For the majority of the population, porcelain veneers in London would be the best cosmetic dental treatment that they could receive.

Provided that you are eligible to receive veneers, you could achieve the smile of your dreams with teeth that are the perfect size, shape, and colour.

However, one feature of porcelain veneers that might put some people off is the fact that they are designed to be a permanent feature of your dental aesthetics. This means that the treatment cannot be reversed once it has been performed.

Is this really a downside to veneers? Continue reading to learn more about the reversal of porcelain veneers and a comparison to other veneer materials that are available.

Can porcelain veneers be removed?

Porcelain veneers can be removed once they have been fitted. However, if you do this then they will need to be replaced with another set of veneers – you will not be able to return to your natural teeth.

When preparing your natural teeth to receive veneers, your cosmetic dentist will shave away between 5% – 15% of your enamel. This is to make room for the veneer materials and it does not damage your teeth.

Nonetheless, your cosmetic dentist is performing this action with the aim of fitting porcelain veneers to the teeth afterwards. The porcelain material will be strong and durable enough to act as a natural tooth and enable you to eat without damaging your natural tooth below, and it will leave you with a healthy bite.

If your dentist were to abandon the application of the porcelain veneers after your teeth have been prepared, then you may be left with:

• Teeth that are prone to sensitivity
• Teeth that are an undesirable shape or colour
• A bite that may cause damage or discomfort if you continue to use your natural teeth on their own

So, if your question is whether porcelain veneers can be removed then technically the answer is yes – your veneers will need to be removed so that they can be replaced at the end of their lifespan.

But if your question is whether porcelain veneers can be removed without being replaced, then our answer would be no.

Are porcelain veneers reversible?

No, porcelain veneers are not reversible and you will not be able to return to the natural smile that you had before treatment.

But if you visit an experienced, trustworthy London cosmetic dentist like us at Marylebone Smile Clinic then you will not want to!

Your veneers will remedy any issues that you had with the aesthetics of your teeth beforehand and will remain stain resistant for a period of around 10-20 years before they will need to be replaced.

If you are concerned that you will not be happy with your veneers, then hopefully the fact that you have a say in what your veneers look like will put you at ease.

Before your veneers are applied, your dentist will provide you with examples of what your smile will look like after treatment. This will be based on the shade of porcelain used, and the shape of the teeth after treating your own specific aesthetic issues.

At this point you can voice any concerns that you may have, such as with the shade of porcelain used, and your dentist will take this into account.

Then, while your veneers are being made, you will be fitted with a set of temporary veneers to give you an impression of what your smile will look like post-treatment. You will wear these temporary veneers for two weeks until you will return to the clinic and receive your permanent set of porcelain veneers.

During this time, you can make the decision on whether you are truly happy with your veneers, and if there is anything that you are unhappy with then you can discuss it with your cosmetic dentist who will be able to make changes.

Are composite veneers reversible?

Composite veneers require less preparation than porcelain veneers, and in many cases are what we would class as reversible.

Despite porcelain veneers only requiring a minimum of 5% tooth enamel removal, composite veneers require much less. This means that the composite material is able to be removed in the future and the patient can return to their natural smile with no risk of damage or discomfort.

This may convince more people to seek composite bonding as opposed to porcelain veneers, and for young patients who are between 18-20 years of age this may be wise. However, composite veneers do not match the quality of porcelain veneers and require a stricter maintenance regime to keep them looking their best.

They also do not last as long and will need to be replaced every six years or so as opposed to every 10-20 years with porcelain.

Are no prep veneers reversible?

No preparation veneers require either no removal of enamel or a minimum amount of removal to fit the veneer material; therefore, they are reversible.

Each form of veneer has its own unique pros and cons, porcelain veneers included, but no prep veneers fall short of porcelain in almost every way. They are less durable, their aesthetics are not as high quality, and they may not be suitable for patients with specific cosmetic dental concerns.

You can learn more about non-prep veneers here.

How long do porcelain veneers last?

Our porcelain veneers last on average between 10-20 years before they need to be replaced.

At Marylebone Smile Clinic, we offer a seven-year guarantee on all of our porcelain veneer work. We will provide you with all of the information that you will need to maintain your porcelain veneers so that they look their best for as long as possible.

Marylebone Smile Clinic London cosmetic dentist

While there may be a very small number of individuals who would be able to return to their natural teeth if they had a very minimal amount of enamel removed in preparation for veneers, those individuals would be sacrificing incredible dental aesthetics for imperfect natural teeth.

Contact our cosmetic dentist at Marylebone Smile Clinic and we will arrange an online consultation for you where our dentist will assess whether you are eligible for porcelain veneers, saving you time and money and allowing you to receive your dream smile as soon as possible!