Porcelain laminate veneers
A laminate veneer is a layer of porcelain 0.3–0.7 mm thick bonded to the front surface of the tooth only.
- Procedure time
- 2 appointments · 7–10 days
- Anaesthesia
- Usually not needed, or light local anaesthetic
- Recovery
- No separate healing period
- Sessions
- Mock-up + preparation + bonding
- How long it lasts
- Many years with care; a night guard may be needed
Superficial, unlike a crown
A crown wraps the tooth all the way around, and tissue is removed from all four surfaces to make room for it. A veneer bonds to the front surface only; its thickness is usually between 0.3 and 0.7 mm.
That means far less tooth tissue is removed. In some cases, where the teeth are well aligned and the enamel is thick enough, it can be done with no preparation at all.
When it is appropriate
Veneers suit structural discolouration, mild crowding, gaps between teeth and repairs to chipped edges. They are also discussed as an option for discolouration that does not respond to whitening.
The real condition for suitability is enamel thickness. A veneer bonds to enamel; where wear has left none, the bond is not durable.
- Gaps between teeth (diastema) — closeable in the 1–3 mm range
- Structural discolouration that does not respond to whitening
- Chipped incisal edges and shortening from wear
- Mild rotation and 1–2 mm of misalignment
The try-in stage
Before permanent bonding, a temporary trial called a mock-up is made. You see the planned form in your own mouth, speak with it and approve it.
This stage is not skipped. After permanent bonding, changing form or colour is only possible by removing the veneers and remaking them — and that means another trip.
How many trips it takes
Veneers can be completed in a single trip; set aside 7–10 days for preparation, mock-up, try-in and bonding.
If there is an old restoration in the front region, a need for gum treatment or an orthodontic correction, the time extends. Those needs are identified at the first examination and the plan is built around them.
What decides the result
The first thing is the relationship between tooth form and facial proportion: the width-to-length ratio of the central incisors, where the incisal edge sits relative to the curve of the lower lip, and the proportions between the teeth.
The second is the bonding protocol. A veneer is bonded to the enamel surface with an adhesive system; bonding without proper moisture control shortens its life, and that failure shows up months later, at home.
Who this is not for, and what not to expect
A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain and it is not designed to carry occlusal forces. Fitted before a clenching or grinding habit is brought under control, the chance of fracture is high.
A veneer is not a substitute for orthodontics. In significant crowding, the preparation needed to make the teeth look straight consumes sound enamel and pushes the tooth towards needing a crown.
- Uncontrolled bruxism — no veneers in the front region without planning a night guard
- Significant crowding and bite discrepancy — an orthodontic assessment is needed first
- Heavily worn teeth with no enamel left — adhesive bonding to dentine does not give the same strength
- Active decay and untreated gum inflammation — nothing is bonded until the mouth is healthy
- Edge-to-edge or reverse bite — the force on the front teeth exceeds what a veneer can carry
This page is general information and does not replace a clinical examination. The method, dose and timescale that apply to you are decided by a doctor after examining you.
Frequently asked questions
Will my teeth be cut down?
Do veneers fall off?
How do I choose between a veneer and a zirconia crown?
Can a veneer be lightened later?
What happens if one chips at home?
Pre-assessment
Describe your situation and we will answer with a measurement
Send a photograph or an X-ray. A doctor in the relevant speciality will reply with a graft range, a number of teeth or a dose range in units. If you are not suitable, we say so plainly.