By Dr. Gregg Barry | 30 March 2026
Thinking About Veneers? Read This First.
Porcelain veneers are one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments we offer at our Dublin practice — and for good reason. Done well, they can completely transform a smile. But they’re also a significant decision, and we think you should go into it with your eyes wide open.
So here’s everything we tell our patients when they sit down with us to talk about porcelain veneers. The good stuff, the stuff to consider, and the questions you should be asking.
What Are Porcelain Veneers, Exactly?
A porcelain veneer is a wafer-thin shell of dental ceramic that’s bonded to the front surface of a tooth. Think of it like a contact lens for your tooth — except it’s custom-made, permanent, and designed to look completely natural.
Veneers can change the colour, shape, size, and alignment of your teeth in ways that other treatments simply can’t match. They’re the gold standard of cosmetic dentistry for a reason: when they’re made well and placed well, the results are extraordinary.
What Can Veneers Fix?
Quite a lot, actually:
- Discolouration that whitening can’t fix (tetracycline staining, fluorosis, or teeth that have naturally darkened)
- Chips and cracks that affect the appearance of your smile
- Gaps between teeth — veneers can close them without orthodontics
- Uneven or misshapen teeth — creating symmetry and harmony across your smile
- Mild crowding or rotation — sometimes called “instant orthodontics” (though we’d never promise that without assessing your case first)
- Worn-down teeth — restoring length and proportion
What veneers can’t do is fix severely crooked teeth or major bite problems. For those, you’d need orthodontic treatment first. We’ll always be honest about what veneers can and can’t achieve for your specific situation.
The Veneer Process at Docklands Dental
Consultation and Planning
This is the most important step, and it’s where we spend the most time. We’ll take detailed photographs, digital scans, and we’ll sit down with you to talk about what you want your smile to look like. We might do a digital mock-up so you can actually see a preview of the result before any work begins. This planning phase is where good veneers become great veneers.
Preparation
To make room for the veneers, we need to remove a thin layer of enamel from the front of each tooth — usually about 0.5mm. This is done under local anaesthetic so you won’t feel a thing. We know this is the bit that makes people nervous (it’s irreversible, after all), which is why we’re so thorough in the planning stage. By the time we’re prepping, you’ll have already seen and approved the design.
After preparation, we take precise digital impressions of your teeth and send them to our lab. You’ll wear temporary veneers while the permanent ones are being crafted.
Fitting
When your veneers are ready (usually 2 to 3 weeks later), you’ll come back in and we’ll try them on before permanently bonding them. This is your chance to check the colour, shape, and fit. If anything needs tweaking, now is the time. Once you’re happy, we bond them in place with a strong dental adhesive, and you walk out with your new smile.
How Long Do Porcelain Veneers Last?
With proper care, porcelain veneers typically last 15 to 20 years. Some last even longer. They’re incredibly durable — porcelain is harder than natural enamel, and it resists staining far better than composite resin.
That said, they’re not indestructible. You can still chip a veneer if you bite into something very hard, grind your teeth, or have an accident. If that happens, the veneer will need to be replaced. We’ll always recommend a nightguard if you’re a grinder.
Porcelain Veneers Cost in Dublin
Let’s be upfront about this. At Docklands Dental, a hand-layered feldspathic porcelain veneer is €1,200 per tooth. A full set of 8 to 10 veneers is a significant investment — but it’s one that lasts 15 to 20 years with proper care.
We offer payment plans to make veneers more accessible. We’d always rather discuss finances openly and find a solution than have you walk away from a treatment that could genuinely change how you feel about your smile.
If budget is a primary concern, composite bonding achieves a similar cosmetic result at roughly half the cost — and it requires no removal of tooth structure. We wrote a detailed comparison of bonding vs porcelain veneers that’s worth reading.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Veneers?
Veneers work best for people who:
- Have generally healthy teeth and gums
- Have specific cosmetic concerns they want to address
- Understand that the process is irreversible
- Are committed to good oral hygiene
- Don’t have severe grinding habits (or are willing to wear a nightguard)
Veneers might not be the best choice if your teeth are severely decayed or weakened — in that case, dental crowns might serve you better. If your teeth are healthy but your bite is the main issue, orthodontics might be the smarter first step.
We’ll assess all of this at your consultation and give you a straight recommendation. If veneers aren’t right for you, we’ll tell you — and we’ll suggest what is.
Caring for Your Veneers
The brilliant thing about porcelain veneers is that they don’t need any special care beyond what you’d do for natural teeth:
- Brush twice daily with a non-abrasive toothpaste
- Floss daily (yes, really — your gums still matter)
- See your hygienist every 6 months
- Wear a nightguard if you grind
- Avoid using your teeth as tools (please don’t open bottles with your veneers)
Porcelain doesn’t stain the way natural teeth or composite do, so your morning coffee habit is safe. That’s one of the big long-term advantages of choosing porcelain over other cosmetic options.
Ready to Explore Veneers?
If you’re thinking about porcelain veneers, the best next step is a consultation. We’ll look at your teeth, listen to what you want, and give you an honest assessment of what’s possible, what it’ll cost, and how long it’ll take. No pressure, no hard sell — just a conversation between you and a team that genuinely loves this work.
Read more about porcelain veneers at Docklands Dental or get in touch to book. We’re at 1 Forbes Street, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 2.
Wondering whether veneers are right for you? You can now book a cosmetic consultation online — thirty minutes with one of our dentists to look at your teeth, talk through the options and what they would cost — €80, as listed on our price list. No pressure, no hard sell. If you would rather talk first, call us on 01 636 0192.
Frequently asked questions
Is getting porcelain veneers painful?
The preparation is done under local anaesthetic so you won’t feel pain during the procedure. Some patients experience mild sensitivity for a few days afterwards. Temporary veneers are worn while the permanent ones are being crafted.
Are porcelain veneers reversible?
No. Porcelain veneers require removing a thin layer of enamel (about 0.5mm) which is irreversible. Once you have veneers, you will always need veneers on those teeth. If you want a less invasive option, composite bonding is an alternative as it requires no removal of tooth structure.
What is the difference between porcelain veneers and composite bonding?
Porcelain veneers are custom-made ceramic shells bonded permanently to teeth. They last longer (15-20 years), resist staining, but cost more and require tooth preparation. Composite bonding is applied directly in one visit, costs roughly half, and requires no removal of tooth structure, but lasts 5-10 years.
