PORCELAIN VENEERS AT BRISBANE SMILE BOUTIQUE Dentists
At Brisbane Smile Boutique, porcelain veneers represent the pinnacle of aesthetic dentistry, reflecting the impeccable craftsmanship of master ceramists. Porcelain veneers are a transformative solution for those looking to enhance the shape, size, and colour of their teeth, offering a significant improvement in their smile.
Crafted from very fine shells of tooth-colored pressed porcelain, these veneers are designed to cover the front surface of teeth. They are seamlessly bonded to the teeth, ensuring a natural and flawless integration with your smile. The porcelain used is inherently resistant to stains, owing to its non porous nature. This makes them a more desirable choice compared to composite resin veneers, especially in terms of durability, strength, and maintenance.
One of the most remarkable features of porcelain veneers is their ability to reflect light. This characteristic allows them to mimic the look of natural teeth perfectly, offering an enduring and natural appearance. The combination of advanced materials and expert craftsmanship at Brisbane Smile Boutique ensures that porcelain veneers not only rejuvenate your smile but also provide a durable and long lasting solution for aesthetic dental concerns.
FEMALE PATIENT IN 20’S
Porcelain veneers and crowns for a female patient in her thirties, following trauma and dental composite resin caps placed on her front teeth as a child.
Dentist: Dr Leila Haywood 2014
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Veneers can restore:
*Teeth that are discoloured from wear and tear, tetracycline staining, excess fluoride, large fillings
*Teeth that are worn down
*Teeth that are chipped or broken
*Teeth that are uneven, out of line or irregularly shaped teeth with gaps between them (especially to close the space between these teeth)
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PROCEDURE FOR A PORCELAIN VENEER
A porcelain veneer requires two visits
Diagnosis and treatment planning. The dentist will examine your teeth to make sure dental veneers are appropriate for you. A series of photos will be taken with cameras to computer design and analyse your smile. Imprints or scans of your teeth will be taken to analyse your bite to ensure that porcelain veneers will match in to your bite and be a durable solution
Preparation. To prepare a tooth for a veneer, your dentist will remove up to half a millimetre of enamel from the tooth surface, which is an amount equal to the thickness of the veneer to be added to the tooth surface, and take an imprint of your teeth and bite. In some circumstances no tooth structure is removed, in a procedure known as no preparation (or no prep) veneers, however this is dependent on factors like the bite. The imprint or scan is sent out to our master ceramist team who will make models from the imprint and press the porcelain veneer in the laboratory within 3 weeks. Your dentist will place temporary veneers for you so you will look fine until the veneers are completed, though it is important to be gentle and careful with temporaries, since they are designed to be removed.
Bonding. Your tooth will be cleaned and prepared for seamless bonding and a special cement is applied to the veneer which is is then placed on your tooth. Once properly positioned on the tooth, your dentist will apply a light beam to the dental veneer, which activates the cement, causing it to set.
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With excellent home care and regular dentist and dental hygiene appointments, porcelain veneers can last 10 years of longer. It is important to brush twice a day, floss daily and to limit sugary foods and drinks, just as you would with natural tooth structure. The dentist and dental hygienist need to check on veneers every 6 months, along with professional scaling and cleaning to ensure that the veneers stay in excellent condition. Your dentist may recommend a night guard to protect the porcelain and to prevent wear and tear from clenching or grinding from affecting chipping or debonding them.
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If you are wanting to whiten your teeth to whiter than white, chances are you are comparing your teeth to the look of a smile with veneers. Models and actors often have porcelain veneers placed to make their teeth straight and to get them as white as possible. Usually these are porcelain because they look so good for a long time.
Porcelain veneers look best when they look like natural teeth, and should be indistinguishable from the natural contours of your smile. They restore the tooth surface and improve the aesthetics of a smile.
Our practice philosophy is to replicate and perfect on the appearance of a smile in way that appears natural, so that people may then comment on a great smile, as opposed to great veneers.
Porcelain veneers may be suitable for patients who wish to treat chipped, broken or discoloured teeth, or to close gaps between front teeth.
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Our master ceramists are regarded as being world leaders in technical skill, quality, attention to detail and excellence. Our porcelain veneers are made in Brisbane by master ceramists, and the quality control happens from the moment that our dentist designs and takes imprints or scans, through to our ceramists attending to collect imprints, which are used as a foundation for the creation of your new smile, then computer designed so that the porcelain veneers match in perfectly to the proportions of a smile.
Porcelain veneers are permanently and seamlessly precision bonded by our dentist in an appointment three weeks after the preparation appointment.
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Temporary veneers are placed as an intermediate treatment while waiting on the new veneers, so you never have gaps and can keep smiling, although it is important to be very careful and gentle with the temporary restorations.
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A veneer can last for many years but even with the very best technique and care there may come a time when they require replacement.
Our dentist, Dr Leila Haywood started dentistry at the University of Queensland 30 years ago, has decades of experience in our boutique private dental practice in Brisbane, and is committed to ongoing patient care. Our patients are the life of our practice, and with our team having lifetimes of experience you can be assured of the highest quality treatment standard for aesthetic dentistry and preventive dental care. Our practice has an experienced female dentist, a full time dental hygienist who has been with the practice for 12 years, visiting master ceramists, and a caring team of dental nurses.
The goal is to have veneers that look as good as the day they were placed for many years to come, and at each 6 month preventive care appointment, we carefully examine and monitor your teeth, veneers and gums to ensure they remain in optimal condition.
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It is important to be careful with veneers and habits like nail biting, because this may chip or damage porcelain veneers, and to wear a night guard (occlusal splint) to protect against damaging stresses from night grinding and clenching, if this is the case.
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Porcelain veneers are $1900 each, and are custom made in Brisbane with our master ceramist team. Smile Design cost is $690 which may be required for previewing your new smile with a template of your smile design.
A night guard or splint is $950 and may be required to protect your new smile from teeth grinding or clenching.
Advantages of porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers offer numerous advantages, making them a popular choice for enhancing dental aesthetics:
1. Natural Appearance: Porcelain veneers are crafted to closely resemble natural tooth enamel, providing a very natural and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
2. Colour Matching: They can be matched to the colour of the surrounding teeth, ensuring a seamless integration into your smile.
3. Stain Resistance: Porcelain is highly resistant to stains from coffee, tea, smoking, and other substances that typically discolour teeth.
4. Durability: Porcelain veneers are quite durable and can last for many years with proper care.
5. Minimal Tooth Alteration: Unlike crowns, veneers require minimal alteration of the natural tooth, preserving more of your natural tooth structure.
6. Versatility in Corrections: They can address multiple cosmetic issues simultaneously, such as discolouration, chips, minor misalignment, and gaps between teeth.
7. Immediate Results: Once applied, the results are immediate, providing an instant improvement in your smile’s appearance.
8. Improved Confidence: Enhanced aesthetics can lead to increased self-confidence and well-being.
9. Low Maintenance: Porcelain veneers are relatively easy to maintain; they require the same care as natural teeth, including regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups.
10. Biocompatibility:Porcelain is well-tolerated by the gum tissue, minimising the risk of gum irritation.
Despite these advantages, it’s important to discuss with our dentists about whether porcelain veneers are the right option, considering factors like your dental health, aesthetic goals, and budget.
Disadvantages of Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers, while offering significant aesthetic benefits, also have some disadvantages that should be considered:
1. Irreversible Procedure: To place veneers, a small amount of tooth enamel must be removed. This process is irreversible, meaning you're committed to maintaining veneers for life.
2. Cost: Porcelain veneers can be expensive. The cost can vary depending on the number of veneers and the complexity of the procedure.
3. Risk of Damage: While durable, veneers can chip or crack under pressure, such as from teeth grinding or biting on hard objects. Repairs can be challenging and might require replacement of the entire veneer.
4. Not a Solution for Severely Damaged Teeth: Veneers are primarily cosmetic and are not suitable for teeth with significant structural damage or decay.
5. Potential for Colour Mismatch:Over time, the natural teeth can change colour while veneers do not, potentially leading to a future colour mismatch. Veneers also cannot be whitened like natural teeth.
6. Not Reversible: Once applied, porcelain veneers can't be taken back to the original tooth structure.
7. Not Suitable for Everyone: People with unhealthy teeth, inadequate enamel, or habits like teeth grinding may not be suitable candidates for veneers.
8. Maintenance and Replacement: Over time, veneers may need to be replaced due to wear or damage, which involves additional cost and dental work.
9. Gum Tissue Response: Some people may experience a reaction or discomfort in the gum tissue around the veneers.
It's important to have a thorough consultation with our dental professionala to understand these disadvantages and weigh them against the benefits when considering porcelain veneers for cosmetic dental treatment.
Risks
Undergoing any invasive or surgical dental procedure, including those offered at Brisbane Smile Boutique, inherently involves certain risks. It is crucial for patients to understand these risks and consider seeking a second opinion from another qualified health practitioner before proceeding with treatment.
At Brisbane Smile Boutique, the commitment to patient safety and informed decision-making is paramount. Patients are required to undergo a comprehensive dental examination and consultation appointment. This process ensures that they are suitable candidates for the proposed procedures and that they fully understand all aspects of the treatment, including potential risks and outcomes.
The photos displayed on the Brisbane Smile Boutique website are of actual patients treated by Dr. Leila Haywood. While these images serve as a general representation of the treatment outcomes, it is important to note that individual results can vary significantly. This variation underscores the fact that no single dental treatment is universally suitable for every patient.
Dentists at Brisbane Smile Boutique are dedicated to providing care that is specifically tailored to the needs and circumstances of each individual patient. This personalised approach ensures that only suitable treatments are recommended and performed, aligning with the highest standards of dental care and patient safety.