1. What are porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin facades that are bonded to your natural teeth, providing a more uniform, brighter smile and improved dental function.
They are digitally designed and hand crafted giving you choice and control over size, shade and positioning. Porcelain veneers can also strengthen and restore function to your natural teeth.
2. How do I know if they are right for me?
Knowing if porcelain veneers are right for you depends on the state of your teeth, how you want your new smile to look and what your preferred treatment process and timeframes are.
This common cosmetic treatment can be used to fix issues like gappy, chipped, discoloured or misaligned teeth, overcrowding, severe grinding, overbites and underbites, just to name a few.
When considering fixing or improving your smile, it is important to speak to a dentist so you can decide on the right treatment for you.
3. Will my smile look fake?
This is a common concern. No one wants their smile to look fake, bulky or ‘too much’.
When done well, your porcelain veneers should look 100% natural, mimic the characteristics of natural enamel and reflect light in the same way a natural tooth would.
If your smile hasn’t been carefully designed to suit your facial features or if enough care and attention hasn’t been taken when making each individual porcelain veneer, your cosmetic work can look unnatural or bulky.
Creating a natural smile requires a delicate blend of design, customisation, skill, and attention to detail.
4. What if I don’t like my new smile?
Ideally this situation is avoided by a thorough discovery, design and trial smile process.
A trial smile is exactly this, a trial, where temporary veneers are inserted allowing for feedback and refinements to colour, shape, texture, and thickness prior to the final porcelain veneers are inserted.
A good cosmetic dentist should offer further refinements to your porcelain veneers if you are not happy.
5. What do porcelain veneers feel like?
Quality porcelain veneers should look and feel like natural teeth! Because they are bonded so closely to your natural teeth, they feel smooth with no noticeable grooves or edges.
6. Does it hurt?
Like most dental procedures, there are several options to manage any pain or discomfort you may feel. We offer a range of sedation and numbing options to keep you comfortable and relaxed throughout your treatment.
If you suffer from dental anxiety, removing common triggers can also be helpful. These include noise-cancelling headphones so you can zone out to music or a movie and essential oils and a calming environment for a day spa-like feel.
7. What steps are involved?
Discovery Call – Discuss your new smile objectives and treatment options in more detail. We can also help you with finance options.
New Patient Exam & Treatment Plan – A 30-60-minute exam performed by your dentist. You will be given a bespoke treatment plan and confirmed price.
Smile Design – Our team prepare the diagnostics for your case and carefully design a smile perfectly tailored to you.
Trial Smile – By inserting a temporary trial smile, we get your final veneers spot on and you are able to road test your new smile for a week or so.
Final Insert – Your final, hand crafted porcelain veneers are fitted when both the team and patient are satisfied with the end result.
Aftercare – Regular check-ups and hygiene appointments are scheduled to make sure your new smile remains beautiful and healthy.
8. How much does it cost?
The cost of porcelain veneers varies. At the higher end of the price range, you are paying for the quality craftsmanship and experience of the ceramicist and dentist.
We charge $2.2 k per tooth and this includes our digital design and trial smile process and a dedicated treatment coordinating team. Our team of cosmetic and implant dentists have over 20 years of experience creating beautiful, long lasting smiles our clients love.
10. What common barriers stop patients getting this treatment?
- Dental fear is an issue we see in most of our patients. As previously mentioned, our team go to great lengths to ensure any anxiety you may have is managed and alleviated when undergoing treatment with us. Sedation options are also available.
- Fear of being judged. Many of our patients have put off treatment for years due to the fear of being judged for their teeth. We have a zero-judgment policy at our practice and we’re here to help you achieve your new smile goals no matter what state your teeth are in.
- Cost is another factor that often holds people back from fixing their smile. Oftentimes people are unaware of the return on investment and financial options available to them (we can help with this).
In summary, yes there is a lot to think about when considering porcelain veneers for your new smile, but the benefits can be truly incredible.
We are here to help and would love to chat.