Dental veneers
A thin porcelain facing bonded to the front of a tooth, planned before anything irreversible happens.
- NHS and private
- Same-day emergencies
- Published fees
- One team, three practices
What a veneer is for
A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain bonded to the front surface of a tooth. It changes the shape, shade and alignment of what people see, while the tooth behind it stays largely intact.
Read more: What a veneer is for
It suits teeth that are sound but do not look the way you want: deep staining that will not whiten, worn or chipped edges, a tooth that sits slightly out of line, or a persistent gap. It is not a repair for a badly broken or decayed tooth, which needs a crown instead.
Veneers, bonding or whitening
Start with the least invasive thing that solves the problem. If the shape is fine and the shade is the issue, whitening at £385 may be all you need. If a single edge is chipped or there is a small gap, composite bonding from £180 is done in one visit and takes almost nothing off the tooth.
Read more: Veneers, bonding or whitening
Veneers earn their place when several teeth need changing together, when the change is beyond what bonding holds, or when you want porcelain's resistance to staining. They are also the most permanent of the three, because a small amount of enamel is usually removed to seat them.
Why we plan first
Preparing a tooth for a veneer is not reversible. That is the single most important thing to understand before starting, and it is why we plan the whole case in writing before touching anything.
Read more: Why we plan first
Alignment gets settled first. If teeth are noticeably crooked, straightening them with clear aligners at £3,700 often means fewer veneers, less preparation and a better result than masking the position with porcelain.
Living with them
Porcelain resists staining better than natural enamel, so tea, coffee and red wine affect it less. It does not whiten, though, so if you plan to whiten your other teeth, do that first and match the veneers to the final shade.
Read more: Living with them
The gum margin still needs cleaning like any other tooth, and grinding is the commonest cause of a chipped veneer. If you grind, tell us, because a night guard protects the investment.
What a veneer changes
A veneer covers the front face of a tooth and a little of its edge. It can change colour, shape, length and apparent position, which is why it is used for teeth that are structurally sound but visually wrong.
Read more: What a veneer changes
Tetracycline staining and other discolouration that does not respond to whitening is the classic indication. So are worn or chipped incisal edges, a tooth rotated slightly out of line, and gaps between front teeth that you want closed permanently.
The order we do things in
Gum health comes first. Veneers are bonded at the gum margin and bleeding, inflamed gums will not give a clean bond or a stable result, so periodontal treatment at £130 sometimes has to happen before anything cosmetic.
Read more: The order we do things in
Alignment comes second. Clear aligners from £2,700 can move a rotated tooth into position so that a veneer needs to hide far less, which usually means less preparation and a more natural outcome. Shade comes third, because whitening at £350 sets the target colour that the porcelain is matched to, and porcelain cannot be whitened afterwards.
What you are committing to
Enamel is removed to seat a veneer, and enamel does not grow back. From that point the tooth needs a veneer or a crown on it permanently, and when the veneer eventually needs replacing, the replacement is another laboratory fee.
Read more: What you are committing to
That is not a reason to avoid veneers. It is a reason to be certain, which is why we plan the case in writing, work through the less invasive alternatives with you first, and hold the quote for thirty days rather than ask you to decide in the chair.
If you grind your teeth
Grinding is the single most common reason a veneer chips or debonds. If you clench at night, wake with a tight jaw, or have worn edges already, tell us at the consultation.
It does not rule out treatment. It means a night guard is part of the plan rather than something offered after the first breakage, and it may change the material recommendation.
Veneer fees at Nuffield Dental Practice and Church Langley Dental, with the alternatives for comparison.
| Treatment | NHS | Private |
|---|---|---|
| Veneer | Not available | from £700 |
| Composite bonding | Not available | from £180 |
| Teeth whitening | Not available | £385 |
| Clear aligners | Not available | £3,700 |
Veneers are private only, because the NHS contract does not extend to appearance-led treatment. Your plan is itemised in writing and held for 30 days.
Veneer fees at Enfield Smiles, with the treatments that usually come before them.
| Treatment | NHS | Private |
|---|---|---|
| Veneer | Not available | from £550 |
| Teeth whitening | Not available | £350 |
| Clear aligners | Not available | from £2,700 |
| Periodontal treatment | Not available | £130 |
Veneers are private only. The plan is itemised in writing before treatment begins and the quote is held for 30 days.
Practices Offering Dental veneers
Nuffield Dental Practice
110–111 The StowHarlowEssex CM20 3AS01279 424 038Church Langley Dental
First Floor, Florence Nightingale Health CentreHarlowEssex CM17 9TE01279 306 690Enfield Smiles
195 High StreetEnfield EN3 4DZ020 8804 4320