PORCELAIN VENEERS
Veneers offer patients a once-in-a-lifetime chance for a near-flawless, stunning new smile
As Harpenden’s established cosmetic dental practice, Wayside Dental Practice has been providing transformative porcelain dental veneers to patients in Harpenden, St Albans and Hertfordshire for over 30 years. The results can be truly life-changing and many of our patients tell us their new smiles give them renewed confidence in their work and social life and a huge boost to their overall well-being.
Dental Veneers are wafer thin slivers of porcelain that are bonded to the front surface of a tooth to improve the look of crooked or worn-down teeth, gaps and discolouration. They’re made to be indistinguishable from your natural teeth.
HOW ARE VENEERS FITTED?
The process of having veneers fitted is simple and straightforward
- The treatment usually takes two visits, plus sometimes a visit to the technician who’ll be making the veneer. The first stage of the process involves creating a treatment plan. A member of our cosmetic team will first assess your teeth – this is to determine that veneers are the best treatment option, and that you have no other underlying oral health issues. Veneers aren’t always the best solution. Sometimes orthodontics is a better solution for gappy or misaligned teeth or white fillings for chipped teeth. All options will be discussed with you at your initial consultation.
- During the first visit for veneers we prepare the tooth for the veneer by removing a small amount of enamel from the front of the tooth. We make a temporary veneer and take impressions to send to the technician who will create the custom-made veneers.
- At the second visit, your veneer is bonded to the prepared tooth with a special adhesive to ensure it is secure. You’ll usually visit the technician a couple of times so they can take some records and discuss with you how it will look, and also make sure you’re happy with it before it’s fitted.
Frequently Asked Questions on Porcelain Veneers
Dental porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made shells of porcelain bonded to the front surface of teeth. They’re used to improve the appearance of teeth that are discoloured, stained, misaligned, or have other cosmetic issues.
The process involves removing a small amount of enamel from the front of the tooth, taking impressions, and sending them to a dental lab to create the custom veneers. Once the veneers are ready, they’re bonded to the teeth using dental adhesive.
Porcelain veneers can address a variety of cosmetic issues, including stains, discolouration, gaps, minor misalignment, and chipped teeth. They provide a completely natural-looking solution to enhance your smile.
With proper care, porcelain veneers can last for around 9-15 years and sometimes more. Regular dental check-ups and good oral hygiene practices are important to extend their lifespan.
Porcelain veneers don’t require extensive maintenance. However, it’s recommended to practice good oral hygiene, avoid excessive force on your teeth (like biting hard objects), and refrain from habits like nail-biting or chewing on ice.
The process of applying porcelain veneers is irreversible, as a small amount of enamel is typically removed to make space for the veneer. It’s important to carefully consider the decision and consult with your Harpenden dentist.
Yes, modern porcelain veneers are designed to mimic the natural appearance of teeth, including their colour, translucency, and shape. They’re customised to match your natural teeth and are indistinguishable from natural teeth.
Porcelain veneers are relatively stain-resistant, but they can still experience slight staining over time. It’s a good idea to avoid excessive consumption of staining foods and beverages like coffee, tea, and red wine.
Suitable candidates for porcelain veneers are individuals with good oral health who have cosmetic issues they want to address, such as discoloured teeth, minor alignment problems, or gaps. Your Harpenden dentist will evaluate your teeth to determine if veneers are appropriate for you.
The process of getting porcelain veneers usually involves minimal discomfort. The dentist will use local anaesthesia during the enamel removal stage (with the Wand) to ensure you’re comfortable. After the procedure, you might experience mild sensitivity, which should subside within a few days.
It’s highly recommended to use an experienced cosmetic dentist to place dental veneers.
You can view the cost of dental veneers  on our fees page. We also offer patient finance for veneers to help spread the cost of treatment.
If you are looking to find out if veneers could give you the smile of your dreams, contact us today to arrange a consultation or book online.
