At Smile Stories, we can help you to complete or restore your look through our dental practices. Often you can also get a boost for your oral hygiene out of treatment at our clinic in Bournemouth. Veneers are a versatile piece of dentistry that can really improve the way you feel about your smile as well as offer some fringe benefits.
Veneers are available primarily as a cosmetic treatment. However, they are an option that can be offered to patients who have a chip or crack in their teeth as well. Sometimes they are even used to cover small gaps.
When you come to our dental clinic in Bournemouth, veneers are something you can discuss in detail with your dentist. However, to give you a brief overview, they are thin pieces of durable material such as porcelain. These pieces fit over the top of your existing tooth to change the shape or colour of it in order to hide stains, close gaps or cover chips.
Each veneer is specially created to fit the tooth it is made for. In order to get them to sit flush with the surrounding teeth, a corresponding thin layer of the enamel needs to be removed before impressions are taken to use to fit the veneers.
Once they have been created and returned to us at Smile Stories, we apply them to your teeth using dental cement. Initially, once the veneer is placed, we can move it around in order to get it into the exact position. When this has been achieved, we shine a light on it, which activates an ingredient in the cement causing it to harden very quickly. We then remove any excess cement and your veneer is fitted.
You can expect it to last between five and ten years. During that time, the veneers are stain-resistant and very hard-wearing so your teeth are effectively strengthened. They will also be matched closely to any teeth you do not have veneers on so that your whole set looks natural.
Some people choose to have a full set of veneers as a preventive measure and to give them a uniform look to their smile.
Dr Gareth Edwards BDS (Hons) MFDS RCPS (Glasg) is a Poole & Bournemouth-based dentist who qualified with honours. He has a keen interest in aesthetic dentistry and orthodontics. For more information click here.