Q. I have just recently had 2 porcelain veneers. Basically the teeth at either side of my 2 front teeth, were a little too small for the space and I didn’t like it much. I asked my dentist about veneers and he said that they would improve my smile. However, I can really feel them. When I run my tongue over my mouth, I feel how ‘raised’ the veneer is compared to my own teeth and I don’t know if this is normal. Also, the veneer doesn’t feel like a tooth on the ‘bottom’. It feels thicker a little rounded, unlike my own teeth. Is this what veneers are like? I really am not happy and I haven’t got what I expected. Please help!

 
A. I have seen many people that have had veneers just like yours. It sounds like your dentist has placed veneers on your teeth without any preparation. This means that he hasn’t drilled your teeth. This is good in a way because it means that your teeth are strong and healthy underneath the porcelain. For the teeth to feel like your other teeth, the two side ones may have to be shaved down slightly. If your dentist doesn’t regularly do cosmetic procedures he/she may think this means drilling your teeth down into stumps. This isn’t the case. Enamel does have to be removed but it can be done very minimally and the tooth can still remain healthy whilst giving you the result that you want.

For veneers to be successful the dentist has to know what they are doing and but the laboratory that makes them also need to know what they are doing and should carry out these procedures regularly.

As an example if someone came to me with your problems, models and photographs are taken before hand. I would normally make a wax mock up of the veneers on this and then prpare the teeth a little so that you end up with thin edges. Once the preparations are done and the temporaries are placed on the teeth I would shape them so that they are in harmony with the rest of your smile. The next day I would see you again to make sure that you are happy with the general shape and make sure that speech is unaffected. To get an exact colour match you would have the option of going to the laboratory to have a colour match done so that the new veneers match your other teeth. Shape is also taken into account.

Veneers should feel normal once they are placed. If you are not happy you should go to see a dentist who is used to carrying out these procedures. Veneers are not inexpensive. You should be prepared to pay between £600 and £1200 per tooth if the dentist has the knowledge and experience required to do it properly

Dr Komal Suri
Smile Design Dental
www.smiledesigndental.co.uk
33 High Street, Wendover,
Buckinghamshire HP22 6DU
Tel: 01296 624163