I Don’t Like The Shape Of My Teeth

Unlike dental crowns, porcelain veneers are thin shells made of porcelain material; these are attached only to the front part of the tooth. Veneers or half-crowns are usually done on the anterior teeth.

What Can Porcelain Veneers Improve?

Porcelain veneers, when applied by an experienced and accomplished cosmetic dentist, will enhance your smile and correct imperfections. Porcelain veneers can improve:

• The yellowing, discolouration and ageing of your smile
• Restore short, worn and chipped teeth for a new youthful smile
• Straighten misalignment and an uneven smile
• Close minor to moderate gaps between the teeth
• Address minor bite issues

The Procedure

A small amount of tooth enamel superficial layer of tooth – approximately half to 1 mm is reduced from the outer layer of the tooth. Impressions are then taken and then sent to the dental laboratory. Patients are provided with temporary veneers until the permanent ones are ready.

The laboratory then creates a thin layer of porcelain that is bonded onto the teeth using dental resins. Two or three weeks later, the permanent veneers are fabricated to match the colour of the patient’s teeth and their smile. The dentist etches the front of the tooth to create a suitable surface for the veneers. Finally, the veneers are cemented into place with a dental bonding agent.

Porcelain material adds a high aesthetic value and are technique sensitive and hence are higher in cost. Patients can share their preferences with their dentist if they want short or elongated teeth in comparison to the original natural teeth.

Precautions To Take After Insertion Of Veneers

Avoid abrasive toothpaste and foodstuffs: Avoid toothpaste that includes baking soda or charcoal. Such toothpaste may scrub and remove surface stain initially, but eventually, they will leave your veneers looking dull. Be careful of chewing gums that have abrasives that can have an abrading effect on porcelain veneers and natural tooth too.

Wear a nightguard: It will protect the porcelain from chipping or fracturing while you sleep. Even if you think you don’t grind or clench, it’s a good safety precaution.

Beware of what you put in your mouth: Your veneers can chip, or crack in the worse cases if you try to break or place hard objects in your mouth. This includes objects like pen caps, clips, carrots, chewing ice, and more.

Visit your dentist twice yearly: let the doctor have a look at your veneers and point out at problems if any.

Restoration with Porcelain Crowns

When the structure of a tooth is compromised by fracture or has been weakened by previous restorative dentistry, the dental crown is often a sought-after solution. Both functional and aesthetically pleasing, the crown can be used to whiten, reshape and realign existing teeth.

For stained teeth, teeth with minor imperfections and teeth that have been severely damaged, porcelain veneers or composite bonding provides an excellent restoration option for many patients.

Our approach to cosmetic dentistry involves the Biomimetic approach where we can save the integrity of the good tooth structure and avoid crowns – when fitting dental crowns, much of the natural tooth structure is removed. We do not like to damage an otherwise healthy tooth. However, crowns remain an effective treatment for badly fractured and weakened teeth.

Premium Quality Porcelain Veneers Melbourne

We are passionate about our patients’ dental goals, quality care and long-term sustainable results. Call us on (03) 8613 3416 for further information on porcelain veneers and other cosmetic dentistry treatments.