What is a temporary veneer?

A veneer is a shield made out of porcelain that fits over the natural teeth, to make them appear straighter, whiter, and more in proportion. The temporary variety is less hard-wearing and is usually only used during the time between dental appointments when the patient has had their teeth reshaped, but their new veneers aren’t ready for fitting yet. The veneer itself is not just for aesthetic purposes – although most people would agree that filed down teeth aren’t pleasant to look at – they are also functional, the shield prevents further wear and tear on the natural teeth, and uneven pressure being exerted on the different areas of the mouth. Chewing with peg-shaped teeth isn’t easy, so a temporary veneer is made to allow the patient to eat normally.

What happens if I’m fitted for temporary veneers?

Firstly, your dentist will discuss the process with you and take an impression of your teeth using dental putty, it’s a good idea to talk through your options as this point, or to bring up any concerns you might have. Of course, you will be able to talk to your dentist at every stage of the treatment, but it’s better to put your mind at ease beforehand.

Between you and your dentist, you will then choose the shade that best suits your complexion and gives you the desired outcome. A lot of patients would imagine going straight for the whitest porcelain available, but this won’t give a natural result at all, so listen to your dentist and take on board their recommendations. Custom veneers should blend perfectly with your skin tone to produce a subtle, beautiful smile.

The next stage is to prepare the teeth for the veneer, how much reshaping has to be done depends on the positioning of the natural teeth, the type of veneer being used, and how long it is going to be in place. Because the surface of the tooth is being shaved and contoured using specialist tools, most dentists will administer a local anaesthetic beforehand. A new impression of your teeth will then be taken, so the dentist can see how your teeth bite together and the laboratory technicians can build new veneers over the top of it.

Whilst you wait for the permanent veneers to be manufactured, you should be fitted with a temporary veneer made from acrylic. The shield is fixed firmly in place over the top of your natural teeth, with dental cement. The cement is a temporary variety that will be removed after a certain period of time. Veneers are typically a slightly different colour to the permanent fixtures, mainly because they are prepared on site, with less personal specifications. They may also be rougher to touch than your natural enamel.

How should I take care of my temporary teeth?

It might be tempting to treat your acrylic smile like your normal teeth, but to get the best out of it you should tread carefully. Avoid hard sweet and food that takes a lot of chewing, temporary veneers aren’t built to last and they can’t stand up to vigorous chomping. Equally, don’t expose the white acrylic to food or drink with dark colours – such as coffee or red wine – this can stain the teeth, and even though they’re temporary, it won’t look nice. Don’t bite your nails or non-food objects – like bottle caps or pen lids, this will cause chips and cracks or even the veneer to come loose before it’s ready to be removed.

How long will it last?

After one or two weeks, you will be called back to the surgery to have your temporary veneer taken out and your permanent veneers cemented in place. Any longer than this and you will probably notice parts of the veneer become chipped or discoloured, this is because they are – by their very nature – not meant to last for long periods of time. It’s likely that you will have local anaesthetic for the removal and the following procedure, which involves roughening the surface of the teeth so that the dental cement has a good surface to grip onto. This allows it to bond permanently with the enamel and means they will stay put for longer. Afterward, your dentist will check for your bite and make any shape adjustments that are required. There can be some tenderness after the procedure, but it will subside after a day or two – a week at the most. With proper care, a good set of porcelain veneers that have been correctly fitted can last ten years or more.

Where can I get treatment like this?

Not all dental clinics will provide a temporary veneer during the treatment process, so you might want to question your chosen surgeon about this if you don’t like the idea of spending some time with unprotected teeth. Of course, if your teeth don’t need too much reshaping, this might not be a big problem, but patients with more unsightly teeth usually prefer a shield to keep their smile intact. Fortunately, there are lots of places that do offer temporary replacements; the Pearl Dental Clinic in London is one such place. Staff at the surgery will be happy to answer any questions you might have about the reshaping and fitting process, as well as costs and any possible complications.

For clinics that do provide temporary veneers, the price is usually included with the overall cost of treatment. Good quality veneers, fitted properly by an experienced dentist are very expensive, sometimes as much as £1000 per tooth. You have to consider that craftsmanship isn’t cheap, and that the results will be worth the extra money.