Veneers – Their Origins And Why They’re Such A Sought-After Cosmetic Treatment

Do you have a discoloured, decayed, misaligned, crooked, or chipped tooth? Veneers are porcelain shells fitted over the front surface of a tooth to protect it from further damage and restore the tooth’s aesthetic.

The origins of veneers

Veneers were first created in 1930 by a Californian dentist by the name of Charles Pincus, who crafted veneers to improve the smiles of Hollywood actors. Although these actors had the right bodies and facial features for Hollywood, their teeth did not always match up, which posed a problem when conveying the glitz and glamour of Hollywood on screen. Pincus’s first veneers were only designed to be bonded to the teeth for the duration of filming, but it became obvious that there was a gap in the market for longer lasting veneers. By 1982, it was discovered that porcelain veneers could be etched using hydrofluoric acid, producing a longer lasting veneer. With the advancements in cosmetic dentistry over the years, veneers can last between 10-15 years, if cared for correctly.

Benefits of veneers

• Strong and durable solution – as mentioned above, the veneers of today can last for up to 15 years. You can continue to eat the foods you enjoy without worrying about jeopardising your treatment.
• Natural-looking results – here at Smile Up we believe that cosmetic dentistry should yield natural results.
• Restore confidence in your smile – if the tooth that you are having treated is part of the social six (those most visible when you smile), this can have a huge impact on your confidence.
• No downtime – there is no recovery time associated with veneers – you can walk in and out of the practice and return to your day-to-day activities.

What to expect when having a veneer fitted

You will need to attend at least two visits in order to have your veneer fitted. The tooth will be etched, which means removing a small amount of the enamel in order to make room for the veneer – this will ensure the veneer does not protrude over your existing teeth. The next stage is to take an impression for the dental technician so that your veneer can be custom created in the image of your existing teeth. Your hair, eye and natural tooth colour will be taken into account when crafting your veneer.

We are open 7 days a week to accommodate our patients’ busy schedules. Our friendly muliti-lingual team speak several languages including English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Polish and Greek – our website is also available in the languages listed.