are specialised types of Dental Restorations. Your Dentist will X-ray your teeth first, then if your teeth are suitable, he/she will prepare your teeth for the Restoration by trimming part of your teeth away. After an impression (shape or mould) of your teeth has been taken, you will usually have a temporary Restoration placed over the trimmed surfaces.

The impression is then sent to a specialised Dental Laboratory who will make your Restoration. This usually takes 2 weeks. At your next appointment your Dentist will remove the temporary Restoration and cement the permanent Restoration in place.

Most Veneers, Crowns and Bridges are available on the NHS, however some restorations are not available on the NHS and can only be provided privately. Please ask your Dentist to explain the difference and to tell you the prices.

Veneers
A veneer is like a porcelain 'false nail' which is cemented onto the front of your tooth, Veneers are usually only placed on upper front teeth and are used cosmetically to improve the appearance of discoloured healthy teeth.

Crowns
A crown is a porcelain (tooth Coloured) or precious metal (Gold coloured) cap that is permanently cemented onto a tooth root. The root can be alive or root filled, but it must be strong and healthy.

Bridges
A Conventional Bridge - is used to fill a gap where a tooth is missing. One or both of the teeth on either side of the gap are prepared for a crown but the laboratory makes a crown with an extra tooth attached to it which will fill the gap when it is cemented in place.
An acid etch bridge is used to fill a gap where a tooth is missing. It looks like a tooth with a small wing attached to it. This wing is bonded onto the back of the tooth next to the gap. The advantage of this is that only a small amount of tooth trimming is needed.