Dental Veneers by Dr Andrew

Recently, I have found that I have been getting a lot of enquiries about veneers from my patients. I thought I would take the time to give out some more information about this procedure.

So what’s the fuss all about?

Whether you’ve got a dental issue, or you just don’t like the colour of your teeth and want to whiten them permanently, have a chipped or broken tooth, or have some slight misalignment, veneers can make your teeth look as perfect or “natural” as you’d like.

So what are veneers?

Veneers are a thin shell that it is added onto the front of your tooth and thus alters the appearance of it. It can be customised in both shape, size, character, shade and translucency.

What’s the difference between composite vs porcelain?

Composite veneers are moulded out of composite or the white filling material we use for general procedures. Initially they provide the quickest and cheapest alternative for a smile makeover, however, they are not as strong as porcelain and require more frequent replacement. General cost is $400-$600 per tooth and life expectancy of 5-10 years depending on functional and oral hygiene habits.

Porcelain veneers are hand crafted by a technician outside of the dental chair based on a mould of your teeth from a porcelain material. While there is a longer and more expensive treatment time than composite, they provide the best and longest lasting aesthetic result. Another consideration also not often mentioned is that porcelain provides a more “biological” result for your gums meaning that it fits your tooth perfectly leaving the gums as healthy as possible. General cost is $1200-1400 per tooth and life expectancy of 15-20 years + depending on functional and oral hygiene habits.

Do you have to shave down the teeth?

Generally, the amount shaved down is around 0.5mm-0.7mm. In some cases, it may even be less as “prepless” veneers (veneers with no tooth shaving) are now possible with constantly evolving bonding technology. For heavily stained or very crooked teeth the amount of shaving will be more, while for gappy or short teeth it will generally be less.

Are porcelain veneers really “worth it”?

Due to the better outcomes listed above, I generally recommend porcelain veneers to my patients over composite but is the price really worth it? I firmly believe that it is. A smile is generally one of the first things someone will notice about you, whether good or bad. With a lifespan of 15-20 years+ they are very good value for money. In the facial cosmetic sphere there really aren’t any other procedures that have this lifespan other than expensive plastic surgery.

For more information or to see if you are suitable for veneers, feel free to book a consult with Dr. Andrew 9571 6667  or at dentalcarecarnegie.com.au