Beauty

5 Things To Know If You’re Considering Teeth Veneers, According To A Cosmetic Dentist

By Georgia Condon
5th Oct 2022

As more and more people consider cosmetic treatments and trends like #TurkeyTeeth enter our feeds, it's important to be clued in as to the options available for perfecting precious things like our smiles.

We asked cosmetic dentist and owner of Spa Dental, a luxury dental practice in the Sydney CBD, Dr Lawrence Neville to share his insights and must-knows about teeth veneers.

What Are Dental Veneers?

It’s important to understand the difference between composite and porcelain veneers in terms of lifespan and cosmetic finish. Porcelain veneers cost more initially but they will last considerably longer and look far more natural than composite veneers.

Porcelain veneers provide a great aesthetic solution to address any shape, size and colour concerns that you may have with your teeth. I use porcelain veneers as they provide a superior cosmetic finish and durability for my patients. 

The veneers are ultra-thin porcelain shells that are precisely bonded to the font of your existing teeth to create a more uniform, balanced and natural-looking smile, and they can be life-changing.

How Much Do Teeth Veneers Cost?

The price of porcelain veneers can vary between $1800 to $3000 per veneer.

Why Do People Get Teeth Veneers?

The main reason people want veneers is to feel more confident about their smile. We can use porcelain veneers to add length or width to teeth, to correct sloping, to create height and uniformity along the gum-line, and to address permanent staining or discolouration.

How Are Teeth Veneers Applied?

The treatment is spaced over a number of appointments, starting with a consultation. The consultation process allows me to understand the patient’s concerns as well as their preferences for their new smile. Using photos and scans of the patient’s face and teeth I digitally design the patient’s porcelain veneers. A 3D model is then created of the design, and a thin acrylic or mock-up of the veneers is created that the patient can try on before treatment begins to help visualise the final result, and make any tweaks.

Using porcelain veneers means that I only have to do minimal preparation of the natural tooth to provide the ideal surface for the veneer to be placed on. Once the teeth have been prepared, prototype veneers are fitted to protect the teeth while the porcelain veneers are made. These prototype veneers are very similar in size, shape and colour to the final veneers. Around 10 days later, the temporary veneers are removed and the porcelain veneers are cemented into place.

Who Should Apply Teeth Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are considered a cosmetic treatment that is used to improve the appearance of the teeth's shape, size and colour. This means for best results you want to see a dentist who is experienced in and performs cosmetic dentistry on a daily basis.

Ask your dentist to show you examples of their work during your consultation. Before and after photos will provide you with a good idea of the dentist’s aesthetic style and the quality of their cosmetic work. Check out reviews or testimonials from previous patients.

Dr Lawrence Neville is the owner and Principal Dentist of Spa Dental.

Image credit: Urban List

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