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Cosmetic dentistry · Laminate veneers

Porcelain veneers in Istanbul, Turkey Thin porcelain shells for the front of your teeth, designed with you and tried in before anything is bonded.

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Treatment room at İkon Dental Bahçeşehir, a dental clinic in Istanbul, Turkey
Porcelain Veneers

Treatment at a glance

How porcelain veneers are made and bonded, step by step

Smile makeover with porcelain veneers, 3D illustration: prepared upper front teeth and veneers

Illustration for explanation only. How many teeth get a veneer is planned from your own examination and scan.

In short

Porcelain veneers, also called laminate veneers, are thin shells of ceramic bonded to the front of your teeth. They change the colour, shape and length of front teeth that are discoloured, chipped, worn or slightly uneven, or that have small gaps between them. A veneer covers the front surface and the biting edge; unlike a crown, it leaves most of the tooth in place.

Most people who ask us about veneers are unhappy with how their front teeth look in photos or when they talk. Veneers can change that, but in most cases a thin layer of enamel is removed first, and that cannot be undone. A careful plan starts with what can be kept, and tells you when whitening or bonding would be enough.

How it works — 4 steps

  1. We look at your photos.A free first assessment from home, before you book flights.
  2. Shape and shade are agreed with you.At your examination in Istanbul, with a try-in where your teeth allow it.
  3. Your teeth are prepared and scanned.Under local anaesthesia, with temporary veneers while yours are made.
  4. Your veneers are tried in, then bonded.Only once you are happy with how they look.
What it is
Thin porcelain shellsBonded to the front surface and biting edge of the tooth
Best for
Front teethColour, shape, small gaps, chips and worn edges
Planning
Photos and digital scanA design and a try-in before the teeth are prepared
Anaesthesia
LocalFor preparing the teeth; your dentist explains the options
Visits to Istanbul
In your planDays and visits are stated before you book flights
Price
Written quoteAfter a dentist has seen your photosNot reversible: a prepared tooth always needs a veneer or other covering

1 Before you travel · From home

A first answer before you book anything

Send a few photos of your smile from the front and from both sides on WhatsApp or through the form, and a panoramic X-ray if you have one. A dentist reviews them, and our international team replies in your language. If whitening or bonding could give you what you want, we tell you.

What we ask you

  • Photos of your smile from the front and both sides
  • A panoramic X-ray, if you have one
  • What you would like to change
  • Your general health and any medication
  • Which dates could work for you

What you receive

  • Whether veneers suit your teeth, or another option does
  • Which teeth would need a veneer, and any that need a crown instead
  • A price range
  • The days and visits you would need in Istanbul
  • A final plan only after your examination

2 In Istanbul · Arrival and examination

We meet you, examine you and confirm the plan

  • Airport and hotel. We coordinate your airport transfer and your stay with partner hotels near the clinics, including the Sheraton Grand Istanbul Esenyurt and Days Inn by Wyndham Istanbul Esenyurt.
  • Examination at the clinic. Day one starts with your examination, a 3D tomography (CBCT) and a digital scan of your mouth.
  • The plan, in person. Your dentist goes through the images with you and confirms the plan, or explains any change and why. Treatment then follows the written plan you approve.
  • In your language. Our international department works in English, Arabic, French and Turkish.

3 In Istanbul · Design and try-in

Your veneers are designed with you

  • A healthy base first. Your dentist checks your teeth, gums and bite. Decay, gum inflammation and old fillings at the front are dealt with first, because veneers need a healthy base.
  • Shape and length. Your dentist looks at how much of your teeth shows when you talk and smile, and the new shape is designed from your digital scan and photos to suit your lips, your gum line and your bite. Models of your teeth can be printed on the clinic's 3D printers.
  • Shade. You choose the shade together with your dentist. If you want your other teeth lighter, whitening comes first, so the veneers can be matched to the new shade.
  • Try-in. In many cases the design can be tried on your own teeth as a temporary mock-up before anything is prepared. You see length and shape in the mirror and can ask for changes.

4 In Istanbul · Preparation and scan

A thin layer of enamel, and a precise record

  • Local anaesthesia. The teeth are numbed, so you should feel pressure and vibration rather than pain. Your dentist explains the anaesthesia options for your case beforehand.
  • Preparation. A thin layer of enamel is shaped from the front of each tooth, so the veneer sits flush and does not look bulky. The aim is to remove no more than the porcelain needs.
  • Tooth by tooth. A big change in colour or position needs more room than a small one. In some cases very little preparation is needed; your dentist explains the plan for each tooth before starting.
  • Scan and temporaries. Your prepared teeth and your bite are recorded with an intraoral scanner such as iTero Lumina or 3Shape TRIOS. You usually wear temporary veneers while the final ones are made. They protect the teeth but are not as strong, so you eat carefully.

5 In Istanbul · Try-in and bonding

You see your veneers before anything is fixed

  • Try-in. The finished veneers are placed on your teeth without being bonded. You look at shape, length, edges and shade in the mirror and in daylight. If something is not right, this is the moment to say so.
  • Bonding. The temporaries come off, the teeth are cleaned and each veneer is bonded to its tooth.
  • Bite check. Your dentist checks how your teeth meet when you close and chew, adjusts any spot that touches too early and polishes the edges.
  • Before you fly. You are shown how to clean around your veneers, and your dentist tells you whether a night guard makes sense for you.

6 Aftercare · Back home

Looking after your veneers

Porcelain does not stain easily, but the tooth underneath and the gum around it still need care: brushing every day with a soft brush and cleaning between the teeth. The tooth can still decay at the edge of a veneer, so check-ups matter. Routine check-ups can be done with a dentist near your home.

After you fly home, your coordinator stays in touch and your dentist is one message away for questions and follow-up.

Your treatment journey

Your veneers journey,
step by step.

From your first photos to your new veneers, one international team coordinates every step.

Step 1 / 5 · From home

Get in touch

Send a few clear photos of your smile on WhatsApp or through the form, and tell us what bothers you about your front teeth. A dentist reviews them, and our international team replies in your language.

  • Photos on WhatsApp
  • Reviewed by a dentist
  • English · Arabic · French · Turkish

Often a good fit if …

  • Discolouration that does not respond to whitening
  • Front teeth that are chipped or worn at the edges
  • Small gaps between your front teeth
  • Front teeth that differ in length or shape
  • Healthy gums and enough sound enamel on the teeth

Worth discussing first if …

  • Only the colour bothers you → teeth whitening may be all you need
  • Large fillings, cracks or a root-treated tooth → a zirconia or E-max crown may hold up better
  • Crowded or misaligned teeth → orthodontics first can save healthy enamel
  • Active gum disease, untreated decay or heavy teeth grinding → these are dealt with first

Not sure? Send us a few photos of your smile. A dentist will tell you whether veneers are the right step for your teeth, or whether something simpler would do.

Porcelain veneersComposite bondingCrowns (zirconia or E-max)Teeth whitening
What it coversThe front surface and biting edgeOnly the part being repaired or reshapedThe whole toothNothing: it lightens your own enamel
Best suited toSound front teeth with colour, shape or spacing concernsSmall chips, small gaps and minor shape changesHeavily filled, broken or root-treated teethSound, well-shaped teeth that are only discoloured
Tooth preparationLittle: a thin layer of enamel at the frontLittle or noneMore: the tooth is reduced all roundNone
MaterialA thin porcelain shell, made to your designTooth-coloured resin, shaped on the toothZirconia or lithium disilicate glass-ceramicA whitening gel
Over timeKeeps its colour; can chip or come offCan stain and wear; easier to repairKeeps its colour; can chip or crack under heavy loadTeeth can darken again over time
ReversibleNoLargely, when no enamel is removedNoNo enamel is removed
Smile makeoverZirconia crownsE-max crownsTeeth whiteningBefore & after cases

Everyday life with veneers

Eating and drinkingOnce the numbness has worn off, gently at first
Work and daily routineUsually straight away
With temporary veneersSofter food, nothing sticky or hard
SpeechCan feel different briefly while you adjust
Biting hard thingsNot with your front teeth: no ice, pens or fingernails

How you look after them

  • Brush every day with a soft brush and clean between your teeth
  • Wear a night guard if your dentist recommends one
  • Do not open packets or bottles with your teeth
  • Keep up check-ups and professional cleaning

Contact us if …

Your bite feels high or uneven, a veneer feels loose, comes off or chips, a tooth stays sensitive or starts to ache, or the gum around a veneer stays red or swollen.

What it does not do

Veneers do not protect a tooth from decay or gum disease, and they do not straighten crooked teeth or change your bite. Porcelain also does not respond to whitening: if your natural teeth darken later, the veneers keep the shade they were made in.

Not reversible

Enamel removed for a veneer does not grow back. A prepared tooth will always need a veneer or other covering, now and when the veneer is replaced one day.

Sensitivity

Sensitivity to hot and cold is common after preparation and usually settles. Tell us if it does not.

Chipping

Porcelain is strong but thin, and it can chip or crack. Teeth grinding, nail biting and biting hard objects raise this risk.

A veneer comes loose

Occasionally a veneer comes off. Keep it, contact your dentist and do not glue it back yourself.

Shade is fixed

Porcelain cannot be whitened later, so the shade is chosen carefully and agreed with you at the try-in.

Not for ever

Veneers wear, gums can recede and edges can become visible. Expect that some veneers will need replacing at some point in your life.

What changes the price

The number of veneers, the material, whether any tooth needs a crown instead, and any whitening, gum treatment or fillings needed before the veneers.

What to ask for in writing

  • The teeth to be treated and the material for each, by name
  • What the price includes, such as temporary veneers
  • The days and visits planned in Istanbul

Travel and stay

We coordinate airport transfers and accommodation with partner hotels near the clinics. Ask your coordinator what your quote includes.

Only if your case needs it

Extra steps such as whitening, gum treatment or a night guard are explained and written into your plan before treatment starts.

No price is final until a dentist has examined you. Your plan is confirmed after your examination and digital scan in Istanbul.

Before & afterLaminate veneers: before and after

Real patients treated with laminate veneers at İkon Dental. Tap a photo to enlarge it.

Laminate veneers before and after in Istanbul, Turkey: photos of a patient at İkon Dental Laminate veneers before (top) and after (bottom), close-up: a patient treated at İkon Dental, Istanbul Laminate veneers before (top) and after (bottom), close-up of the teeth with retractors: a patient treated at İkon Dental, Istanbul
Laminate veneers
Laminate veneers before and after in Istanbul, Turkey: the smile of a patient at İkon Dental Laminate veneers before (top) and after (bottom), close-up: a patient treated at İkon Dental, Istanbul Laminate veneers before (top) and after (bottom), close-up of the teeth with retractors: a patient treated at İkon Dental, Istanbul
Laminate veneers
Laminate veneers before and after in Istanbul, Turkey: the smile of a patient at İkon Dental Laminate veneers before (top) and after (bottom), close-up: a patient treated at İkon Dental, Istanbul Laminate veneers before (top) and after (bottom), close-up of the teeth with retractors: a patient treated at İkon Dental, Istanbul
Laminate veneers

Results differ from person to person. What is possible for you depends on your own teeth, gums and bone, which your dentist assesses at the examination.

See all before and after cases

Questions about porcelain veneers in Istanbul, Turkey

The questions we hear most often. If yours is not here, ask us on WhatsApp.

Are veneers permanent?

The decision is. Because enamel is removed in most cases, the tooth will always need a veneer or other covering; you cannot go back to your natural teeth. The veneers themselves can last many years with good care, but may need replacing one day.

Do veneers hurt?

Teeth are prepared under local anaesthesia, so you should feel pressure and vibration rather than pain. Sensitivity to hot and cold is common afterwards and usually settles. Your dentist explains the anaesthesia options for your case.

How many veneers do I need?

It depends on how many teeth show when you smile and what you want to change. Some people need one or two to fix a tooth that stands out; others treat every tooth that shows in a wide smile. Your dentist recommends a number and explains why.

Can I have veneers without my teeth being filed down?

Porcelain veneers usually need a thin layer of enamel removed so they do not look bulky. In some cases very little or no preparation is possible, often called minimal-prep or no-prep veneers, but it depends on the shape and position of your teeth. Composite bonding often needs little or none. Your dentist tells you what is realistic for your teeth.

Are laminate veneers the same as porcelain veneers?

Usually, yes. "Laminate veneers" is another name for thin ceramic veneers bonded to the front of the teeth. Your plan names the material chosen for your teeth.

Veneers or crowns: which do I need?

It depends on each tooth. A veneer covers the front of a sound tooth and needs little preparation. A crown covers the whole tooth and suits teeth that are heavily filled, broken or root-treated. Some plans combine both, as part of a smile makeover.

How much do porcelain veneers cost in Istanbul, Turkey?

We do not publish fixed prices, because the cost depends on the number of veneers, the material and whether anything needs treating first. Send us photos of your smile and you receive a price range with your written plan, free and with no obligation. No price is final until a dentist has examined you.

How long do I need to stay in Istanbul?

It depends on how many veneers you need and whether gum treatment, fillings or whitening come first. Your written plan states the days and visits you would need, before you book flights.

Can I choose the colour, and can it be whitened later?

You choose the shade together with your dentist and see it at the try-in. Some people want a very white, very even look often called a Hollywood smile; others prefer a shade close to natural teeth. Either way, porcelain does not respond to whitening, so if you want your natural teeth whiter, that is done first.

Is İkon Dental authorised to treat patients from abroad?

Yes. İkon holds the International Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health, for its Başakşehir and Hadımköy clinics. You can see the certificate on our international patients section.

This page is general information and does not replace an examination by a dentist.

Why İkonWhy patients choose our clinics

Treatment abroad is a big decision, so here is what you are choosing: three clinics in Istanbul, one standard of care, and an international team that stays in touch from your first message to your follow-up at home.

Reception at İkon Dental Bahçeşehir, a dental clinic in Istanbul, TurkeyAnother treatment room at İkon Dental Kıraç, a dental clinic in Istanbul, TurkeyDental X-ray and 3D imaging room at İkon Dental Kıraç, a dental clinic in Istanbul, TurkeySterilisation room at İkon Dental Bahçeşehir, a dental clinic in Istanbul, Turkey

2008Founded in Hadımköy

Built on one rule

İkon began as a two-chair practice. It grew into three clinics by offering only what is useful to the patient. Nothing is sold because it is profitable.

3Clinics in Istanbul

One team, one standard

All our dentists provide general dental treatment, and each brings fields of special interest from their training. Cases that need more than one field are planned together by the team.

MoHAuthorised

Approved for international patients

International Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate from the Turkish Ministry of Health, for the Başakşehir and Hadımköy clinics.

4Languages spoken

Understood from the first message

Our international department works in English, Arabic, French and Turkish, from your first photo on WhatsApp to the follow-up after you fly home.

Why İkon?Our clinicsOur doctorsInternational patients

Other treatmentsWhich option suits your smile?

Veneers are often one part of a wider plan, such as straightening teeth first or replacing a missing one. Your examination shows what fits.

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Your journey starts here

Your next chapter
begins with a conversation.

Tell us what you would like to change. We reply with options, the days you would need in Istanbul and a price range. Free, and with no obligation.

Bahçeşehir

2. Kısım, Mercedes Bulvarı No:28-A D:78, 34488 Başakşehir
+90 546 690 88 10View on map

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Your details are used only to answer this request. No price is final until a dentist has examined you.

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