Are you considering enhancing your smile? Explore the benefits of veneers! Porcelain and composite veneers offer contemporary dental solutions for achieving an improved smile.

With years of combined experience, our team at National Dental Care Armidale is highly knowledgeable in the veneer process and dedicated to helping you achieve your desired results.

What are veneers?

Veneers are thin, custom-made shells that are bonded to the front surface of your teeth. They are designed to cover imperfections, such as discolouration, gaps, chips, or misalignment, and provide a natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Veneers are a popular choice for those seeking a permanent solution to enhance their smile.

Depending on your needs, preferences, and the condition of your teeth, you can choose one of the following types of veneers with the help of our professional team of dentists at National Dental Care Armidale.

Dentist inspecting a dental veneers before application

Composite veneers (direct veneers)

Here are some reasons why people might composite veneers:

• Cost-Effectiveness: Composite veneers are generally more affordable than other types of veneers, making them a budget-friendly option for those wanting to enhance their smile without breaking the bank.
• Efficient Application: Composite veneers can often be applied in a single dental visit, offering immediate results. This makes them a great option if you want to transform your smile without multiple appointments.
• Minimally Invasive: The application of composite veneers rarely requires any removal of the natural tooth structure, making them a good solution for people who want to preserve their natural teeth.
• Immediate Transformation: Composite veneers can quickly mask various cosmetic imperfections, such as discolouration, chips, minor gaps, and uneven tooth sizes, providing an instant smile improvement.
• Repairable: If a composite veneer becomes damaged or stained over time, it can often be repaired or replaced without the need for extensive procedures. This can be more convenient and cost-effective in the long run.
• Versatility: Composite veneers can be tailored to address a wide range of cosmetic concerns, making them suitable for people with minor aesthetic issues who want a noticeable improvement in their smile.
• Less Sensitivity: Some people find that composite veneers cause less post-treatment sensitivity compared to other types of restorations.

It's important to note that while composite veneers offer numerous benefits, they may not be as durable or long-lasting as porcelain veneers. If you’re considering composite veneers, you should chat with our experienced team to decide if they are the right choice based on your specific dental needs, goals, and budget.

Porcelain veneers (indirect veneers)

Here are some reasons why people may opt for porcelain veneers:

• Aesthetic Excellence: Porcelain veneers are renowned for their ability to closely replicate the natural appearance of teeth. Their translucency and light-reflecting properties make it almost impossible to tell them apart from real teeth, resulting in an exceptionally natural and lifelike smile.
• Durability and Longevity: Porcelain veneers are highly durable and resistant to staining. They can last significantly longer than composite veneers, often ranging from 10 to 20 years or more with proper care.
• Stain Resistance: Porcelain is less prone to staining from food, beverages, and tobacco compared to composite material, ensuring that the veneers maintain their original shade over time.
• Minimal Maintenance: Porcelain veneers require less maintenance and fewer replacements over the years, reducing the need for frequent dental visits for repairs or adjustments.
• Customisation Options: Porcelain veneers offer more customisation in terms of colour, shape, and size. This makes them ideal for achieving complex cosmetic changes and creating a truly personalised smile.
• Smooth Surface: Porcelain veneers have a smooth surface that is resistant to discolouration and plaque buildup, contributing to long-term oral health.
• Strength and Resilience: Porcelain is a stronger material than composite resin, making porcelain veneers more resistant to wear and tear from daily activities such as chewing.
• Less Likely to Change Colour: Unlike some composite materials that may change colour slightly over time, porcelain veneers retain their original colour, ensuring a consistent appearance.
• Suitable for Extensive Changes: If you require significant cosmetic enhancements or have more complex dental issues, porcelain veneers can be a great solution due to their versatility and durability.

However, it's important to note that porcelain veneers also come with certain considerations, such as a higher initial cost, a more involved application process, and slight removal of natural tooth structure which makes them irreversible.

Patient happily seeing their new colour matched veneers

You should discuss your individual needs, goals and preferences with a qualified dentist to decide whether porcelain veneers are the best choice for achieving your smile goals.

Composite vs porcelain ceneers

Which is better: Composite or porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers are stronger than composite veneers, so they'll work better if you're looking to improve the appearance of several teeth. While porcelain teeth will still need to be replaced, they last a lot longer than composite veneers. They also don't stain as much.

Ultimately, the decision between porcelain and composite veneers should be made between you and your dentist at Armidale. They will consider your individual circumstances, oral health, desired outcome, and budget to help you determine the best option for you.

What to expect when getting porcelain veneers

We understand that cosmetic dentistry procedures can seem a little overwhelming. That’s why we’ve broken it down for you, so you can get a clear understanding of what to expect when getting veneers.

Consultation: Your journey to a new smile begins with an initial consultation. The consultation allows our dentist to ensure that you're the right candidate for the veneers, based on factors including being free from gum disease, tooth decay, or any other potentially harmful conditions.

Once the assessment is complete, it's time to start thinking about the kind of results you’re looking for, so we can help you reach your desired outcome.

During the consultation, you can ask any questions you may have regarding alternatives or the procedure itself. Cosmetic procedures tend to cause some anxiety and our dentists are here to help put you at ease.

Preparing Your Porcelain Veneers: Now it’s time to start preparing your teeth. In order to get the sizing right for your veneers, your dentist will have to trim down some enamel on your teeth - we promise this sounds more painful than it actually is!

Next, we take a mould or a scan of your teeth and send it to our manufacturing team, who will get to work creating your sparkly new veneers.

Usually, your dentist will then apply some temporary veneers in the interim. Don’t stress if the temporary veneers aren’t exactly the colour you want, or feel a bit rough - these are only a short-term fix and not representative of the final product.

Applying your Porcelain Veneers: Good news! The hard part is behind you and it’s now time to place your veneers.

First up, your dentist will remove the temporary veneers and try your permanent veneers. Once both you and your dentist are happy with the shape and colour of the final veneers, the cementation process will begin.

This involves cleaning the surface of your teeth before cementing the veneers, usually using a light-activated dental resin. Finally, the excess cement is cleaned away, and you can now admire your brand new smile.

Worried about pain? Our specialists use a numbing agent on all treated areas, making the experience as painless as possible. Making sure you’re comfortable while in the chair is something that we pride ourselves on here at National Dental Care Armidale.

Recovery: You’ll be glad to know that the recovery process for veneers is minimal. While you may experience some initial sensitivity around the teeth and gums, any soreness or pain can be reduced with a mild pain-killer and a mix of warm water and salt.

If any soreness or sensitivity persists after about a week, consider visiting your nearby pharmacist for a solution, or pop back in and see us for a consultation.

Who can benefit from veneers?

Veneers can be a good option for people with:

• Teeth that remain discoloured despite teeth whitening
• Worn, misaligned, or uneven teeth
• Minor chips, cracks, or slight gaps between teeth

If you're considering enhancing your smile, our experienced dental professionals at National Dental Care Armidale are here to assist you. Whether you opt for composite veneers or porcelain veneers, we will guide you through the entire process.

Schedule a consultation with us today and take the first step toward an improved smile.