will isolate the teeth being worked on with a rubber dam which keeps the surface dry to prevent moisture from interfering with the bonding agent.
Two main types of dental veneers are available: composite and porcelain. Besides the fitting procedure, you need to consider other things before choosing a type of veneer.
Composite veneers are cheaper than porcelain veneers but are less aesthetically pleasing. Composite veneers may last as long, with a lifespan of about five years. After this period, the material may stain or chip away, becoming unsightly.
Composite veneers are still quite useful as an affordable alternative while you save up for porcelain veneers. The composite veneer can be a temporary veneer, even if you wear them for several months or years.
You can fit composite veneers without removing enamel from the healthy tooth, especially if the patient wants to restore a small or short tooth. This is a huge benefit for many people since the treatment is reversible.
The result depends on the cosmetic dentist's skill, so check the dentist's previous work.
Porcelain veneers are the most durable teeth cap. Although the porcelain veneer is thin, it can last 0 – 20 years. Zirconia porcelain veneers can offer extra strength for teeth with slight damage that doesn't need a crown.
Porcelain is stain-resistant and translucent, which makes it look more like natural teeth. The dentist doesn't have much work since they are hand-made in the lab. However, the dentist still needs the skill to prepare the teeth and place each veneer correctly.
The main downside of porcelain veneer for most people is the cost, as it costs twice as much as composite. Some people get discouraged because they have to remove part of the enamel on healthy teeth and can't leave their teeth uncovered. Getting porcelain veneers means committing a lifetime to veneers of any other teeth covering.
| Porcelain veneers | Composite veneers | |
| Practice visits | Multiple | Mostly one |
| Longevity | 10 – 15 years | Up to five years |
| Aesthetic | Doesn't stain Has light-reflective properties that match natural teeth |
Stain easily Easy to colour match |
| Cost (per tooth) | £450 - £850 | £100 - £400 |
| Damage to existing teeth | Enamel and filling removal are needed except for Lumineers | Possible enamel and filling removal |
Some brands of veneers are available, offering specific benefits.
Lumineer veneers are ultra-thin, meaning they can enhance the cosmetic appearance of existing teeth without any filing. They are often more expensive but last for 20 years or longer. You can also remove them later without permanent teeth damage. The fitting requires two visits.
CEREC (Ceramic Reconstruction) veneers aren't hand-made but precisely cut from porcelain blocks with advanced computer technology from mouth scans. Your dentist can make this veneer while you wait. This means you can have custom-made teeth in one visit. However, they aren't as natural as the lab-fabricated veneers.
CEREC costs about the same as standard porcelain because the computer equipment used to make them is expensive.
With recent technological advancements, dentists may also have other options. While budget is an important deciding factor, you should consider other factors besides cost. Ensure you search for recognised professionals with years of experience in veneer procedure.
You can ask your dentist for recommendations and ensure you understand how long the veneer will last and what happens when the veneer fails.
Snap-on veneers are a cheaper alternative to traditional veneers. They are similar to a set of fake teeth which attach directly over your existing teeth to enhance your smile. They can cover crooked, gapped, damaged and missing teeth to give a perfect-looking smile.
Snap-on veneers can be a good solution if you want to look good for a special occasion, but they aren't a good long-term solution. They can damage the natural teeth if worn for long periods.
People have had mixed experiences with snap-on veneers. While some are happy with the results, others experience difficulty talking and eating, or their teeth do not look natural or feel comfortable.
If you want this type of veneer, consider getting Snap-On Smile, the gold standard of clip-ins. Dentists also prescribe this brand or you can get Instasmile Review, another popular but cheaper brand.
You may be suitable for teeth filing if you have a minor cosmetic problem. This treatment involves removing small enamel areas to achieve even more teeth.
If you want to enhance the appearance of your smile, dental veneers are available at McKennell Dental Practice. We provide different types of veneers, depending on your case. Visit us today or call 020 7834 8802 to schedule an appointment with our dentist.
A cost of a full set of dental veneers varies, depending on different factors such as the type of material used, the dentist's experience and location. A full dental veneer set usually costs between £5800 - £14500.
The cost of dental veneers in the UK often varies, depending on factors like the dentist's fees, location and type of veneers.
Veneers can make the teeth look smaller from the removal of a thin layer of enamel. They create a uniform and smoother shape and cover imperfections, giving the teeth a perfect appearance.
Veneers are a cosmetic treatment, so the public healthcare service doesn't cover it. Private dental plans may cover some part of the veneer treatment.
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