Treatments / Cosmetic & smile design
Veneers
A veneer is a thin facing bonded to the front of a tooth. Porcelain veneers hold their colour and are made in a laboratory; composite veneers are built up directly and cost less. Both correct shape, shade and small alignment problems.
Who this is for
- Chipped or worn front teeth
- Discolouration that whitening will not shift
- Small gaps or slightly uneven edges
What actually happens
- Assessment of whether veneers are the right answer, or whether alignment first would need less tooth removed
- Preparation, shade selection and impressions
- Trial fit, then bonding
Porcelain or composite?
Porcelain veneers are thin ceramic shells, made in a laboratory from a scan or impression of your teeth. They keep their colour and shine well and do not stain easily. To make room for them, a thin layer is usually taken off the front of each tooth, so that tooth will need a veneer or crown from then on.
Composite veneers are made from tooth-coloured filling material, built up in layers on the tooth and polished in the chair. Often little or no tooth needs removing, a small chip can usually be repaired in the same material, and they cost less. The trade-off is that composite picks up stains and loses its shine sooner, so it needs more upkeep over the years.
Porcelain takes more visits because the laboratory work happens in between, and you may wear temporary veneers for that time. Composite is often finished in one longer sitting once the plan is agreed.
Looking after veneers
Brush and clean between your teeth as you normally would. The veneer itself cannot decay, but the tooth underneath can, especially along the edge where the two meet, so regular check-ups still matter.
Grinding and clenching are the main risk. A lot of people grind at night without knowing it, and that force can chip or crack a veneer. If there are signs of grinding, you may be advised to wear a night guard, a thin plastic cover made to fit your teeth, while you sleep.
Try not to use your front teeth as tools: no opening packets, biting nails or cracking hard supari. Composite stains more easily with tea, coffee, tobacco and paan, and needs polishing from time to time. How long veneers last varies a lot with these habits and with your gum health, so ask what to expect for your own teeth rather than going by a general figure.
What changes the cost
The material makes the biggest difference. Porcelain involves laboratory work and more visits, while composite is done directly in the chair. The number of teeth matters too, and so does how much change you want. Fixing two chipped edges is a different job from reshaping six front teeth.
Anything that has to happen first adds to it: treating decay or gum problems, straightening, or whitening your other teeth so the veneers can be matched to a lighter shade. A night guard, where one is needed, is part of the picture as well.
No two cases cost the same, which is why the clinic examines you before quoting. You get the cost in writing before anything starts, and there is no obligation to go ahead.
Not sure whether you need a veneer at all? Veneers or crowns sets out which suits which kind of tooth, and the questions worth asking first.
Veneers are done by Dr. Shourya, our prosthodontist.
Veneers take two or three visits, so it is worth knowing the journey before you commit to it. The clinic is in Rai Durg, and if you are coming from the Gachibowli side the directions and timings are set out on one page.
Questions people ask
How many visits do veneers take?
Porcelain veneers usually take two or three visits, because they are made in a laboratory between appointments. Composite veneers are often done in one longer sitting once the plan is agreed.
How long do veneers last?
There is no fixed number of years. Porcelain generally holds its colour and wears better than composite, and grinding, biting habits and gum health make the biggest difference. Ask what to expect in your own case.
Can I have veneers if I grind my teeth?
Sometimes, but the grinding has to be part of the plan. A night guard is often advised to protect veneers while you sleep, and in some cases a different treatment suits better.
Can a chipped veneer be repaired?
A chipped composite veneer can usually be repaired in the chair. A chipped porcelain veneer usually has to be replaced, though a very small chip can sometimes be smoothed.
How much do veneers cost?
It depends on the material, how many teeth are involved and whether anything needs treating first. The clinic examines you, then gives you the cost in writing before anything starts, with no obligation to go ahead.
