BSc(Hons) BDS(Hons) MFDS RCPS(Glasg) IMOS
Associate Dentist, London
Dentist with Enhanced Skills (DWES) in Oral Surgery (Previously Dentist with a Specialist Interest)
Intermediate Minor Oral Surgery (IMOS) Level 2 Accredited
Certificate in Implant Dentistry
Invisalign® Go Provider
Veneers and Crowns
Veneers
A veneer is a thin layer of material which is bonded to the surface of a tooth. It usually only covers the front surface of the tooth, but can sometimes lip over slightly to the back surface of the tooth. Veneers are an aesthetic treatment, used to mask discolourations and uneven surfaces of teeth and can also be used to improve the shape and form, masking irregularities in position to create an improved smile.
It is not often advisable to place just one veneer, as it can be quite obvious to the eye, but this can be discussed in your smile consultation.
Veneers can be made out of 2 materials: Composite (tooth coloured filling material) or Porcelain. Composite veneers can be made at the chair side (direct) or made by the lab (indirect); porcelain veneers are only made at the lab (indirect). The advantages and disadvantages of each of these materials can be discussed with you, so that we can choose an end result suitable to your budget and expectations.
Veneers often require none or minimal preparation of tooth and can usually be made without the need for any injections.
Indirect veneers require at least 2 visits:
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to prepare the tooth (if required) and take moulds of your teeth +/- temporary veneers if required
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fitting of the veneers
Like with any restoration, veneers will not last forever, and so will require replacing in the future. In this case, the patient broke one of her veneers when biting into a pizza crust. The broken portion had been cemented twice in the past, but the join was becoming very obvious and the patient was not happy. She was warned that replacing just one veneer would be quite obvious to the eye, but she could not afford to replace more than one.
Crowns
A crown is similar to a veneer, but instead completely covers the tooth. They are also known as 'caps'. Crowns are usually required when a significant portion of the tooth is lost. This can be due to decay, fracture, if a tooth is weakened by a large restoration or a root canal.
There are many different types of materials that crowns can be made of but they can be easily divided into 3 categories:
Metal
Metal and Ceramic
