Dentistry is one of the few professions that isn’t  in some way dogged by nostalgia. Whilst music fans may long for vinyl records and the days when MTV still played music, few people are ever heard wishing we could return to the days before anaesthetics or when movie stars removed all their teeth so they could wear flashy dentures. The Hollywood starlets of today, thank goodness, have a much less extreme path to pearly whites: Veneers! Many celebrities from current music starlets to Hollywood actors wear them, but what exactly are they?

What are veneers?

Just as in carpentry where a veneer can spruce up a slightly dull looking table, so a dental veneer can spruce up slightly dulled teeth. Veneers are essentially wafer thin shells of material, bonded to your teeth. They can cover up any blemishes and instantly give the appearance of a perfect smile. They are often referred to as the mouth’s equivalent of false nails.

Porcelain or composite?

Veneers tend to be made of either porcelain or composite material, but we at Harley Street Dental Studio recommend porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are more natural in appearance, less prone to staining and more resilient than composite veneers. Composite veneers are cheaper, but their lack of durability can make porcelain veneers more economic in the long run.

What are veneers best suited for?

If your teeth are stained, damaged or plagued by unsightly gaps, then veneers might be just the thing for you! Although not ideal, they can also be used to cover up mildly crooked teeth in a process nicknamed ‘instant orthodontics’.