Dental Veneers: Procedure, advantages and disadvantages

Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth, changing their colour, shape, size, or length. Veneers can be made from porcelain or from resin composite materials.

Advantages of Porcelain Veneers:

1. Aesthetics: Veneers provide a natural tooth appearance. They can drastically improve the look of your teeth and are great for fixing chips, cracks, gaps, discolouration, and misshapen teeth.

2. Tolerance by Gums: Gums generally tolerate porcelain veneers well.

3. Stain Resistance: Porcelain veneers are highly resistant to stains compared to natural teeth.

4. Colour Versatility: The colour of porcelain veneers can be selected such that it makes dark teeth appear whiter.

5. Minimal Tooth Enamel Removal: Unlike crowns, veneers generally require a smaller amount of the tooth's surface to be removed.

Disadvantages of porcelain Veneers:

1. Irreversibility: The process of fitting veneers often involves altering the natural tooth structure, which cannot be reversed.

2. Cost: Veneers are often more expensive than composite resin bonding.

3. Risk of Damage: Although they are generally durable, veneers can chip or crack under pressure. They may not be suitable for individuals who clench or grind their teeth, or for those who bite their finger nails. People who grind their teeth are encouraged to wear an occlusal splint to protect them

4. Not Repairable: If veneers crack, they usually need to be fully replaced.

5. Colour Matching: There's a possibility that veneers might not exactly match your other teeth, if you want your teeth to appear whiter. You may need to plan on whitening your teeth, before getting veneers so the back teeth and lower teeth are a lighter shade to match against.

7. Excellent Oral Hygiene is required: Teeth with veneers can still experience decay, potentially necessitating full coverage of the tooth with a crown, so it is important to maintain excellent oral hygiene

It's important for anyone considering veneers to discuss with their dentist whether they are a good candidate for this treatment.

Procedure for porcelain veneers

1. Initial Consultation: Your journey begins with a consultation with your dentist. During this meeting, you'll discuss your aesthetic goals, and the dentist will evaluate your teeth to determine if you're a suitable candidate for veneers. This may involve taking X-rays or making impressions of your mouth and teeth.

2. Preparation of Teeth: In the next appointment, the dentist prepares the teeth for veneers. This process involves removing a small amount of enamel from the front surface of your teeth to make space for the veneers. The amount removed is typically equal to the thickness of the veneer to be fitted.

3. Scanning: Instead of traditional dental impressions, an intraoral scanner is used to create a digital impression of your teeth. This technology provides a highly accurate 3D model of your teeth, which is used to design the veneers.

4. Temporary Veneers: Temporary veneers are placed for three weeks so teeth do not appear unsightly or feel sensitive after preparation.

5. Fabrication by the Ceramist: The digital impressions are sent to a dental lab where a ceramist crafts the porcelain veneers. This process typically takes three weeks. During this period, the ceramist pays close attention to the colour, shape, and size of the veneers to ensure they match your natural teeth and meet your aesthetic goals.

6. Fitting Appointment:Once the veneers are ready, you'll return to the dentist. The dentist will place the veneers on your teeth to check the fit and colour. Any necessary adjustments are made.

7. Bonding: After ensuring a perfect fit and your approval of the appearance, the dentist cleans, polishes, and etches your teeth to prepare them for bonding. A specialised cement is applied to the veneers, which are then placed on your teeth. Once properly positioned, a light beam is applied to the veneers, activating chemicals in the cement to harden it quickly.

8. Final Adjustments and Follow-Up: After the veneers are bonded, your dentist will make any final adjustments needed. They will also schedule a follow-up visit to check the placement of the veneers, the gum response, and to answer any questions you might have.

This entire process, from the initial consultation to the final application, involves careful planning and precise execution to ensure that the final result meets the patient's expectations and blends seamlessly with their natural teeth.

Cost of porcelain veneers at Brisbane Smile boutique

At Brisbane Smile Boutique, our dentists offer high-quality porcelain veneers tailored to your unique smile for $2100 for each tooth. Our expert team of dentists and ceramists ensure each veneer is meticulously crafted to enhance the natural beauty of your teeth, with an outcome that is visually appealing and long lasting. A radiant smile can be fabricated with Brisbane Smile Boutique's porcelain veneers, with five star care in the heart of Brisbane.