Veneers

Not really, and that is part of their appeal. You look after veneers much as you would your natural teeth, with twice-daily brushing, cleaning between the teeth, and regular check-ups and hygiene visits. Porcelain is highly stain-resistant, so it holds its colour well against tea, coffee and red wine, though the natural teeth around the veneers can still stain, which is worth bearing in mind.

The veneer fitting procedure takes place over 2 to 3 visits, over the course of a few weeks. At the first appointment, the dentist will remove a thin layer of enamel and take impressions. These moulds are then sent to a lab where your custom veneers are crafted. This process usually takes 1-2 weeks. In the meantime, you might wear temporary veneers. At your final visit, the dentist will carefully bond the permanent veneers to your teeth. The bonding process can take up to 2 hours.

With good care, porcelain veneers commonly last around 10 to 15 years, and a well-made set in a hard-wearing material can last 20 years or more before needing replacement. How long yours last depends on the material, your bite and how you look after them. Everyday habits make the biggest difference, so grinding your teeth, chewing ice or hard objects, and skipping check-ups all shorten their life, while good cleaning and regular visits extend it. It is worth knowing that veneers are not indestructible and cannot be patched the way chipped composite can, so a damaged porcelain veneer usually needs remaking. If you are considering composite veneers instead, they are more affordable and reversible but have a shorter lifespan, generally around five to seven years.

Veneers are a cosmetic choice rather than a health necessity, so it is less about needing them and more about whether they are the right way to reach the smile you want. They work well for teeth that are chipped, worn, badly discoloured in a way that whitening cannot fix, slightly gappy, or a little crooked or misshapen. What veneers do not do is replace a missing tooth or fix an unhealthy one, since they only cover the front of an existing, sound tooth. If a tooth is missing, you would be looking at an implant, bridge or denture, and if it is heavily broken or root-treated, a crown is usually more appropriate.

In almost all cases, no. Well-made veneers are designed to blend in completely, matched to the colour, shape, size and translucency of the teeth around them so they catch the light like natural enamel. The shade and shape are planned with you beforehand, and for front teeth in particular your dentist can fine-tune the details so the result looks like your own teeth at their best rather than obviously done. Most people find that once their veneers are fitted, they simply look like a healthy, even smile, and no one is any the wiser.