Treatment
Veneers
Thin shells of porcelain or composite that cover the front of a tooth to change its colour, shape or size.
Medical review by Dr. Vahid: pending ·
What are veneers?
In short
A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain or composite resin bonded to the front of a tooth. It can change the tooth's colour, shape, size or length, and cover chips or gaps. Most porcelain veneers need a small amount of enamel to be removed first, so the decision is permanent and worth discussing carefully.
What happens, step by step
Consultation and planning
Usually one visit
We look at your teeth, bite and gums, and talk about what you would like to change. We explain what veneers can and cannot do for you, and whether another option might suit you better.
Preparation
Usually one visit of 1 to 2 hours, depending on how many teeth
Under local anaesthetic, we remove a thin layer of enamel from the front of the tooth, usually about half a millimetre, to make room for the veneer. This cannot be undone. We then take impressions or a digital scan.
Temporary veneers
Usually 1 to 2 weeks
While your veneers are being made, we may fit temporary ones to protect the teeth. They are not as strong or as polished as the final veneers.
Fitting
Usually one visit
We try the veneers in so you can check the shape and shade with us before they are bonded. Once you are happy, we bond them in place and check your bite.
Are veneers right for you?
- You are unhappy with the colour, shape or size of one or more front teeth.
- You have small chips, worn edges, or small gaps between teeth.
- Whitening has not given you the shade you want, or your teeth are stained in a way that whitening does not reach.
- Your gums and teeth are healthy. Decay and gum disease need treating first.
- You do not grind your teeth heavily, or you are willing to wear a night guard if we advise it.
Options
Porcelain veneers
Made in a dental laboratory from impressions or a scan. They resist staining well and look natural. They need a small amount of enamel removed, and they take at least two visits.
Composite veneers
Built up directly on the tooth from tooth-coloured resin, often in one visit and sometimes with little or no enamel removal. They usually cost less and can be repaired easily, but they stain and wear sooner than porcelain.
How long do veneers take?
- Typical treatment time
- Porcelain: usually two or three visits over about 2 to 3 weeks. Composite: often one visit.
- Appointments
- Usually two to three, plus a check-up after fitting.
- Anaesthesia
- Local anaesthetic is usually used for preparation.
- Recovery
- Teeth can feel sensitive for a few days. You can usually eat normally soon after, avoiding very hard foods at first.
- How long they last
- Often 10 to 15 years with good care for porcelain; composite usually needs repair or replacement sooner. This varies from person to person.
- Reversible?
- No, for most porcelain veneers. Removing enamel is permanent, and a veneer may need replacing in the future.
Aftercare
- Brush twice a day and clean between your teeth daily. Veneers do not decay, but the teeth and gums around them can.
- Avoid biting hard objects such as ice, pen tops or fingernails, and do not use your teeth to open packets.
- Wear a night guard if we advise it. Grinding is a common reason veneers chip or come off.
- Come to regular check-ups and professional cleanings.
- Composite veneers stain more easily, so go easy on tea, coffee and tobacco.
- Contact us if a veneer feels loose, chips, or your bite feels different.
Risks and limitations
- Removing enamel is permanent. Your teeth will usually need covering with veneers or crowns from then on.
- Teeth can be sensitive to hot and cold, sometimes for a few weeks.
- Veneers can chip, crack or come off, especially if you grind your teeth or bite hard food.
- The edge of a veneer can show at the gum line over time, or the gum can recede.
- Veneers may not match natural teeth exactly. Showing us photos and talking about shade before the final fitting helps.
- Veneers usually need replacing at some point, which adds to the long-term cost.
Alternatives
- Teeth whitening, if colour is the main concern.
- Composite bonding, a more conservative option that often needs little or no enamel removal.
- Crowns, if the tooth is badly broken or has a large filling.
- Orthodontic treatment, if the issue is crowding or gaps rather than the tooth itself.
- Doing nothing. A small imperfection does not always need treatment.
Questions about veneers
What are veneers made of?
Veneers are made from porcelain or from tooth-coloured composite resin. Porcelain veneers are made in a laboratory and bonded to the tooth. They resist stains well. Composite veneers are shaped directly on the tooth in the clinic. They usually cost less and are easier to repair, but they stain and wear sooner.
How long do veneers last?
Porcelain veneers often last 10 to 15 years with good care, though some last less and some longer. Composite veneers usually need repair or replacement sooner. How long yours last depends on your cleaning, your diet, and whether you grind your teeth. We cannot guarantee a number, but we will tell you what to expect for your mouth.
Do veneers damage your teeth?
Porcelain veneers need a thin layer of enamel to be removed, and that cannot be put back. Healthy teeth under well-fitted veneers are usually fine, but you will have veneers or crowns on those teeth for life. If you want to keep as much tooth as possible, ask us about composite bonding, which often removes little or none.
Are veneers painful?
Not usually. We numb the teeth with local anaesthetic before preparing them, so you should feel pressure but not pain. Afterwards the teeth may feel sensitive to hot and cold for a few days. If sensitivity is severe or lasts more than a couple of weeks, let us know.
Can I eat normally with veneers?
Yes, for the most part. You can eat most foods once the numbness wears off and any sensitivity settles. Try not to bite hard things such as ice, bones or hard sweets with veneered teeth, and avoid using your front teeth to tear or open things. This helps stop veneers chipping.
Can veneers be whitened later?
No. Whitening gels lighten natural tooth enamel but do not change the colour of porcelain or composite. That is why we agree the shade before the veneers are made. If you plan to whiten your natural teeth, do it before your veneers are made so we can match them.
Other treatments
Dental implants
A fixed way to replace one tooth, several teeth or a full arch, planned from a scan at your consultation.
Cosmetic dentistry
Whitening, bonding and smile planning to change how your teeth look, with a clear explanation of each option's limits.
Full mouth rehabilitation
A planned, step-by-step way to repair many teeth at once and restore how they bite together.
Talk to Dr. Vahid about veneers
Send us a message or call. We will suggest a time for a consultation.
Address
Naji Aldakhil Medical CenterOffice 202, Block A, Al Khalafi Building, Al Mamzar, DubaiGet directions
Opening hours
- Saturday – Thursday
- 10 AM – 8 PM
- Friday
- Closed