Veneers Frequently Asked Questions

A porcelain veneer is a thin porcelain shell that is permanently bonded to your natural tooth. Veneers are placed on the front surface of your tooth to enhance the cosmetic appearance of your smile. Veneers are strong and durable, making them a popular aesthetic dental treatment for smile makeovers. Veneers can transform an average smile into a straight, white, beautiful smile.

You’re a candidate for our V.I.P. SmilesTM porcelain veneers if you have one or more of the following:

• Discoloured and stained teeth 
• Genetically-stained teeth with spots/patches
• Mismatched or irregularly-shaped teeth 
• Mild crowding in your front teeth or gaps 
• Heavily filled front teeth that are patchy or uneven
• Teeth that are chipped or discoloured
• Crooked or misaligned teeth

The health benefits of porcelain veneers are:

• They protect the teeth 
• Fix chipped and worn down teeth 
• Make brushing and flossing easier
• Improve function with smooth alignment to your bite

The cosmetic benefits of porcelain veneers are:

• They whiten and brighten your smile 
• Fix crooked teeth 
• A more efficient alternative to braces or Invisalign 
• Fix large gaps between the teeth 
• Fix a gummy smile 
• Improves the shape and size of the teeth

Not all porcelain veneers are made equal. There are certainly differences in quality in porcelain from clinic to clinic and the pricing is reflected in the quality. There are machine-made veneers that are made in bulk and there are veneers that are handmade locally by a ceramist. At Dental + Skin Clinic, our V.I.P. SmilesTM porcelain veneers are handmade in Melbourne by a team of exceptional veneer ceramists and an experienced cosmetic dentist.

This depends on the type of veneer: porcelain veneers will stay white. Their colour doesn’t change overtime and they are stain-resistant. On the other hand, composite veneers, dental bonding or dental bonded veneers (they all mean the same thing, they just have different names), won’t stay white. Their colour will very slowly start to dull down. Usually this colour change is noticeable after a year.

The details of each V.I.P. SmilesTM  porcelain veneer is natural and life-like with a special blend of ceramic to closely mimic the details of your natural teeth. You can be assured your natural character will shine through with your beautiful new smile and improvements in alignment, shape, and colour.

The cost of composite veneers in Australia is between $200-$1000. It depends on the quality of material and the level of experience of the dentist. Dental + Skin Clinic offers customers a Smile Now & Pay-Over-Time option for dental veneers, meaning you can get the smile of your dreams while minimising the upfront payment.

From the Smile Work-Up to the Trial Smile Appointment (the temporary veneers) it’s about 1 week. From the Trial Smile Appointment to the Permanent Porcelain Veneers it is about 3 weeks. So all up it’s about 4 weeks. It can take longer depending on the person’s unique needs. The porcelain veneers process takes a minimum of 5 appointments.

Veneers don’t ruin your teeth. They protect your teeth. They cover the front surfaces of your teeth so that nothing happens to the teeth. Neglecting your oral hygiene will ruin your teeth, not veneers! There are people who are concerned with the fact that a small volume of tooth structure is often prepared as part of the process of making veneers. At Dental + Skin Clinic, most of our smile makeovers involve adding volume to the teeth.

There is a common misconception that getting veneers means your teeth need to be shaved down significantly. At Dental + Skin Clinic, our treatment philosophy is to be as conservative as possible and this applies to our dental veneers process. You won’t find any nubs at our clinic!

Some clients don’t feel any discomfort at all after their dental veneers and some clients feel either temperature sensitivity or pressure sensitivity, which are both minor and transient and can last up to 4 weeks. Any discomfort, however minor, tends to go away on its own without any intervention. If you’re in the dental chair for a long time, you can end up with jaw discomfort after veneers. Wrapping your jaw with a warm, moist towel after your dental appointment will help with the discomfort.

Our Smile Now & Pay-Over-Time option for veneers means you can get the smile of your dreams while minimising the upfront payment.  There is no credit check and there is no interest.

Dental veneers are permanent. They’re an irreversible procedure so once you get them done, they’re not going anywhere.

Cosmetic dentistry includes the following treatment:

• teeth whitening to make the colour of your smile whiter and more vibrant
• dental veneers, whether they’re composite veneers or porcelain veneers, to improve the shape, size and colour of your smile
• dental bonding or bonded veneers are other terms for composite veneers (they’re the same thing)
• gummy smile fix to show less gum when you smile whether it’s using a laser, through gum surgery or Cosmetic Injectables
• fix broken or chipped teeth to make them look whole again either with dental veneers, dental crowns or front surface fillings
• teeth straightening and dental orthodontics to correct the bite

Cosmetic dentistry can be anything from improving one tooth, multiple teeth or your entire smile.

The average lifespan of dental veneers depends on the type of veneers. We need to look at each type of dental veneer.

Composite veneers the average lifespan is 5-7 years.

Porcelain veneers done well are expected to last 15 years (15-20 years depending on the person’s habits).

Teeth whitening lasts on average 6 months.

The average lifespan of dental veneers depends on the type of veneers.

Composite veneers the average lifespan is 5-7 years.

Porcelain veneers done well are expected to last 15 years (15-20 years depending on the person’s habits).

Teeth whitening lasts on average 6 months.

A dental veneer is a super thin shell of porcelain, as thin as your fingernail. It is cemented on to your front tooth to improve the colour, shape and position of your teeth. When we’re adding volume to the tooth (i.e. bringing it forward) we don’t need to prepare the tooth.

Once the dental veneers are on, they’re permanent.

Absolutely! Our friendly team at Dental & Skin Clinic will be happy to guide you through the process. It’s quick and easy.

No teeth whitening does not work on porcelain veneers. If you want to do porcelain veneers, some dentists may recommend to do teeth whitening first and then match the porcelain veneers to the new and improved colour of your teeth.

If you already have porcelain veneers but you wish for them to lighter in colour, then it’s recommended to get your veneers replaced with a new set of porcelain veneers that are lighter in colour. Generally this might occur at about the 15 year mark since the veneers were first inserted.

No teeth whitening does not work on porcelain veneers. If you want to do porcelain veneers, some dentists may recommend to do teeth whitening first and then match the porcelain veneers to the new and improved colour of your teeth.

If you already have porcelain veneers but you wish for them to lighter in colour, then it’s recommended to get your veneers replaced with a new set of porcelain veneers that are lighter in colour. Generally this might occur at about the 15 year mark since the veneers were first inserted.

A dental veneer is thin shell as thin as your fingernail, that is applied onto the front surface of your tooth in order to enhance the way the tooth looks e.g. to make the tooth lighter, change the shape, the length or the position.

Composite is the material that the veneer is made of. Composite is the same material that white dental fillings are made from. Composite material comes out of a tube and its texture feels like silky smooth dough. It gets applied by hand on the tooth’s front surface in small increments or layers until it looks like a natural tooth. Then the material gets set with a special setting light that makes the material strong and hard, just like your tooth.

The best cosmetic dental procedure is porcelain veneers and in-chair teeth whitening. It’s not uncommon to have in-chair whitening done first, followed by porcelain veneers. They’re life-like, natural-looking and long lasting. They don’t change colour or shape overtime.

However the other best cosmetic dental procedure is invisalign, or dental orthodontics because your natural teeth are shifted so that they are made straight.

Cosmetic dentistry can fix the following problems:

• Make my smile whiter and brighter
• Improve the shape and size of my smile
• Fix my gummy smile
• Fix my teeth
• Fix my chipped teeth / fix my broken teeth
• Straighten my teeth
• Fix my bite

At Dental & Skin Clinic we have made dental veneers affordable by giving you the option to get the dental veneers and pay for them later through our dental savings plan. We have partnered up with some of the best finance companies in Melbourne to be able to offer you a veneers payment plan at a competitive interest rate. No upfront payment is required.

If you’re going to the dentist for a cosmetic consultation, we recommend you ask him or her the following questions:

• What is your cosmetic aesthetic or cosmetic style?
• Ask to see their previous work if you haven’t seen it already
• Ask for a price breakdown for each dental appointment
• Does he or she offer a Trial Smile period during the time that they wear the temporary veneers?
• Ask for him or her to do a direct mock up or a smile design so that you can see the direction of your new smile
• How many teeth the cosmetic dentist recommends to get veneered
• What aftercare is required once the cosmetic dental treatment is complete
• How long are the dental veneers/ porcelain veneers/ composite veneers expected to last until they need some sort of replacement?
• How often does he or she recommend you return for any sort of maintenance?

Most importantly, be upfront about any hesitations, concerns, fears, and expectations about your cosmetic dental treatment.

Porcelain veneers are stain resistant. Once they’re fitted in, their colour doesn’t change and doesn’t get affected by tea, coffee, wine and any other food that you’d expect to stain natural teeth. Stain resistance is one of the many pros of porcelain veneers. They are long-lasting and in general are expected to last 15 years before they might need some sort of attention.

Porcelain veneers generally don’t stain. What stains (if at all) is the cement that holds the porcelain and the tooth together. The cement won’t stain until many, many years later – 10, 15, 20 years later.

The only way to get cement stains out is either to polish around it or to replace the porcelain veneers. Sometimes stained cement may be a sign that the cement is leaking so then a simple polish won’t suffice to guarantee the long term health of the tooth that is underneath the veneer. Hence the most common way to fix any stains margins of a porcelain veneer is to replace it.

The best toothpaste for veneers is a toothpaste that is non-abrasive and non-whitening (no peroxide). Generally you want to be looking for a toothpaste for sensitive teeth and completely avoiding any toothpaste that markets itself as being a teeth whitening toothpaste.

Sometimes even a toothpaste that is for sensitive teeth has teeth whitening ingredients. Aim for toothpaste that is marketed as one for sensitive teeth but doesn’t mention anything about teeth whitening on the label. If you’re still not sure, we advice you to see the professional opinion of your dentist.

Veneers stay white depending on the type of veneer: porcelain veneers will stay white. Their colour doesn’t change overtime and they are stain-resistant. On the other hand, composite veneers, dental bonding or dental bonded veneers (they all mean the same thing they just have different names), won’t stay white. Their colour will very slowly start to dull down. Usually this colour change is noticeable after a year.

Most people who have composite veneers tend to get them replaced every 5 years or so because of this reason. Some get them replaced with porcelain veneers instead of with composite veneers because the colour stays white. Even after 15 years the colour is quite similar to the colour of when the porcelain veneers were first fitted in. This is one of the biggest pros of porcelain veneers over composite veneers.

Most mouthwash is quite acidic so it not recommended for veneers as it can lead to softening of the veneers, reducing their longevity and making them more prone to staining. In general mouthwash doesn’t really play a big role in maintaining a healthy mouth. A balanced diet, using an electric toothbrush, using interdental brushes to clean in between the teeth and drinking plenty of water are far more effective ways in keeping teeth and gums clean.

As a general rule, the more teeth you get veneered, the more likely it is that we are adding volume to your smile. In most cases we are making the smile more wide so we are adding volume, hence shaping of the teeth is as minimal as possible.

If a client has teeth that are sticking quite far forwards, sometimes we may suggest a short course of invisalign to tuck the teeth in so that any shaping of the teeth will be minimal.

The average lifespan of dental veneers depends on the type of veneers. We need to look at each type of dental veneer.

Composite veneers the average lifespan is 5-7 years. It doesn’t mean that suddenly the composite veneers will just fall off. It means you might notice a small chip here and a bit of staining there.

Porcelain veneers done well are expected to last 15 years (15-20 years depending on the person’s habits). The veneers are cemented on with a special and strong cement After about 15 years the cement starts to degrade so that’s when you’d look at getting them replaced. Again, it’s not like they’re suddenly just fall out.

Some clients don’t feel any discomfort at all after their dental veneers and some clients feel either temperature sensitivity or pressure sensitivity, which are both minor and transient and can last up to 4 weeks. Any discomfort, however minor, tends to go away on its own without any intervention. The most common reason for feeling any sensitivity is in circumstances when the bite is corrected and the mouth is getting used to the change. Often a protective guard to wear at night is recommended to help with any short-term discomfort. Any discomfort other than minor sensitivity and it lasts longer than 4 weeks should be notified to your dentist so that he or she can do a detailed assessment.

If you’re in the dental chair for a long time, you can end up with jaw pain after veneers. Wrapping your jaw with a warm, moist towel after your dental appointment will help with the jaw pain.

The pros of dental veneers are:

• that they solve multiple cosmetic problems at once. The colour, size, shape and alignment are all corrected with dental veneers
• how fast it’s done. With porcelain veneers from start to finish, the process takes less than 5 weeks. With composite veneers it’s done even faster – in a few hours!
• how long they last. Porcelain veneers last 15 years on average, while composite veneers, or dental bonding, lasts 5-7 years.

The cons of dental veneers are:

• the cost of veneers on teeth. The average price range for composite veneers in Melbourne is between $200-$1000 per composite veneer. While the porcelain veneers in Melbourne cost anywhere between $1200-$3500 per porcelain veneer.
• dental veneers can look fake when done incorrectly. They can look bulky and too thick, they can look like tic tacs if they’re too white or monochrome, and they can make someone’s smile look out of place. Hence it’s very important to make sure you choose the right cosmetic dentist who understands how the smile and the face interplay with each other and whose cosmetic dental treatment looks natural and knows how to use the smile the enhance a person’s face.

We believe everyone deserves a beautiful smile. Unfortunately not everyone can afford it. If you know someone who feels self conscious of their smile but they’ve fallen on hard times, feel free to nominate them. Every now and then we do offer free veneers if we feel they deserve it and genuinely can’t afford it. We have given a free smile makeover in the past and we intend to do it again in the future.

• How long do dental veneers last? How long do composite veneers last? How long do porcelain veneers last?
• What is the price of composite veneers in Melbourne? What is the price of porcelain veneers in Melbourne? What is the price of dental veneers in Melbourne? How much does each appointment cost?
• How many appointments are required? How long does each appointment take? How far apart is each appointment? Which appointments require local anaesthetic? Does the dentist offer a no-needle injection/ pain-free anaesthetic?
• Can I see your past work?

Cosmetic dental procedures includes the following treatment:

• teeth whitening to make the colour of your smile whiter and more vibrant
• dental veneers, whether they’re composite veneers or porcelain veneers, to improve the shape, size and colour of your smile
• dental bonding or bonded veneers are other terms for composite veneers (they’re the same thing)
• gummy smile fix to show less gum when you smile whether it’s using a laser, through gum surgery or Cosmetic Injectables
• fix broken or chipped teeth to make them look whole again either with dental veneers, dental crowns or front surface fillings
• teeth straightening and dental orthodontics to correct the bite

Cosmetic dentistry can be anything from improving one tooth, multiple teeth or your entire smile.

An orthodontist is a specialist whose work is restricted to teeth movement to correct a smile e.g. dental orthodontics, clear aligners, invisalign. They can’t do dental veneers or teeth whitening because that dental treatment doesn’t involve moving teeth.

Whereas a cosmetic dentist is not a specialist, he or she is a general dentist who has a special interest in cosmetic dentistry. They do cosmetic dental treatments such as dental veneers, dental orthodontics, invisalign, teeth whitening and gummy smile correction.

Our temporary veneers look beautiful and we try to make them look at close as possible to the porcelain veneers. Simply put, you can and should go out and live your life while you’ve got the temporary veneers on.

We strongly recommend you maintain excellent oral hygiene in the lead up to your Trial Smile Appointment (and of course to maintain excellent oral hygiene throughout the course of your veneer treatment and beyond).

At the start of the appointment, the dentist will go over the Consent Form with you, which covers the most common complications and allows you to ask any further questions that you may have about the process. Then the dentist will numb the mouth using a device called ‘DentaPen’ which is a more comfortable alternative to the traditional dental injections.

Once your mouth is numb, the dentist and the dental nurse will spend the next 4 hours (or the estimated time you were told at your appointment) working on your smile.

Should you need a bathroom break or need to stand up and have a stretch, please let the dentist or the dental nurse know.

Once the numbness wares off, you may feel certain areas in the mouth are sore (where the anaesthetic was delivered). The teeth may also feel sensitive and the gums may feel tender. We recommend taking 2 panadol before the anaesthetic wears away to anticipate any post-treatment discomfort.

Your jaw may be sore from having your open for a long time. We recommend wrapping your jaw in a moist warm towel for 10 minute intervals.

Should you be in pain and you’re not sure if something is normal, please let the clinic know.

The minimum number of weeks you are expected to be in your temporary veneers is 4 weeks. However it can range from 4-12 weeks depending on the specific work required.

It depends on the circumstance. A minimum of 1 is required. It can 2, 3, or 4 sets of temporary veneers, depending of each smile transformation. It is up to the dentist’s and the ceramist’s discretion.

These are questions that we often get asked at the clinic.

The first thing to consider is where in the mouth has the veneer come out? Is it one of the froth teeth or somewhere towards the back? Is symmetry affected? Does it look out of place having one veneer missing?

The second thing to consider is, does it bother you?

As a general rule, we recommend to have the veneer replaced (even in the scenario that the tooth underneath is completely untouched). Veneers act as protection for the teeth, almost like a helmet for the tooth.  So when the veneer is gone, the protection is gone. Of course, this is a general rule.

We will organise an appointment for you to come and have a set of seaweed moulds taken of your teeth. This step means we can design your new smile. This appointment takes 15 minutes. Then we will see you in a few weeks to actually begin the veneer treatment.

We prefer to work on a clean canvas. For this reason it’s our preference to do teeth whitening prior to your veneer appointment.

We generally recommend you allow 90 minutes for the initial Veneers Consultation. We want to take our time in getting to know you, your smile goals and your smile expectations.

An Aftercare Guard is our version of a retainer. You wear this every night when you go to sleep.

Payment is done in 3 stages.

Appointment 1: $1 000 down payment
Appointment 2: 50% of the total quote
Appointment 3: No cost
Appointment 4: The remaining balance is due
Appointment 5: No cost

Our Dedicated Cosmetic Dentist

You will meet with our experienced cosmetic dentist. Our cosmetic dentist will go through a series of questions with you to best understand your smile goals and expectations, as well as provide you with some guidance about your veneer options.

Our Dedicated Manager

You may also meet our manager who will be your point of contact throughout your Smile Journey. It is her role to ensure your Smile Journey runs as smoothly as possible.

Our systemised process

You will be asked a series of questions about your smile goals and expectations. You will have a series of photos and a video taken of your smile.

The process of porcelain veneers will be explained to you and finally the number of veneers for your smile goals will be discussed.

You will also have a 2D Smile Design so you can visually see the direction that the cosmetic dentist has about your Smile Transformation.

By the end of the consultation you will be given a personalised quote which we call a Smile Proposal

Ample time dedicated to you.

We generally recommend you allow 90 minutes for the initial Veneers Consultation. We want to take our time in getting to know you, your smile goals and your smile expectations.

It typically takes 2-3 weeks from the time we see you for a consultation to the time that we can actually begin the veneers process. This initial treatment appointment is what we call the Trial Smile Appointment. It’s where you receive your temporary veneers which allows you to test drive your new smile.

Once approved, you then get your permanent porcelain veneers a few weeks later.

Absolutely. We have ample parking onsite.

Absolutely dental veneers are permanent. They’re an irreversible procedure so once you get them done they’re not going anywhere.

Veneers don’t ruin your teeth. They protect your teeth. They cover the front surfaces of your teeth so that nothing happens to the teeth. Veneers protect, improve and fix your teeth. They can make brushing and oral hygiene easier and improve your bite so that it’s more comfortable to chew and eat.

Neglecting your oral hygiene will ruin your teeth, not veneers!

There are people who are concerned with the fact that a small volume of tooth structure is often prepared as part of the process of making veneers. However in our clinic most of our smile makeovers we are adding volume to the teeth, so little or no preparation is needed.

One of our philosophy pillars is transparency and this translates to being transparent with our veneers price. We want to make it easy for you and we want you to trust that we have your back. We’re not out to hide our prices as we truly believe our prices are the best value for money. We sit in the middle in terms of our veneers price – we’re not the most expensive because that would mean you’re paying for a brand. We’re not the cheapest because that would mean compromising on quality.

The average price of porcelain veneers in Melbourne is anywhere between $1000-$3500. So why the big price range?

There are different levels of quality of porcelain veneers. You can get machine-milled ones that are manufactured in bulk. You can get hand-made porcelain veneers done by a ceramist. You can have an apprentice ceramist or a master ceramist. Our veneers are hand-made by a master ceramist. The labour and craftsmanship that goes behind each veneer smile makeover is incredible.

Behind every veneer smile makeover is about 20 hours of labour.

Absolutely composite veneers can straighten teeth. That’s why veneers are often referred to as ‘instant orthodontics’ because they straighten teeth instantly because needing to wear braces or invisalign.

Direct composite veneers last on average 5-7 years until they need to get replace by either a new set of composite veneers or porcelain veneers. Generally at the 5 year mark a bit of staining occurs where more frequent polishing is warranted (more than the typical 6 monthly polishes) or you start to see a bit of wear (the same as you would expect on your natural teeth).

Coffee, tea, red wine, nighttime grinding and biting on your fingernails will have some sort of impact on the longevity of your composite veneers.

Absolutely bad teeth can be fixed in a number of ways, depending on what is meant by ‘bad’ teeth.

If bad means brittle and chipping then dental veneers or dental crowns are an option that offers protection for the teeth and rebuilds their volume.

If bad refers to the way they look, then dental veneers are the perfect solution for improving the colour, shape, position and size.

There is also invisalign or orthodontics if you wanted to change the alignment and position of your teeth without necessarily changing the size or shape of the teeth. You could finish off the invisalign or orthodontic treatment with teeth whitening to give your smile an instant lift in colour.

The difference between a general dentist and a cosmetic dentist is their level of interest in, training and experience in cosmetic dentistry.

Both a cosmetic dentist and a general hold the same dental degree and neither are specialists. However a dentist with a special interest in cosmetic dentistry would typically immerse his or herself in further post-graduate training in cosmetic dental treatment such as dental veneers, porcelain veneers, composite veneers, dental crowns, gummy smile correction, facial aesthetics such as lip enhancement procedures or lip filler, Cosmetic Injectables, invisalign and/or dental orthodontics. A cosmetic dentist may only do cosmetic dental procedures and nothing else. Or they can still do general dentistry but it might selective or minimal.

Whereas a general dentist is the seemingly the jack of all trades and does all general dental treatments such as root canal treatment, wisdom teeth removal, emergency dental treatment, kids dentistry and dentures. Cosmetic dentistry might be nothing or 10% of the general dentist’s workload and 90% everything else.

The pros of dental veneers are:

• that they solve multiple cosmetic problems at once. The colour, size, shape and alignment are all corrected with dental veneers
• how fast it’s done. With porcelain veneers from start to finish, the process takes less than 5 weeks. With composite veneers it’s done even faster – in a few hours!
• how long they last. Porcelain veneers last 15 years on average, while composite veneers, or dental bonding, lasts 5-7 years.

The cons of dental veneers are:

• the cost of veneers on teeth. The average price range for composite veneers in Melbourne is between $200-$1000 per composite veneer. While the porcelain veneers in Melbourne cost anywhere between $1200-$3500 per porcelain veneer.
• dental veneers can look fake when done incorrectly. They can look bulky and too thick, they can look like tic tacs if they’re too white or monochrome, and they can make someone’s smile look out of place. Hence it’s very important to make sure you choose the right cosmetic dentist who understands how the smile and the face interplay with each other and whose cosmetic dental treatment looks natural and knows how to use the smile the enhance a person’s face.

When dentists check your teeth, they will often count which teeth are present in your mouth and call out loud the name of the tooth so that the dental assistant can mark it up on the client’s chart. Teeth are named by numbers (eg the top two front middle teeth are tooth number 11 and tooth number 21). So the dentist will call out numbers such as 11 and 21 corresponding to the teeth, instead of calling out each tooth by name (top right first molar, top right second molar, top right first premolar, top right second premolar, top right canine, top right lateral, top right central, top left first molar…. Etc) .

Apart from calling out the dental assistant which teeth are present and which teeth are missing, the dentist will also call out whether or not there are any fillings, the material of the filling (silver filling, white coloured filling, dental crown, dental veneer, composite, porcelain…). The dentist may also call out whether any teeth have decay or a whole, whether the gums have receded, and much more.

Teeth whitening will not whiten porcelain veneers. Instead it will make them more porous and can soften them, which can lead to staining. It’s recommended to get your teeth professionally whitened by the dentist to avoid causing any damage to your porcelain veneers. Applying chemicals such as peroxide onto your porcelain veneers will damage them and reduce their longevity.

If you wanted to whiten your porcelain veneers, the only way to achieve this is by getting them replaced with lighter-coloured veneers.

The Kardashians do have porcelain veneers. Kim Kardashian’s porcelain veneers were made by Dr Michael Apa, a cosmetic dentist who has dental clinics in New York, Las Angeles and Dubai. He is an amazing cosmetic dentist who is known for his stunning porcelain veneers.

Our cosmetic dentists follow Dr Apa’s cosmetic dental principles and are avid students of his teachings. They have listened to him lecture at the Greater New York Dental Meeting in 2019, and have listened to many of his lectures on porcelain veneers. They have adopted his cosmetic approach and see him as their cosmetic dental mentor.

Teeth whitening will not whiten dental veneers, whether they’re porcelain veneers, composite veneers or dental bonded veneers. Instead it will make them more porous and can soften them, which can lead to staining.

If you want your dental veneers to be whiter, the only way to achieve this is by getting them replaced with lighter-coloured veneers.

It is strongly recommended against using teeth whitening toothpaste on porcelain veneers as teeth whitening toothpaste will damage porcelain veneers. Teeth whitening toothpaste is too abrasive and some of them contain the chemical peroxide which can soften the porcelain veneers, which can lead to staining and weakening, reducing their longevity.

The best toothpaste for porcelain veneers is one that is non-abrasive and without peroxide. Generally toothpaste for sensitive teeth is recommended and to completely avoid one that markets itself as being a teeth whitening toothpaste.

Sometimes even toothpaste that is for sensitive teeth has teeth whitening ingredients. Aim for toothpaste that is marketed as one for sensitive teeth but doesn’t mention anything about teeth whitening on the label.

As a general rule, the more teeth you get veneered, the more likely it is that we are adding volume to your smile. In most cases we are making the smile more wide so we are adding volume, hence shaping of the teeth is as minimal as possible. If someone’s teeth are tucked in or they have a narrow smile and we want to create a wider smile, the goal is to bring the teeth forwards and add volume to the width of the smile, so we wouldn’t need to shape/ shave the client’s teeth. If shaping of the teeth is needed, it’s the thickness of a fingernail which is a minimal amount of volume.

It is possible to create dental veneers without shaving or shaping the teeth. There are 3 scenarios of when you could get dental veneers without shaving or shaping the teeth.

• when someone’s smile is tucked in and they have a narrow smile and we want to create a wider smile
• when a client wears Invisalign for a short time to reposition the teeth first and then get dental veneers. This scenario is recommended for someone who might have a smile that is protruding
• composite veneers or dental bonding doesn’t require shaping or shaving of teeth.

Dental veneers are one of the most versatile cosmetic dental procedures because it fixes multiple cosmetic dental concerns at once. You’re a candidate for dental veneers if:

• you have crooked teeth and you would like your teeth straightened but you don’t want orthodontics or braces
• you’d like your smile whiter and brighter in colour. Teeth whitening may not have worked on you or you’re not a candidate for teeth whitening
• you feel your smile doesn’t suit your face
• you have one or multiple teeth that are mis-shaped or out of place
• you have large gaps between your front teeth
• you have some teeth are either too small or too big
• you have worn down, chipped or broken teeth
• fix a gummy smile

If you’re experiencing a toothache under a dental veneer, please notify your dentist so that he or she can do a detailed assessment. A toothache is anything that ranges from a dull throbbing sensation to an extreme sensitivity to hot or cold that lasts for hours after contacting food or drinks.

Some clients don’t feel any discomfort at all after their dental veneers and some clients feel either temperature sensitivity or pressure sensitivity, which are both minor and transient and can last up to 4 weeks. Any discomfort, however minor, tends to go away on its own without any intervention. The most common reason for feeling any sensitivity is in circumstances when the bite is corrected and the mouth is getting used to the change. Often a protective guard to wear at night is recommended to help with any short-term discomfort. Any discomfort other than minor sensitivity and it lasts longer than 4 weeks should be notified to your dentist so that he or she can do a detailed assessment.

You clean veneers the same way you would your own teeth. The veneers are permanently fitted onto the teeth so that it essentially become one with your tooth. There are two amazing products we absolutely love to clean your teeth with (whether or not you have dental veneers). They are: a good quality electric toothbrush and interdental brushes. Interdental brushes are a nice alternative to dental floss. A good quality electric toothbrush is one that rotates fast; the faster it rotates the better it cleans and the more expensive it is.

• What is the motivation behind wanting a better smile? To improve self confidence, anti-ageing, wedding, an act of self love… there are so many possible reasons!
• What do you want your veneers done by? Is there a particular special occasion coming up?
• Do you want a few teeth veneered or the entire smile?

Cosmetic dentistry is a special interest but it’s not a specialty. Compared to a general dentist, a cosmetic dentist will spend most of their work doing dental veneers and other cosmetic dental procedures. He or she also has more training in that area of dentistry. Whereas a general dentist is a jack of all trades (fillings, root canal treatments, wisdom teeth removal) and they may or may not do any cosmetic dentistry. If they do cosmetic dentistry, it may be a small percentage of work.

Composite veneers don’t ruin your teeth. They protect your teeth. They cover the front surfaces of your teeth so that nothing happens to the teeth. Veneers protect, improve and fix your teeth. They can make brushing and oral hygiene easier and improve your bite so that it’s more comfortable to chew and eat.

There are people who are concerned with the fact that a small volume of tooth structure is often prepared as part of the process of making veneers. However in our clinic most of our smile makeovers we are adding volume to the teeth, so little or no preparation is needed.

Once you get your veneers, you still need to look after them like your teeth. This means you still need to brush them twice a day and clean in between using an interdental brush. Neglecting your oral hygiene will ruin your teeth, not veneers!

One alternative is called the ‘Snap on Smile’. This is something you wear over your teeth to give the illusion of a straighter, whiter smile. It does not look as natural as Porcelain Veneers but some people prefer this option. We do not offer this at Dental & Skin Clinic because the aesthetic results are disappointing. In additional they are bulky and thick and not customised to the gum line which means they attract food and plaque around the gum line, making them difficult to clean and can cause the gums to become chronically inflamed and irritated.

Orthodontics is another alternative to Dental Veneers. They work by straightening the teeth typically over a period of 6-24 months, depending on how crooked the teeth are and what the final goal is. Orthodontics in the form of traditional braces or clear aligners such as Invisalign or other clear aligner brands work the same way which is to straighten the teeth. What they don’t do is correct the colour or the shape of teeth.

Teeth whitening is a quick and easy solution for an instantly brighter smile. Typically most people get about a 15-20% overall improvement in the colour of the teeth. However for some people it doesn’t work at all and they can end up being disappointed. That’s where other avenues such as veneers may be a suitable option to explore.

This is the appointment where you receive your temporary veneers. Unlike the final porcelain veneers, the temporary veneers are attached as a single piece so you won’t be able to floss.

We give our clients a Trial Smile so that can test drive their new and improved smile before proceeding with the permanent porcelain veneers. 

We design the temporary veneers based on your smile goals, photographs, videos, clinical analysis, bite analysis, facial features and the existing features of your own natural teeth.

The design process is a well thought-out process that integrates a combination of artistry, science and engineering.

It is a bit of a trust exercise as you won’t truly know what the temporary veneers will look like until they are placed on your teeth. However rest assured our experienced team are amazing at what they do. If there is anything that you would like changed about your temporary veneers, we have dedicated the Feedback Appointment for specifically that! The Trial Smile Phase is merely an introduction to your new smile and not the final chance to make adjustments to your new smile.

The temporary veneers are made of acrylic. Acrylic is not a strong material so it can chip, break and stain. This means you need to be mindful not to test the limitations of the material. We recommend avoid eating hard or sticky foods such as nuts, toffee, carrots and hard apples. Also avoid foods that can stain your temporary veneers such as curries, beetroot and red wine.The advantage of acrylic is that amendments can easily be made directly on the temporary veneers themselves. The material is also relatively easy to remove when it’s time for us to replace them with the permanent porcelain veneers

The Trial Smile Appointment is a long appointment, about 3-4 hours (you would have been given an estimate). We recommend you have a good meal immediately prior so you don’t get too hungry.

By the end of the appointment, expect to feel tired. We recommend you don’t commit to too many activities afterwards and that you go home and rest.

• It may feel tight or uncomfortable because the temporary veneers are one piece
• The gums around may feel tender to pressure
• If you’re not sticking to a good oral hygiene routine (brushing the temporary veneers well especially around the gums and also using mouthwash) then the gums may temporarily feel swollen, tender and bleed while in temporary veneers

We recommend you visit our website, Instagram or Facebook to see our previous clients’ temporary veneers.

Your temporary veneers are designed to enhance your features. If there is anything you don’t like about your temporary veneers, we will make the cosmetic adjustments for you immediately at the Trial Smile Appointment, most of the time. However sometimes we may recommend to hold off on any cosmetic changes until we see next for the Feedback Appointment.

In our experience, after a long appointment it’s sometimes best to let you go home and rest first and then get you back when you’re feeling well-rested and your mouth no longer feels numb. Please don’t take this as us being dismissive of your cosmetic concerns.

We may include cosmetic features in your smile that you haven’t thought to have. You may not like those cosmetic features immediately and you may request to have those changed.However, in a few days you may decide you absolutely love these new features.

For this reason we try not to make too many modifications at the Trial Smile Appointment until we see you back at the Feedback Appointment.

All teeth need some sort of preparation for porcelain veneers. Without it, you’d end up with bulky and thick veneers that would stick out and look out of place. Preparation of the teeth doesn’t mean that they would look like little stumps – this is a mother’s tale. At Dental and Skin Clinic we are very conservative with our tooth preparation and only shape what is absolutely necessary to get the best cosmetic result. One of the things that we pride ourselves on is actually how conservative we are and how good we are at preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible.

We Listen

• Long-lasting
• Fixes large gaps between teeth
• Fresher, whiter, healthier-looking smile
• Straighter smile without braces
• Fixes chipped and worn down teeth
• Fixes gummy smile
• Protects the teeth

We want to make sure your gums and your teeth are cleaned prior to beginning your veneer appointment. For this reason it’s our strong recommendation to get a full dental examination, clean and polish prior your veneer appointment.

From the consultation to the Trial Smile Appointment (the temporary veneers) it’s 2-3 weeks. From the Trial Smile Appointment to the Permanent Porcelain Veneers is 3-4 weeks. So all up it’s a minimum of 7 weeks. It can take longer depending on the case.

The porcelain veneers process takes a minimum of 5 appointments. It can be more appointments depending on the case.

Some people grind or clench their teeth while they sleep so for this reason we need to wear something to stop the teeth from touching. We all clench or grind to some degree when we sleep we just may not be aware of it. Our body moves around when we go to sleep and it moves without us being aware of it. Similarly our jaw moves when are asleep too so we need the Aftercare Guard to protect the teeth from our jaw movements.

Absolutely. In fact we prefer to do everything in-house including all the general dental treatment such as dental hygiene, fillings and root canal treatments. This allows for more control over the final cosmetic outcome. Our general dentist and cosmetic dentist communicate amongst each other to ensure your experience is a seamless and consistent one.

Transparency with pricing

The consultation is $85 and it typically goes from 1 hour to 90 minutes.

If you are a new client to the practice, then we require a set of digital dental xrays. Generally we need two side dental xrays which are $59 each and one full mouth xray which is $120. 

We need the xrays to be taken in the last 6 months in order for them to be considered recent. Any xrays that have been taken longer than 6 months are not considered recent. This is because a lot can happen in 6 months.

Should you accept the Smile Proposal, then we take moulds of the teeth and payment for the Smile Design is done. This step takes an additional 15 minutes and we require a $1 000 down payment in order for us to proceed with the Smile Design.