Dental veneers: Everything you need to know

Dental veneers are becoming a popular cosmetic dentistry treatment to achieve a more even, white and symmetrical smile.

Made from either porcelain or a resin composite, veneers are wafer-thin shells that are bonded to the front surfaces of teeth to improve the appearance of tooth shape, colour, size, and overall alignment.

Who would benefit from dental veneers?

Dental veneers are an ideal solution for people wanting to improve the appearance of:

• Misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped teeth
• Worn down teeth from grinding or age
• Chipped or broken teeth
• Discoloured teeth due to root canal treatment, stains from tetracycline or other drugs, excessive fluoride, or the presence of large resin fillings
• Teeth with large gaps between them

Porcelain vs resin veneers

There are two main types of dental veneers – porcelain and resin composite – and they each have their own set of advantages.

Porcelain veneers:

• • Provide an enhanced yet still natural-looking smile – their translucency and wide range of colour shade variations creates a very natural-looking yet radiant smile.
  • Won’t irritate your gums – they are made of biocompatible material that gum tissue usually tolerates well.
  • Require minimal tooth shaping – you won’t end up with those scary, pointy teeth you see on social media. We only need to shave less than half a millimetre of enamel from the front of each tooth.
  • Involve a painless procedure – the fitting procedure is generally painless and often does not require anaesthetic.
  • Are durable – they’ll continue to look good many years after application due to being stain-resistant and can last up to 15 years if well looked after.

• Don’t require a separate or special cleaning routine.

• Are less expensive than other cosmetic dentistry treatments – such as dental crowns or dental implants. 

Resin veneers:

• Provide the most natural result – resin materials mimic tooth enamel so well that most people wouldn’t be aware that you have veneers.
• Won’t irritate your gums – like porcelain veneers, resin veneers are made of biocompatible material that gum tissue usually tolerates well.
• Require no tooth enamel removal – resin veneers typically require no tooth removed.
• Are applied in one visit.

• Last for up to 10 years – and don’t require a separate or special cleaning routine.
• Are less expensive than porcelain veneers.

Things to consider before getting veneers

While veneers are a great option for many people looking to improve the appearance of their smile, if you grind or clench your teeth, your veneers could quickly become damaged. But this doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be a suitable candidate – you would need to be able to commit to wearing a night guard or splint to protect your veneers while sleeping.

While no special cleaning regime is needed for veneers, to maximise their longevity, a good oral hygiene routine is essential. If you look after them well, dental veneers can last between 10-15 years, depending on the material they are made from. After this time, they would need to be replaced.

What’s the process involved?

If you’re considering getting veneers, it’s important that you have a consultation first with your dentist. They can assess your dental health and discuss whether veneers are the right option for you. You will also be able to ask any questions you may have about the procedure, cost and material choices, so you can make an informed decision on whether this is the correct treatment for you.

If you decide to go ahead with veneers, there are three key steps involved:

1. Tooth shaping: For porcelain veneers, a very thin layer of enamel will be removed to make room for the veneer. If you opt for resin veneers, your dentist mightn’t even need to remove any enamel.
2. Digital scan (for porcelain veneers): A scan  of your teeth will be taken to create custom-fit veneers.
3. Bonding: Once the veneers are ready, they will be bonded to your teeth using a special adhesive, and the dentist will make any final adjustments to ensure a perfect fit. For porcelain veneers , this requires a second visit.

Want to learn more about dental veneers?

If you’re not happy with your smile and think veneers might be a good option, the next step is to book a consultation with one of our experienced dentists. We’ll be open and up-front about whether this is the best cosmetic treatment for you and explain all the ins and outs and the full cost of the procedure.

To make an appointment, please call our friendly team on 03 9598 5666.