Veneers are fitted to the front of the teeth and are made from thin pieces of porcelain which are shaped to the tooth to make the perfect fit. The colour of the veneers are matched to the existing teeth by the dentist so that no one would know that a veneer has been fitted. They can be used to hide gaps or chips in the teeth but also to cover up discoloured teeth. They are permanent once they have been fitted and the process is irreversible. Once the veneers have been fitted the dentist may recommend certain foods and drink to avoid as the veneers themselves can become discoloured.
Implants are used more frequently today to replace missing teeth as an alternative to dentures or false teeth. The dentist will perform the procedure where the false teeth are anchored in place. The teeth are made based on the existing teeth and are matched exactly to the colour of the rest of the teeth. They will last longer than dentures due to the material that they are made from, so are much more hard wearing. Implants replace the tooth roots and the specialist dentist uses the existing bone structure therefore reducing the amount of bone loss. Using implants the gums remain strong and healthy. Also due to them being permanently fixed to the jawbone there is no need for all of the denture pastes, and biting and chewing is not a problem like some people find with dentures.