Veneers

Veneers are new facings for teeth that disguise a chipped or discoloured tooth¹. They are very thin and cover only the front surface of the tooth³. These restorations can repair a broken tooth, cover a large filling or discoloured tooth and help to re-shape it³. Veneers are generally only available privately, unless a clinical need for them can be shown¹.

The sources describe the following techniques: * Porcelain veneers: This involves removing some of the surface of the tooth to make space for a layer of porcelain material². The veneer is made in a dental laboratory². * Composite veneers: This involves covering the tooth with a layer of white filling material to mask the underlying colour².

To fit some veneers, the front of the tooth is drilled away, but not all veneers need this¹. An impression is taken, and a thin layer of porcelain or natural-coloured material is fitted over the front of the tooth¹. Porcelain veneers are cemented in place with white filling material³.

For porcelain veneers, two visits are usually involved³. The first appointment is spent re-shaping the tooth and taking an impression that is sent to the dental laboratory³. The permanent porcelain veneer is usually fitted 2-3 weeks later^2,3.

The provided sources do not state specific recovery times or durations for time off work. According to the NHS, patients should stay in the country where they had treatment for a suitable length of time to recover before travelling home⁴.

In Metio's data, a «package» price includes more than a single veneer: for example several veneers or a full arch, a hotel or transfers. A «procedure» price is the procedure alone. The two are never mixed in one figure.