Comprehensive Dental Veneers for a Healthier Smile

Dental veneers are fully customised dental restoration which made to look like a entire natural tooth in order to close gaps between teeth or alter the colour/shape/size of your teeth. Dental veneers can be made of composite resin or out of porcelain. Whereas dental bonding utilises composite resin to restore only the missing part of your tooth or to change colour of a particular part of a tooth.

No, dental veneers are not permanent and typically have a lifespan that averages between 10-15 years with good care and oral hygiene. However, once dental veneers come to the end of their lifespan, or get damaged, patients will need to get them replaced, as the process of preparing teeth for dental veneers is permanent and irreversible.

When it comes to dental veneers, there are 3 main downsides to getting dental veneers that patients must understand before getting dental veneers.

• The trimming of teeth during the tooth preparation process is usually required in order for the dental veneers to properly bond to teeth - As such, the process of getting teeth prepared for veneers is a permanent and irreversible procedure, once patients get dental veneers, they'll need to properly maintain their veneers and replace them when they get damaged or come to the end of their lifespan.
• Dental veneers can break or chip when patients bite into hard things (chicken bones, crab claws, bottle caps, etc.) when eating. Patients should avoid biting onto hard objects or foods when eating.
• Veneers are not permenant. They have a lifespan that averages between 10 - 15 years. This lifespan may increase or decrease depending patient's oral health and eating habits.

Unfortunately, dental veneers are not MediSave claimable as the procedure is generally considered as an elective and purely aesthetic procedure. MediSave guidelines dictate that only surgical procedures such as wisdom tooth surgeries or dental implants can be claimed.

There's plenty of confusion among patients when it comes to choosing to opt for crowns or veneers. Both tooth restorations offer patients an aesthetic final outcome when done by a seasoned practitioner.

Generally, veneers can be considered to be the more cosmetic option while crowns are the all-rounded option that restores both the function and appearance of teeth.

We have a dedicated article that dives deep into the differences between dental veneers and crowns.

When it comes to veneer maintenance, we generally prescibe patients with these 3 guidelines to follow:

1. Adhere to proper oral hygiene practices - Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing daily, and visit the dentist once every 6 - 8 months for a professional scaling & polishing 
2. Avoid drinking teeth staining drinks - Your natural teeth will still get stained when you consume beverages containing staining agents such as coffee, tea and wine. Dental veneers are highly resistant to staining which can result in inconsistency between the colour of your natural teeth and your dental veneers.
3. Avoid toothpaste that contain large particles when brushing yor teeth - These abrasive types of toothpaste may scratch and damage your dental veneers. 

Generally, most people with a healthy set of teeth and gums can opt for dental veneers if they're concerned about the look of their teeth or overall smile.

At NoFrills Dental, we mainly see patients who want to correct an existing issue.

For example, we see patients with crooked or misaligned teeth that don't wish to undergo orthodontic treatment such as braces or Invisalign, some patients who don't like the colour of their teeth and want a more permanent and long-lasting solution, other patients who have chipped front teeth or greyish front teeth from prior trauma.

The ideal candidate for veneers should be someone with good oral hygiene.

Although infrequent, dental veneers can 'fall-off' when they de-bond or break. Fret not, in most cases, our dentists will be able to re-cement or replace the damaged dental veneers.

The dental veneering process is not exactly a pain-free process, which is why local anaesthesia is used throughout the entire treatment process. 

Bonding sensitivity occurs in about 50% of patients who undergo dental veneers, which can cause increased tooth sensitivity for the first 7 days after getting dental veneers placed. As such, Ibuprofen will usually be prescribed to combat the pain and sensitivity.

However, any pain or sensitivity experienced post-treatment is only temporary and should subside after a week or so.

Generally, patients looking to get dental veneers should be in good overall health with a healthy set of gums and teeth. Any existing oral health issues such as active gum disease, tooth decay should be taken cared-of prior to the placement of dental veneers.

Patients with poor oral health SHOULD NOT get dental veneers.

If you're looking to get started on your smile transformation with dental veneers. We have a dedicated article that dives into the pros and cons of getting dental veneers.