PORCELAIN VENEERS AT BRISBANE SMILE BOUTIQUE Dentists
At Brisbane Smile Boutique, porcelain veneers represent the pinnacle of aesthetic dentistry, reflecting the impeccable craftsmanship of our master ceramists and the precision treatments of our aesthetic dentists. Porcelain veneers are a transformative solution for those looking to enhance the shape, size, and colour of their teeth, for a significant improvement in their smile.
Crafted from very fine shells of tooth-coloured pressed porcelain, veneers are designed to cover the front surfaces of teeth. They are seamlessly bonded to the teeth, ensuring a natural and flawless integration with your smile. The porcelain used is inherently resistant to stains, owing to its non porous nature. This makes them a more desirable choice compared to composite resin veneers, especially in terms of durability, strength, and maintenance.
One of the most remarkable features of porcelain veneers is their ability to reflect light. This characteristic allows them to mimic the look of natural teeth perfectly, offering an enduring and natural appearance. The combination of advanced materials and expert craftsmanship at Brisbane Smile Boutique ensures that porcelain veneers not only rejuvenate your smile but also provide a durable and long lasting solution for aesthetic dental concerns.
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Veneers can restore:
*Teeth that are discoloured from wear and tear, tetracycline staining, excess fluoride, large fillings
*Teeth that are worn down
*Teeth that are chipped or broken
*Teeth that are uneven, out of line or irregularly shaped teeth with gaps between them (especially to close the space between these teeth)
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PROCEDURE FOR A PORCELAIN VENEER
A porcelain veneer requires two visits
Diagnosis and treatment planning.
Your aesthetic dentist will examine your teeth to make sure dental veneers are appropriate for you. A series of smile design photos will be taken with professional cameras for computer design and analysis of your smile in 2 and 3 dimensions. Digital scans of your teeth will be taken to analyse your bite to ensure that porcelain veneers will match in to your bite for a durable solution
Preparation. To prepare a tooth for a veneer, your aesthetic dentist may refine half a millimetre of enamel from the tooth surface, which is an amount equal to the thickness of the veneer to be added to the tooth surface, and scan your teeth and bite. In some circumstances no tooth structure is removed, in a procedure known as no preparation (or no prep) veneers, however this is dependent on a number of factors, such as your bite and the angle that the tooth sits at. The scan is sent out to our master ceramist team who will design your new smile on the computer, by lining up your smile and analysing your facial proportions in collaboration with your aesthetic dentist, and 3D models are the printed with a smile mock up index so that you can see your new smile come to life in a process called smile trial or try in. Our master ceramists then press and layer the porcelain veneers in the lab within 3 weeks. In the meantime, your cosmetic dentist will place temporary veneers for you so you will look fine until your new porcelain veneers are completed. It is important to be gentle and careful with temporaries, since they are designed to be removed some weeks after they are first placed for you.
Bonding. Your tooth will be cleaned and prepared for seamless bonding and a specialised cement is applied to the veneer which is is then placed on your tooth. Once properly positioned on the tooth, your cosmetic dentist will apply a light beam to the dental veneer, which activates the cement, causing it to set.
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With excellent home care and regular dentist and dental hygiene appointments, porcelain veneers can last 10 years of longer. It is important to brush twice a day, floss daily and to limit sugary foods and drinks, just as you would with natural tooth structure. Your dentist and dental hygienist need to check on your porcelain veneers every 6 months, along with professional scaling and cleaning to ensure that the veneers stay in excellent condition. Your dentist may recommend a night guard to protect the porcelain in your bite and to prevent wear and tear from clenching or grinding from affecting chipping or debonding them.
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If you are wanting to whiten your teeth to whiter than white, chances are you are comparing your teeth to the look of a smile with porcelain veneers. Models and actors often have porcelain veneers placed to make their teeth straight and to get them as white as possible. Usually these are porcelain because they look very good for a long time and are stronger in the bite, especially when compared to composite resin veneers..
Porcelain veneers look best when they look like natural teeth, and should be indistinguishable from the natural contours of your smile. They restore the tooth surface and improve the aesthetics of your smile.
Our practice philosophy at Brisbane Smile Boutique is to replicate and perfect on the appearance of your smile in way that appears natural, so that people may then comment on a great smile, as opposed to great veneers!
Porcelain veneers may be suitable for patients who wish to treat chipped, broken or discoloured teeth, or to close gaps between front teeth.
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Our master ceramists are regarded as being world leaders in technical skill, quality, attention to detail and excellence. Our porcelain veneers are made here in Brisbane by our master ceramists, and the quality control happens from the moment that our aesthetic dentists design and take scans, which are used as a foundation for the creation of your new smile, and computer designed so that the porcelain veneers match in perfectly to the proportions of your smile.
Porcelain veneers are permanently and seamlessly precision bonded by our aesthetic dentist in an appointment three weeks after the initial preparation appointment.
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Temporary veneers are placed as an intermediate treatment while waiting on the new veneers, so you never have gaps and can keep smiling, although it is important to be very careful and gentle with the temporary restorations.
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A veneer can last for many years but even with the very best technique and care there may come a time when they require replacement.
Our dentist, Dr Leila Haywood started dentistry at the University of Queensland 30 years ago, has decades of experience in our boutique private dental practice in Brisbane, and is committed to ongoing patient care. Our patients are the life of our practice, and with our team having lifetimes of experience you can be assured of the highest quality treatment standard for aesthetic dentistry and preventive dental care. Our practice has an experienced female dentist, a full time dental hygienist who has been with the practice for 12 years, visiting master ceramists, and a caring team of dental nurses.
The goal is to have veneers that look as good as the day they were placed for many years to come, and at each 6 month preventive care appointment, we carefully examine and monitor your teeth, veneers and gums to ensure they remain in optimal condition.
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It is important to be careful with veneers and habits like nail biting, because this may chip or damage porcelain veneers, and to wear a night guard (occlusal splint) to protect against damaging stresses from night grinding and clenching, if this is the case.
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Porcelain veneers are $1900 each, and are custom made in Brisbane with our master ceramist team. Smile Design cost is $690 which may be required for previewing your new smile with a template of your smile design.
A night guard or splint is $950 and may be required to protect your new smile from teeth grinding or clenching.
Advantages of porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers offer numerous advantages, making them a popular choice for enhancing dental aesthetics:
1. Natural Appearance: Porcelain veneers are crafted to closely resemble natural tooth enamel, providing a very natural and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
2. Colour Matching: They can be matched to the colour of the surrounding teeth, ensuring a seamless integration into your smile.
3. Stain Resistance: Porcelain is highly resistant to stains from coffee, tea, smoking, and other substances that typically discolour teeth.
4. Durability: Porcelain veneers are quite durable and can last for many years with proper care.
5. Minimal Tooth Alteration: Unlike crowns, veneers require minimal alteration of the natural tooth, preserving more of your natural tooth structure.
6. Versatility in Corrections: They can address multiple cosmetic issues simultaneously, such as discolouration, chips, minor misalignment, and gaps between teeth.
7. Immediate Results: Once applied, the results are immediate, providing an instant improvement in your smile’s appearance.
8. Improved Confidence: Enhanced aesthetics can lead to increased self-confidence and well-being.
9. Low Maintenance: Porcelain veneers are relatively easy to maintain; they require the same care as natural teeth, including regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups.
10. Biocompatibility:Porcelain is well-tolerated by the gum tissue, minimising the risk of gum irritation.
Despite these advantages, it’s important to discuss with our dentists about whether porcelain veneers are the right option, considering factors like your dental health, aesthetic goals, and budget.
Disadvantages of Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers, while offering significant aesthetic benefits, also have some disadvantages that should be considered:
1. Irreversible Procedure: To place veneers, a small amount of tooth enamel must be removed. This process is irreversible, meaning you're committed to maintaining veneers for life.
2. Cost: Porcelain veneers can be expensive. The cost can vary depending on the number of veneers and the complexity of the procedure.
3. Risk of Damage: While durable, veneers can chip or crack under pressure, such as from teeth grinding or biting on hard objects. Repairs can be challenging and might require replacement of the entire veneer.
4. Not a Solution for Severely Damaged Teeth: Veneers are primarily cosmetic and are not suitable for teeth with significant structural damage or decay.
5. Potential for Colour Mismatch:Over time, the natural teeth can change colour while veneers do not, potentially leading to a future colour mismatch. Veneers also cannot be whitened like natural teeth.
6. Not Reversible: Once applied, porcelain veneers can't be taken back to the original tooth structure.
7. Not Suitable for Everyone: People with unhealthy teeth, inadequate enamel, or habits like teeth grinding may not be suitable candidates for veneers.
8. Maintenance and Replacement: Over time, veneers may need to be replaced due to wear or damage, which involves additional cost and dental work.
9. Gum Tissue Response: Some people may experience a reaction or discomfort in the gum tissue around the veneers.
It's important to have a thorough consultation with a dental professional to understand these disadvantages and weigh them against the benefits when considering porcelain veneers for cosmetic dental treatment.