Types of veneers, and the crowns sold as veneers
Five options you'll see on quotes from Turkey, what each really is, how much tooth it takes, and who it tends to suit.
Medically reviewed by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, dentist (prosthetics and implant surgery) · Updated October 2026There are two kinds of true veneer: porcelain (such as E-max laminate) and composite. E-max full veneers, zirconia and ZirCAD are crowns, which cover the whole tooth and need it shaped all the way round. For healthy front teeth, a true veneer or bonding keeps far more of your tooth.
The five options side by side
| Option | What it really is | Tooth removed | Often suits | Our price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-max laminate veneer | True veneer: a thin glass-ceramic shell | A thin layer from the front | Healthy front teeth that are stained, chipped or uneven | £300 |
| Composite veneer | Tooth-coloured resin bonded and shaped by hand | Little or none | Small chips, gaps and shape changes; a lower budget | £125 |
| E-max full veneer | An all-ceramic crown | Shaped all the way round | Front teeth with large fillings, damage or root treatment | £225 |
| Zirconia crown | A very strong metal-free crown | Shaped all the way round | Broken, heavily filled or back teeth; replacing old crowns | £150 |
| E-max ZirCAD crown | A zirconia-based crown from the E-max range | Shaped all the way round | Teeth needing strength with a natural look | £225 |
Prices per tooth: Precious Dental, our price, October 2026.
True veneers: porcelain and composite
The Oral Health Foundation describes a veneer as a thin covering fixed to the front surface of a tooth, a little like a false nail over a natural nail. Veneers are usually made of porcelain or tooth-coloured composite, and can help with discoloured teeth that don't respond to whitening, chipped or worn teeth, small gaps and teeth that are uneven in shape or slightly crooked-looking.
- Porcelain (E-max laminate): made in a laboratory from lithium disilicate glass-ceramic, then bonded on. See E-max veneers.
- Composite: built up directly on the tooth in the chair. See composite veneers.
Crowns that are called veneers
A crown is a cap that covers the whole of a real tooth. To make room for it, the tooth is shaped on every side. Crowns are the right answer for teeth that are badly damaged, heavily filled, root-treated, worn or cracked.
The trouble starts when crowns are sold as "full veneers" or "zirconia veneers" for healthy teeth. You lose much more of each tooth, and that can't be undone. See veneers or crowns? and zirconia crowns.
- Natural tooth enamel, dentine and the nerve
- Veneer a thin shell on the front only
- Crown filed down all round, then capped
How to choose
The right type depends on each tooth, not on the package. A good plan may well mix them:
- Healthy front teeth that only need colour or shape: laminate veneers or bonding, or simply whitening.
- A front tooth with a big filling or root treatment: a crown may be stronger.
- Back teeth: usually left alone unless they need treatment anyway.
Our view as a clinic: if a plan treats every tooth the same way, ask why.
Common questions
Which type of veneer looks most natural?
Porcelain veneers such as E-max are often chosen for front teeth because the material lets light through like enamel. The skill of the dentist and laboratory matters as much as the material.
Which type is cheapest?
Composite veneers, at £125 per tooth with us. They're quicker to fit, but in our experience they stain and chip more easily than porcelain, so expect more upkeep.
Are zirconia veneers real veneers?
Usually not. What's sold as a zirconia veneer is normally a zirconia crown, which covers the whole tooth. That's right for a broken or heavily filled tooth, not for a healthy one.
Can I mix types?
Yes. A plan can combine laminate veneers on healthy front teeth with crowns on damaged teeth, as long as the shades are matched.
Sources
- Oral Health Foundation — Veneers (porcelain or composite; what they can help with)
- Oral Health Foundation — Dental crowns (what crowns are used for)
- NHS — Dental treatments (a crown completely covers a real tooth)
- Ivoclar — IPS e.max CAD (lithium disilicate glass-ceramic)
Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.
Not sure what your teeth need?
Send us a few photos of your smile. A dentist looks at them and tells you plainly whether you need veneers, crowns, whitening, bonding, or nothing at all.