Everything you need to know about porcelain veneers
Ever wondered why so many celebrities have such a super smile? Ever wondered why some people’s teeth look so fake?
Both of these looks can potentially reflect the appearance of a smile that has received porcelain veneers.
What are veneers?
Dental veneers are ultra-thin shells that are bonded to the front surface of one’s teeth. Generally, they are placed on front teeth over the top of natural teeth to provide a layer of protection whilst also enhancing the look of one’s teeth.
Veneers come in various forms using porcelain and composite materials, including composite veneers, composite resin veneers, temporary veneers, and removable veneers. The most used form of veneers, however, is porcelain veneers.
Today, veneers are a common treatment option in the field of cosmetic dentistry and are regularly used in smile makeovers to provide patients with the smile of their dreams
Why such a big difference?
Porcelain veneers that are placed by a cosmetic dentistry expert with vast experience and artistic flair can transform dull, average-looking teeth into those beautiful, natural smiles we all may envy.
Crown or veneer procedures done poorly by someone with much less experience can look overly fake, and terrible. Your smile is your first line of communication and your first impression. It may be one of your finest assets and it should last you through life. There are various types of materials used in creating permanently bonded veneers.
Porcelain veneers can change a host of unpleasant looks with your teeth from severe wear, crowding, discolouration, unsightly gaps, uneven line of your teeth, missing upper lateral incisors and your eye teeth don’t look natural in their place, to name just a few.
Porcelain veneers were first introduced in 1982 and in the 40 years since Future Dental has placed over 14,000 veneers.
How long do veneers last?
Dr Gibbins himself has veneers that were done in 1989 and in that time, only one of them has been replaced. We have observed many of our patients over 3 to 4 decades on whom we placed veneers, and the vast majority are still working fine today.
Whilst veneers are stain-resistant to a degree, you will still need to care for them as you would your normal teeth to avoid conditions such as tooth decay down the line, to maintain good oral health, and to enable them to last as long as they possibly can.
Is that a normal expectation?
Veneers are only as long-lasting as those on Dr Gibbins if great care is taken to ensure they are perfectly matched to the patient’s bite and are protected. One way of doing this is with a soft night guard to stop the damage from strong grinding during sleep. We have certainly found the life expectancy of veneers is typically significantly longer than the life expectancy of crowns.
Very careful planning and exacting procedures give the best likelihood of very good longevity of various types of veneers including porcelain veneers, and that only comes with vast experience and expertise.
Are veneers right for me?
If you contact Future Dental regarding veneers, we will ask you to have a particular set of photos that we can assess to determine if veneers are suitable for you. From this set of photos, our team can determine if it is the right course of action for you.
How do you know you are going to love your new smile with porcelain veneers?
Some just trust our expertise to get the best possible results while others choose to see a typical simulation of their individual appearance. This is done initially by either a wax-up on models of your teeth using the shape you will experience, or you can have a template made from the wax-up into a set of trial veneers.
These can be temporarily fitted to your teeth, giving you the chance to visualise the finished product and make any changes you would like before we do the real veneers on your teeth.
At Future Dental, we are using a digital smile design process now which you can see and even convert to a 3D printed orthotic that duplicates the appearance of your new smile.
This is simply clipped onto your teeth so you can wear it away for a few weeks to decide if you want any changes.
Do these wax-ups, trial veneers, digital smile simulation and printed clip-ons cost extra?
Yes, they do like a lot of time, effort, artistry, and design go into creating them. In some cases, they can be done without having to drill away at teeth, however, the result is never as good cosmetically. We extremely rarely do veneers without doing some small amount of tooth reduction.
Do porcelain veneers cost a lot?
Typically, if only doing 1 to 4 veneers, the cost is the same as all-ceramic porcelain crowns. When 6 or more veneers are done, however, the fees per tooth are reduced in comparison.
How many veneers do you need?
This is a subjective exercise that depends on you looking in the mirror and seeing how many teeth form your smile. Most commonly now, that will be 8-10 veneers. The amount will be determined when your dental professional takes an impression of your teeth in the consultation phase.
Do all veneers have to be done at once?
In the majority of cases, yes. It is better to have all necessary veneers completed at once to ensure the best result possible.
How can I afford veneers?
At Future Dental, we offer payment plans through Smile Right, a company set up to assist people in paying for dental and medical expenses. Smile Right’s payment plans aim to spread the cost over time.
After all, porcelain veneers can be expensive, as a single front tooth porcelain veneer is one of the most challenging things even an expert dentist in this field will encounter. They cost a similar fee to an all-Ceramic Crown. Most commonly, they are done in multiples, not just one. The fee in multiples drops a bit, though. These are the ultimate challenge in art and science, and expertise in these areas does not come cheaply.
In having such an important service as a smile makeover with porcelain veneers, you need to be able to see examples of veneers we have previously done on patients.
Thankfully, we can show you numerous veneer cases we have performed here at Future Dental. To look at some examples of cases we have completed, take a look at our gallery.
Is there any warranty on veneers?
Future Dental offers an industry-leading warranty on all our dental work. When we do any permanent dentistry procedures such as crowns or veneers, we offer a 5-year pro-rata warranty that expires after 5 years in a 20% reduction per year of service. Ask any dental practice if they offer any comparable warranty, and you will find few that match that.
There are conditions on warranty, however. If you have an accident and fracture teeth or veneers, that is not going to be covered, just as your motor vehicle’s new car warranty wouldn’t cover accident or abuse. If we have found you are a grinder and clencher, we will expect you to have a soft night-guard made which you need to wear at night. This is essentially a cheap form of insurance.
We also expect to see you regularly during that warranty period, just like you would need to go in for regular servicing to keep your new car warranty.
Porcelain Veneers in Cairns
If you are looking for veneers, we recommend that you find out how the experts at Future Dental can provide you with the best veneers possible. With over 45 years of experience in dentistry, they can provide the perfect solution for you.
If you are interested in the cosmetic dentistry treatments offered at Future Dental, take a look at our range.
Get in touch with Future Dental today and see the difference they can make for you.
