Dental Veneers

After teeth whitening, veneers is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments available at our Cheadle Hulme dental practice. In essence veneers are a non-surgical solution to a whole host of dental problems including cracked or chipped teeth, stained teeth that can't be fixed using teeth whitening techniques, slight tooth gaps, or uneven tooth size. Veneers have the ability to restore colour, form and function to your smile fast.

So what exactly are they?

Veneers consist of ultra thin, shell-like layers of dental porcelain that are placed directly on the outside of your existing teeth. In order to apply the veneer a tiny amount of the tooth surface is removed (usually less than 1mm) so that the veneer sits flush with the rest of the teeth. This allows not only for better aesthetics, but also helps the natural function of the tooth. When the process is completed the patient will have their normal bite function fully restored.

Our clinic offers minimal preperation veneers as well as NO PREPERATION LUMINEERS where the teeth aren't drilled.

The step by step process explained

Step 1 – The initial consultation

During an initial visit to our dentist in Cheadle Hulme we'll have a chat with you to discuss your needs and requirements. We'll take some digital photos of your existing smile and using these, we'll have a good idea of what it is you want to achieve. From the information collected we'll develop a fully-customised plan of action to restore your smile to its former glory. Before you leave you'll have a thorough understanding of exactly what's being done, roughly how long it's going to take, and most importantly, what the outcome is going to look like.

Step 2 – The wax up process  

Once you've given us the go-ahead the next step is to compile a wax mock-up of your smile by taking a variety of impressions. These impressions are then used to create an exact model of your teeth. This model is important because it becomes a basis from which to make your provisional or temporary veneers. Temporaries are normally fashioned from acrylic. Once you are happy with your digital demonstration and your physical wax up, we can move onto the preperation stage.

Step 3- the preperation visit

At this visit, a very small amount of enamel is removed in order to make space for the veneers. The wax up is used as a guide to ensure that only just enough enamel is reduced to ensure a higher level of accuracy.

Stage 3 – Fitting your temporaries

 On the visit that the teeth are prepared, the tempoerary veneers are fitted. We make these termproaries with the final shape in mind. When fitted the temporary process gives you the chance to approve the look and appearance of your veneers and to see how they feel in the mouth. A kind of 'trial smile' if you like. At this point, if you're not feeling totally happy with how your smile looks, then we advise you to talk to us and we'll make any necessary adjustments before your permanent veneers are fitted.

Do bear in mind that once you have your permanent veneers, the process can't be reversed, so it's important to get it right. Typically temporaries don't have gaps between teeth like proper veneers would and they may also be a little thicker. This trial period can last a few weeks up to a few months. Once you're happy and any adjustments have been done, then you give us the go ahead and we'll see that your permanent veneers are made.

Stage 4 – Final fit

On the day of the final fit, the first thing our dentist  in Cheadle Hulme will do is to remove your temporary veneers, plus any remains of the fixative holding them in place. Next the teeth and gums are numbed. The porcelain veneers are placed into position using a quick drying bonding agent which is applied onto the veneer before it's attached to the tooth. Then using a light wand, light permeates through the veneer through to the bonding agent below, removing any moisture and allowing it to set quicker. The final step is to get rid of any excess cement and to polish the veneers to the desired shape in order to complete the look and feel of your perfect smile.

What about the benefits of porcelain veneers?

• Because veneers are individually crafted it's almost impossible to tell them apart from the  rest of your teeth. Also, because dental porcelain is stain proof, veneers can resist stains from tea, coffee, red wine, and tobacco far better than natural teeth.

• In contrast to crowns fitting veneers means more of the underlying tooth remains intact so there's less chance of the tooth becoming compromised.

• Veneers are also an efficient way to deal with small tooth gaps, minor twists and overlaps without having to resort to longer, more complex procedures.

• Finally - maintenance is simple. Just like your normal teeth, regular brushing and flossing is all that's required to keep them in tip top condition.

To find out more about veneers, we invite you to come and talk to our team at our Cheadle Hulme dental practice. To book a no-obligation appointment contact us on 0161 486 0743 and start your journey towards a brighter, whiter smile today.