Dental veneers

Veneers are thin shells of porcelain or composite resin bonded to the front of teeth to change their colour, shape or alignment. They can produce a striking result. They also involve a decision that cannot be undone, which is why this page spends as much time on what to consider as on what they can do.

Veneers are a cosmetic procedure. They change how a tooth looks. They do not make a tooth healthier, and in the case of porcelain they permanently alter it.

What veneers can do

What they cannot do

Veneers do not straighten significantly crowded teeth — that is orthodontics. They are not suitable for teeth with large fillings, active decay or gum disease until those are treated. And they do not protect a tooth the way a crown does; a heavily broken-down tooth needs a crown, not a veneer.

Whitening should be done before veneers, never after: veneers do not change colour, so the shade is fixed on the day they go in.

Porcelain or composite

Composite veneers are built directly onto the tooth in resin, usually in one visit, often with little or no removal of enamel. Lower cost, repairable if chipped, and reversible in many cases. They stain and wear faster, and typically last around five to seven years.

Porcelain veneers are made by a dental ceramist and bonded on at a second visit. More natural in appearance, more resistant to staining, and typically last ten years or more. They usually require a thin layer of enamel to be removed, which makes them irreversible.

Composite Porcelain
Visits Usually one Usually three
Enamel removed Little or none A thin layer, permanently
Reversible Often No
Typical lifespan 5–7 years 10+ years
Staining More prone More resistant
Repairable Yes, chairside Usually replaced
Cost Lower Higher

The point that matters most

Where enamel is removed to make room for a porcelain veneer, that tooth will always need a veneer or crown from then on. Enamel does not grow back. If the veneer chips, debonds or is not liked, it is replaced — not removed and forgotten.

That is not a reason to avoid veneers. It is a reason to be certain before the preparation appointment, and to be wary of anyone who presents them as a casual cosmetic decision. Where the tooth allows it, a minimal- or no-preparation approach is preferable, and we will tell you whether yours does.

Making the decision

A cosmetic procedure deserves an unhurried decision, and we will not press you toward one.

If your goal is to look like a particular photograph, bring it, and we will tell you honestly whether it is achievable on your teeth. Faces, gumlines and lip position differ, and a result that suits someone else may not suit you.

The process for porcelain veneers

1. Consultation. What you want to change, whether veneers are the right tool, and how many teeth are involved. This usually includes a comprehensive examination and radiographs to confirm the teeth are healthy enough to veneer. A digital smile design mock-up can show you a likely result on a photograph of your own teeth before anything is done.

2. Preparation. A thin layer of enamel is removed from the front of each tooth — often without needing anaesthetic, though it is available if you would prefer it. Impressions or a scan go to the ceramist. Temporary veneers may be fitted meanwhile so you can live with the shape before committing.

3. Try-in and bonding. The veneers are tried in without cement so you can check the colour and shape. Only when you are satisfied are they bonded permanently. Speak up at the try-in, not afterwards.

Usually three visits over two to four weeks.

Living with veneers

Brush and clean between your teeth as normal, and keep up regular check-ups and cleans. Avoid biting ice, hard lollies, pens or fingernails. If you grind or clench, a night splint is strongly recommended — grinding is the most common cause of a chipped veneer. See splints and night guards.

A few practical points people are not always told:

The most common reason veneers eventually need replacing is gum recession exposing the edge of the veneer over time. Good gum health is what protects your investment.

If a veneer comes off, keep it and call us. They can often be re-bonded.

How long do they last?

Porcelain veneers commonly last ten years or more with good care; composite around five to seven. As with any dental restoration there is no guarantee of longevity — it depends on your bite, your habits and your gum health.

When they do reach the end of their life, replacement is usually straightforward, though each replacement may involve a little more tooth preparation.

Risks

Cost

Porcelain veneers placed by a general dentist at Victorian Dental Group are from $2,300 per tooth. Composite is less. The total depends on the number of teeth, and you receive a written plan with all costs before treatment begins.

What drives the figure: the number of teeth, the material, the ceramist's laboratory fee, whether a mock-up or trial smile is included, and whether any preparatory work such as whitening, gum treatment or a splint is needed.

Most health funds treat veneers as cosmetic and pay little or nothing toward them; some contribute under major dental. Ask us for the item numbers to check your cover, or we can obtain a quote from your fund at the consultation. Afterpay and Zip are accepted — see payment options.

Veneers, bonding or crowns?

A veneer covers the front surface; a crown covers the whole tooth and is chosen where more structure has been lost or more strength is needed. Simple composite bonding without full veneers can be enough for a single small chip. Where several teeth are involved a mix is common.

The more conservative alternatives worth considering first:

Your dentist will explain which applies and why, and we recommend a second opinion from another appropriately qualified practitioner if you want one.

Gum contouring

Where the gumline is uneven, minor gum reshaping before veneers can improve symmetry. Where this is needed we refer to a registered periodontist. Victorian Dental Group is a general dental practice and none of our practitioners holds specialist registration.

Questions we are asked

Will it hurt? Preparation is usually comfortable and often needs no anaesthetic, though it is available. Some sensitivity afterwards is common while the temporaries are on.

Can I have just one? Yes, and matching a single veneer to the tooth beside it is one of the harder things in cosmetic dentistry. It is worth discussing whether two gives a better result.

What if I do not like them at try-in? They go back to the ceramist. That is what the try-in is for, and it is far better than bonding something you are unsure about.

Do they fall off? Occasionally. Keep the veneer and call us; re-bonding is often possible.

Can I whiten them? No. Whitening works on natural tooth structure only.

Are they high maintenance? No more than natural teeth, but no less either. Brushing, cleaning between, regular check-ups, and a splint if you grind.

Victorian Dental Group — 291 Wattletree Road, Malvern East VIC 3145 · (03) 9088 5808 · Monday to Friday, 8:00am–5:00pm · book online

This page is general information and does not replace advice from a registered dental practitioner about your own circumstances. Outcomes vary between individuals and no specific result is guaranteed. Please see our Disclaimer.

What are dental veneers?

Thin facings of porcelain or composite resin bonded to the front of a tooth to change its colour, shape or position. They are a cosmetic treatment: they cover the visible surface, they do not strengthen a tooth, and they do not treat decay or gum disease.

Are veneers reversible?

Porcelain veneers generally are not. Enamel is removed from the front of the tooth so the veneer sits flush rather than bulky, and that enamel does not grow back — the tooth will need a veneer or crown on it for the rest of your life, and every replacement removes a little more. Even veneers advertised as no-prep often need some reduction to avoid an over-contoured result. Composite veneers usually require little or no preparation and can often be removed or altered. This difference matters more than any other when choosing between them.

What are the alternatives?

Often something less invasive. Whitening changes colour without touching the tooth. Composite bonding can repair a chip or close a small gap and is repairable. Orthodontics is the conservative answer to crooked or gapped teeth, since it moves the teeth you have instead of cutting them down — it takes longer, but it keeps the tooth intact. Reshaping a single edge, or simply doing nothing, are also legitimate. These options and their costs are set out before any treatment is agreed.

Porcelain or composite?

Porcelain resists staining well, holds its surface over time, and typically lasts around ten years or more, but needs two or three visits, costs more, and is made in a laboratory — if it chips it usually has to be remade. Composite is completed in a single visit, costs less, and can be repaired or adjusted in the chair, but picks up stain, dulls over a few years and typically lasts roughly four to eight. Both depend heavily on the bite, on grinding and on how they are maintained; these are typical ranges, not a warranty.

What happens during treatment?

First an examination — veneers are not placed over decay, active gum disease or an unstable bite, so those are treated first. Then planning: photographs, models and a mock-up or trial smile, so you can see the proposed shape before any tooth is touched, and change it. For porcelain, the teeth are prepared, an impression or scan is taken, temporaries are fitted, and the veneers are bonded at a later visit. For composite, the resin is built up and shaped directly at the appointment.

What are the risks?

Sensitivity after preparation, usually temporary but occasionally lasting; veneers chipping, fracturing or debonding, particularly on front teeth used to bite hard foods; staining at the margins over time; the gum taking time to settle or receding later and exposing the join; and, in a small proportion of prepared teeth, the nerve becoming inflamed and needing root canal treatment afterwards. Veneers are also a maintenance commitment — they will need replacing at some point, at further cost.

Can veneers be whitened later?

No. Porcelain and composite do not respond to whitening. Once veneers are bonded, their shade is fixed, and if the surrounding natural teeth darken over the years the veneers will no longer match. Any whitening you intend to have should be done before the veneers are made, and the shade chosen to match the whitened result.

What if I grind my teeth?

Say so, because it changes the plan. Grinding and clenching are the most common reason veneers fail early, and heavy grinding may make them unsuitable altogether. Where they do proceed, a night splint is normally part of the treatment rather than an optional extra, and the bite is assessed carefully first.

Will they look natural, and can you guarantee the result?

The aim is a result that suits your face and the rest of your teeth, planned with you and previewed before anything is prepared. No practitioner can guarantee a cosmetic outcome, and we will not promise one. Appearance is subjective, shade matching against natural teeth has limits, and results vary between people. Take the plan away and consider it, ask questions, and seek a second opinion if you want one — there is no urgency to a cosmetic decision, and you should not feel pressed into it.

How do I arrange a consultation?

Victorian Dental Group is a general dental practice in Malvern East and holds no specialist registration; complex cases are referred to a prosthodontist or an orthodontist as appropriate. Victorian Dental Group, 291 Wattletree Road, Malvern East VIC 3145 — phone (03) 9088 5808 or email info@victoriandentalgroup.com.au, Monday to Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm, or book online. You receive a written plan with costs before any treatment begins.

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