Veneers are wafer-thin shells that are permanently attached to the front of the teeth. They change shape, colour and length, for example with uneven or worn edges, gaps or discolouration that cannot be whitened. They come in ceramic, individually made in the laboratory, and in composite, which is layered by hand directly on the tooth. For ceramic, a wafer-thin reduction of the enamel is often enough, and sometimes none at all. Composite veneers are made without any reshaping. Ceramic veneers usually last ten to fifteen years, often longer.
Updated: 9 November 2026
When veneers are a good fit
- Your front teeth are uneven or worn at the edges.
- A gap between your front teeth bothers you in every photo.
- The colour stays uneven after whitening.
- Several teeth should match each other in shape and colour.
Often gentler paths are enough: if it is only about colour, whitening lightens your own teeth. If a single edge or a small gap bothers you, bonding is often the better choice. We recommend veneers where they really make the difference. When which fits is explained in “Veneers or bonding: which suits when?”.
Ceramic or composite?
| Ceramic veneers | Composite veneers | |
|---|---|---|
| How they are made | individually in the laboratory, from a digital scan | layered by hand directly on the tooth |
| Preparation | often a wafer-thin reduction, sometimes none at all | no reshaping |
| Colour | colour-stable | can darken over the years, can be polished again |
| Durability | usually ten to fifteen years, often longer | can be added to and adjusted at any time |
| Appointments | according to your treatment plan | for six to eight teeth, usually two to three appointments of around two to three hours |
Ceramic stays colour-stable and usually lasts many years. Composite preserves the tooth completely and can be adjusted at any time. Both are a very good path. Which suits you, we will show you at your consultation.
How your veneers are made
- Discuss what you would like. You tell us what bothers you and what should stay. We look at your teeth, gums and bite and record everything in images.
- Plan digitally and try them in. We plan shape and colour digitally and show you the result as a preview directly in your mouth. You only decide once you like what you see.
- Prepare gently. As little as possible, under magnification. A digital scan replaces the impression.
- Fit. The veneers are permanently attached and finely adjusted. At a check-up, we check your bite and the fit.
Do veneers look natural?
Yes, if shape, colour and translucency suit your face and your neighbouring teeth. That is why, with us, your face is the benchmark, not a catalogue. The goal: people see a smile, not a treatment.
What is clarified beforehand
Veneers go on healthy teeth and healthy gums. We treat decay or gum inflammation first. If you would like whiter teeth, we whiten beforehand: ceramic and composite cannot be whitened and are matched to the new tooth colour.
How do veneers stay beautiful for a long time?
In long-term studies, over 90 percent of ceramic veneers are intact after ten years. If you grind at night, a night guard protects them. Regular check-ups and dental hygiene keep veneers and gums healthy. Composite can be polished again and again, ideally in the same appointment as your dental hygiene.
