Dental Veneers

Transform the appearance of your smile

Dental veneers are custom-made shells bonded to the front surface of your teeth. They're one of the more versatile cosmetic options available — able to address discolouration, chipping, minor gaps, and irregular tooth shape in a relatively conservative way.

At Lockleys Dental Clinic we offer both porcelain and composite veneers, and we use our PrimeScan digital scanner to take precise impressions — no gooey trays. During your consultation we'll discuss which option best suits your goals, your teeth, and your budget.

Porcelain vs composite veneers

Porcelain veneers

Made in a dental laboratory from thin ceramic, porcelain veneers closely mimic the light-transmitting properties of natural enamel. They're highly resistant to staining and tend to produce very natural-looking results over the long term.

• Exceptionally natural appearance
• Highly resistant to staining
• Can last many years with proper care — individual results vary
• Requires two or more appointments

Composite veneers

Applied directly to your teeth using tooth-coloured composite resin, composite veneers are shaped and polished by your dentist chairside — often in a single visit. They're a more accessible entry point into cosmetic dentistry and can be repaired straightforwardly if chipped.

• More affordable than porcelain veneers
• Often completed in a single appointment
• Easily repaired if chipped or damaged
• May need polishing or replacement over time

Digital impressions with PrimeScan

For porcelain veneers, precise impressions are essential for a well-fitting result. We use the Dentsply Sirona PrimeScan intraoral scanner, which captures highly accurate 3D images of your teeth in minutes — no impression putty, no discomfort. The digital scan is sent directly to the laboratory, improving both accuracy and turnaround time.

What veneers can address

• Stained or discoloured teeth that don't respond to whitening
• Chipped or worn teeth
• Minor gaps or spacing between teeth
• Irregular tooth shape or size
• Slightly overlapping or misaligned teeth

The veneer process

Step 1 — Consultation

We discuss your goals, examine your teeth and gums, and confirm that veneers are appropriate for your situation. We'll walk you through the options, the process, and what to expect in terms of outcome and care.

Step 2 — Preparation (porcelain)

A small, precise amount of enamel is removed from the tooth surface to create space for the veneer. A PrimeScan digital scan is taken and sent to the laboratory. A temporary veneer is placed while the final veneer is being fabricated.

Step 3 — Bonding

Your veneer is carefully bonded to the tooth surface using dental cement. We check your bite and make fine adjustments before you leave. Composite veneers are built up and shaped directly in the chair during a single visit.

Are veneers right for you?

Veneers work best when your underlying teeth and gums are healthy. If there are signs of active decay or gum disease, these need to be addressed first. People who grind their teeth heavily may not be ideal candidates for porcelain veneers, as grinding can chip or crack the ceramic. Your dentist will discuss all of this openly during your consultation.

Frequently asked questions