A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain (or similar) which is made to fit over the front surface of a tooth to improve its colour, shape and position. A precise shade of porcelain can be chosen to give the right colour to improve a single discoloured tooth or to lighten the front teeth. If a tooth is chipped a veneer can give the appearance of looking in tact again; the porcelain covers the whole of the front of the tooth with a thicker section replacing the broken part. Veneers can also be used to close small gaps, when orthodontics (braces) are not suitable, or if one tooth is slightly out of position a veneer can sometimes be fitted to bring it into line with the others.
