When Are Veneers Appropriate?
- Fluorosis or tetracycline staining — intrinsic discolouration that bleaching cannot fully correct.
- MIH (Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation) — white or brown patches on front teeth that affect appearance and cause sensitivity.
- Chipped or fractured front teeth — trauma-related chips where the tooth structure is sound but the appearance is affected.
- Peg laterals or small teeth — congenitally small or abnormally shaped lateral incisors that leave gaps or asymmetry.
- Mild spacing — small gaps between front teeth (diastemas) that cannot or need not be closed with braces.
We recommend waiting until a teenager's smile has fully developed — typically 16 for girls, 17–18 for boys — before placing permanent veneers, so that the final tooth position and gum level are stable.
Composite vs Porcelain Veneers
Direct Composite Veneers (Single Visit)
Tooth-coloured composite resin is bonded directly to the tooth and sculpted to the desired shape in a single appointment. Little or no enamel removal is required. Composite veneers can be repaired easily if chipped. They are an excellent first choice for teenagers — reversible, fast, and can be upgraded to porcelain at a later stage.
Porcelain Veneers (Lab-Fabricated)
Porcelain veneers are thin ceramic shells fabricated in a dental laboratory and bonded to the teeth in a second appointment. They offer superior aesthetics and stain resistance, and are more durable than composite. A thin layer of enamel is usually removed for placement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Composite veneers typically require no enamel removal at all. Porcelain veneers require a thin layer (0.3–0.5 mm) of enamel to be removed — which is why we prefer composite for younger teenagers and reserve porcelain for cases where the aesthetic goal cannot be achieved otherwise.
Veneers can improve the appearance of mildly misaligned or rotated teeth by masking the angle. For moderate or significant crowding, orthodontic treatment is the correct first step — veneers on misaligned teeth would require excessive tooth reduction. We assess each case individually and will be honest about what veneers can and cannot achieve.