Your Information Guide to Dental Veneers
You’re probably wondering how much it costs to wear a Hollywood smile that your favourite celebrities and idols wear. Expensive? Impossible to find? Well, you thought wrong!
Did you know that the Hollywood smile you’ve been looking for is available right now in your city? If you’re seeking that Hollywood smile and you’re reading this wondering if this is the right place, then you are correct! The cosmetic treatment you’ve been looking for is Dental Veneers. Here, we provide you with the breakdown of all thing’s dental veneers from costings to procedures and your common questions.
Dental Veneers are primed to transform the confidence in your smile, and we break down everything you need to know to get the Hollywood smile you’ve been looking for.
Scroll down and keep reading!
Dental Veneers act as a long-term, natural-looking cosmetic solution that transforms how your smile looks. It is a procedure that hides or protects your natural teeth with a custom-made material shell. Think of it as a solution that hides your niggling dental concerns whilst showing off a new look set of teeth so that you wake up every morning with a new smile to show off. Veneers are available as single or multiple options depending on your oral health needs. A full set can be applied to your teeth as well if needed.
If looked after properly with excellent oral hygiene, veneers can last a lifetime. Every morning you will wake up to a shiny smile every single day.
There are many common questions asked about dental veneers, such as; “What are the different veneer options?” “How can I look after my smile with Veneers?” “What is the cost of single and multiple veneer fittings?”
All of your questions will be answered right here. Follow this guide to help you make the right choice for your oral health needs.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental Veneers are dubbed the ‘Hollywood’ smile because it delivers the aesthetically pleasing look to transform your pearly whites.
Veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made shells made out of a variety of materials bonded to the front surface of your teeth. The porcelain material used to mould the veneer is strong and translucent and its strength is similar to the strength of your tooth enamel. Whilst there are other materials for veneers available, porcelain is ultimately the strongest and the most common material choice.
Veneers are a popular treatment choice not only because of its material qualities, but it also saves you money in the long-term and it eliminates the need for extensive treatments.
If your teeth are suffering from the following dental issues, then you’re a shoo-in for dental veneer treatment:
- Worn-out tooth enamel
- Discolouration (deep staining on the tooth surface)
- Wear and Tear (including chips and cracks)
- Abnormal shape
- Small spaced gaps between teeth
- Awkward Alignment of teeth
With fitted veneers, your smile will become unrecognisable to the public. Keep in mind that veneers are not a fit-for-all type of treatment.
Why Should You Get Veneers?
Are you still unsure about the benefits dental veneers will bring to your teeth? The best thing is to speak to your local dentist before you make any decisions on what’s best for you. However, if your teeth suffer from the dental issues we’ve outlined above, veneers are a perfect fit.
Here are the benefits you’ll enjoy from veneers:
- No adjustments are required to your natural teeth to accommodate the veneers
- They protect your natural teeth from further wear-and-tear
- With positive oral hygiene, veneers can last for up to 15 years
- The material is moulded from your existing teeth to proportionately fit the shape and size of your natural teeth
- The material is shaded to accommodate the colour of your natural teeth for a shiny smile
- Only a small trim of enamel is required to prepare the surface
- Self-confidence when smiling in public
PROS
To ensure you make the right choice for your dental needs consider the following points:
- Veneers are stain-resistant, and it is difficult for the material to accumulate stains once fitted on the tooth surface.
- Results from veneers are long-lasting for up to 15 years if looked after property, promoting more self-confidence in yourself and your smile.
- Veneers help to hide any wear-and-tear on your natural teeth. Your smile will become unrecognisable.
- Veneers help you save money in the long-term. They last longer compared to traditional cosmetic treatments such as bridges and dentures.
- Gum tissue tolerates porcelain well, meaning you won’t experience any gum irritation when you wear the veneers.
CONS
- Veneers are designed to hide your dental concerns, not fix them. Although unrecognisable when wearing veneers, the concerns will persist behind the veneer.
- Once veneers are fitted, they cannot be removed.
- Replacing veneers can be expensive. Although the porcelain material is strong, veneers can break if they’re neglected, which costs a lot of money.
- If you suffer from teeth grinding, veneers are not the best choice.
- You could experience sensitivity from time to time due to the removal of enamel.
Am I A Candidate For Dental Veneer Treatment?
Whilst other cosmetic treatments such as teeth whitening are a one-for-all type of treatment, dental veneers are certainly not. Therefore, your oral health needs to be strong and meet the following criteria to ensure the dentist passes you for veneer treatment. The dentist will perform an oral examination and the outcomes of these must be:
- Your teeth are stained
- Your enamel is sufficient, strong and rich
- You have positive oral health
- Your teeth are moderately straight
- You don’t suffer from teeth grinding
- You practice good oral hygiene
If you meet these criteria, then you’re a candidate for dental veneer treatment! It is that simple. The dentist will be placed best to determine this.
Types Of Dental Veneer Materials
Dental veneers are not restricted to just porcelain material, but it is the popular candidate due to its strength and durability. However, not all dental patients prefer porcelain material.
There are two main types of veneers: composite and porcelain.
Porcelain Veneers are made out of high-quality, strong ceramic material. Ceramic refers to an inorganic material that is used through heat application. The ceramic (or porcelain) material is bonded to the tooth. Porcelain veneers require two appointments; one to prepare the veneer and one to cement the veneer to the tooth.
Composite Veneers are less invasive and made from a resin material. They are applied to the tooth directly and then shaped by the dentist. The resin is then hardened under a special light before being bonded securely. The dentist then polishes the tooth and shades it to deliver a natural appearance.
Which should you choose? Porcelain is a stronger material compared to resin and more pleasing aesthetics, dentists recommend porcelain as it has a translucent quality and durability similar to your enamel. This means your veneers will stay strong for longer. Below breaks down both in greater detail.
| Composite Veneers | Porcelain Veneers |
| Typically takes one appointment | Typically takes two or more appointments |
| A cheaper material | An expensive material |
| Can discolour over time | Resistant to discolouration |
| Requires multiple replacements | Long-term durability |
Ultimately, speak to the dentist to determine the right material to suit your needs.
Do Veneers Fix My Natural Teeth?
Another common question is whether dental veneers fix your natural teeth. By now, you probably know the answer. Dental veneers do not fix your natural teeth but are designed to fit over your teeth and hide any wear-and-tear. The veneers are attached in front of your teeth, shaded and polished to deliver the perfect smile.
Now we’ve given you all of the factors you need to make the right decision for your oral health needs, we will now answer the key question; how much do porcelain veneers cost?
The Cost Of Dental Veneers
The cost of dental veneers depends on several factors. The following points need to be considered when searching for the best dental veneer cost:
- The Number of Teeth That Need Addressing – Do veneers need to support a single tooth or multiple teeth? Veneers typically work on a single veneer basis.
- Is Your Oral Health Good? – If you require additional treatment before a veneer can be applied, this can skyrocket your total cost.
- The Type of Material – As mentioned above, porcelain veneers are more expensive compared to composite veneers.
- The Location – In Australia, especially in busier metropolitan areas, the cost of veneers can be expensive. Therefore, research the most accessible area that offers cheaper treatment.
A single veneer supports a single tooth. Therefore, should you require multiple veneers e.g. two veneers, this will cater for two teeth, three veneers cater for three teeth and so on.
Bear in mind, there may be times where you suffer from a physical accident. This can lead to the veneers becoming damaged. This is also something to factor in as part of your pay package. Broken veneers are not covered by dental insurance.
Let’s break down the average cost or porcelain and composite veneers in Australia.
| Cost Breakdown | Single Veneer | Two Veneers | Four Veneers | Six Veneers |
| Initial Examination (Assessment of your teeth and the available material options) | $180-$200 | $180-$200 | $180-$200 | $180-$200 |
| Second Appointment Preparing the Veneer(s) | $600-$650 | $1200-$1300 | $2150-$2250 | $3100-$3200 |
| Third Appointment: Bonding the Veneer to the Tooth | $600-$650 | $1200-$1300 | $2150-$2250 | $3100-$3200 |
| TOTAL COST | $1200-$1300 | $2400-$2600 | $4300-$4500 | $6200-$6400 |
Keep in mind that costs can vary mainly dependant on location in Australia. You may be expected to pay more to Melbourne compared to Sydney.
For more information on dental veneer treatment and helpful tips, visit our blog page.