What are porcelain veneers and how they can transform your smile?

Imagine a life with 100% confidence in your smile. You wouldn’t have to constantly worry about your teeth or hide your smile from the world.

Porcelain veneers have become the most popular aesthetic dental treatment during the pandemic, for a reason. Over the last 2 years, there has been a notable rise in online users that switch to video platforms to connect with people, both professionally or socially. As a result, people have become more aware of their physical features. I have seen a huge increase in people coming in for both facial and dental aesthetic treatments, and this is especially true with their smile and how it influences their confidence to communicate.

CONFIDENCE is the key word here… your smile affects your confidence in yourself, and how you interact amongst others.

So, what are porcelain veneers?

Veneers are thin, tooth-coloured material that are bonded to the natural surface of the tooth using a permanent dental cement. The veneers are made of special ceramics, custom hand-crafted in a dental laboratory to my specifications by the ceramist, to match the specific shade and desirable characteristics of your teeth. 

If there are a variety of things that you don’t like about your smile, porcelain veneers are probably the best way to fix them all at once. Veneers can be used to:

• correct imperfections of your teeth such as poor colour, shape, contours, stains
• whiten your teeth permanently
• get rid of undesirable gaps
• straighten slightly misaligned teeth
• protect the surface of your teeth from further damage 
• enhance the natural aesthetics of your smile. 

At Dental & Facial Aesthetics, we utilize a comprehensive digital approach to rehabilitate your smile with veneers, this way maintaining predictability throughout the entire smile makeover process.

It all starts with the Smile Consultation

Creating a natural smile requires a great deal of meticulous planning, that takes into account your natural features, including your face, lips, teeth and gums.

At Dental & Facial Aesthetics, we believe that your smile should reflect your personality, and we strive to give you a smile makeover that complements your natural facial features. This is why our consultation is probably the most important step in your smile makeover. At this appointment, we are able to assess your particular concerns and needs, identify any potential problems or any collateral treatment that may be required, and it is here that we start planning your unique, bespoke smile.

Once we have decided on the best treatment option for you, we present you with a smile test drive, which puts you in control of your smile makeover, and lets you experience your new smile in real time.

Cons of Porcelain Veneers

So now you know the pros of porcelain veneers, but there may be instances in which veneers are not suitable for you, such as situations with a complicated bite, or if you have extensive tooth restorations, excessive tooth loss or decay. In these cases, we may consider more long term, alternative treatment options for you such as porcelain crowns or implants.

Secondly, whilst porcelain veneers are minimally invasive (meaning that we remove as little tooth structure as possible), they are not reversible, so porcelain veneer treatment lasts for life, and will require regular oral hygiene and maintenance visits. The veneers may have a tendency to stain or discolour over a period of time, particularly in patients who are heavy smokers, or who consume alot of stain-inducing foods and beverages (ie. coffee, red wine). However with newer ceramics, this is not a problem as long as regular oral hygiene sessions are maintained.

Finally, since they are made out of ceramic, porcelain veneers can chip or crack. Whilst this is rare, it can happen due to negligence such as opening bottle tops with your teeth, or playing contact sports without mouth protection. As they are bonded onto the tooth, veneers are surprisingly very resilient and can withstand a lot, and complications can be avoided if post-operative instructions are followed.

I want to change my smile, how do I go about it?

At Dental & Facial Aesthetics, we understand that a smile makeover is a significant personal journey and investment. We provide you with a thorough consultation to ensure that we deliver the best possible options for you. Your journey to your new smile is important to us and we are honoured to take you through the smile makeover experience, every step of the way!