Porcelain veneers in Auckland

Think of a porcelain veneer as a slim new face for a tooth: a thin ceramic shell, made in a dental lab to our design, then bonded permanently to the front surface. Because porcelain mimics the way natural enamel catches the light, a well-made veneer is very hard to tell from the tooth beside it. They come into their own on the bigger jobs: deep staining that whitening won't shift, chips and wear across several front teeth, small gaps, or a smile line that sits unevenly.

They suit people with healthy teeth and gums who want a lasting change and are comfortable with a considered, largely permanent treatment. If you grind your teeth, or if the underlying issue is really crowding or staining, we'll say so honestly; sometimes clear aligners, whitening or composite gets you there more simply, and a night guard can protect veneers if grinding is part of the picture.

The first visit is about design and preparation. We plan the shape and shade with you, then prepare each tooth by smoothing away a thin layer of enamel, usually around half a millimetre, so the veneer sits flush rather than looking bulky. We're upfront about this: it's a small amount, but it doesn't grow back, which is why a veneered tooth will always need a veneer or crown on it from then on. We take a scan or impression for the lab, and fit neat temporaries so you're never walking around with prepared teeth on show.

A couple of weeks later, your veneers come back from the lab and we fit them: each one is tried in, checked against your smile and your bite, adjusted if needed, then bonded securely into place and polished. Most people are surprised how ordinary it all feels; the treatment is done under local anaesthetic where needed, and you head home the same day with your new veneers in place.

Porcelain and composite veneers solve similar problems at different levels of commitment. Composite veneers are sculpted by hand in a single visit, are gentler on enamel and cost less, but they pick up stains sooner and need refreshing more often. Porcelain takes two visits and involves that enamel preparation, and in return you get a finish that holds its colour and shape for typically around ten years or more. We'll compare both against your own teeth and budget at your consult, and you'll find more on our composite veneers page too.

Aftercare is refreshingly ordinary: brush and floss as usual, keep up regular check-ups and cleans, and treat veneers the way you'd treat natural front teeth, so no cracking nuts, chewing pens or opening packets with them. If you grind at night, wear the night guard we recommend. Do that, and your veneers will quietly get on with the job for years.