Veneers
Who can benefit from veneers?
Porcelain and composite veneers can address a wide range of aesthetic concerns, including:
- stained or discoloured teeth
- slightly crooked or misshapen teeth
- minor chips and cracks
- gaps in your smile
As a cosmetic dentistry treatment, veneers are designed to enhance the appearance of your smile, but they may also have some functional benefits such as making your teeth easier to clean and lowering your risk of oral health problems.
Your teeth and gums should be healthy for you to be a candidate for veneers. You may also not be suitable if you grind your teeth, as this can damage the veneers.
Veneers cannot correct more serious tooth damage or alignment problems. Our dentists can discuss other options such as crowns or orthodontics instead.
Composite veneers
Composite veneers are made from a composite resin of plastic and glass, which is applied directly to the tooth surfaces. Our dentists carefully apply the material layer by layer onto your teeth, skilfully sculpting and polishing the veneers to achieve a beautiful final result.
Because composite veneers can be placed with much less (or even zero) removal of tooth structure, they are a more conservative option. They are also a more affordable option than porcelain veneers and more convenient, as they can usually be placed in one visit.
However, they are not as strong or long lasting as porcelain and can require regular maintenance due to wear and tear. Chipping and staining are also more likely in the long term, but minor damage and imperfections can sometimes be repaired.
Porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers are made of high-strength ceramics, which are long-lasting and more resistant to stains and damage than composite veneers. Porcelain is also excellent at mimicking the appearance of tooth enamel, making them the ideal option for a natural looking smile.
Porcelain veneers can require several appointments. During your first visit, our dentists will polish and reshape your teeth to provide space for the porcelain. We will then take a mould of your teeth to send to a dental ceramist who designs and fabricates your custom porcelain veneers. In the meantime, temporary shells are placed on your teeth to protect them.
At a subsequent visit, our dentists will check the precise fit of each veneer and make sure you are happy with the result prior to cementing them on. We can perform a mock trial of your new smile design first to make sure the results are satisfactory and meet your expectations.