Chipped your tooth trying to open a bottle with your teeth?
Or maybe you got knocked in the mouth playing sports and now your tooth looks discoloured? Or perhaps you’ve noticed your smile is not as symmetrical as you’d like? Having chipped, gappy or discoloured teeth isn’t something you need to live with – the Limitless Dental team can help you out!
Usually when someone chips or knocks their tooth, the first point of contact is with their dentist to make sure that there isn’t further damage to your teeth via x-rays and thorough examination. Once that has been assessed, we can discuss various options to mend your affected tooth. This involves understanding the look you want to achieve. One of those options that we offer is veneers.
What are veneers?
Veneers are tooth-coloured caps that are permanently bonded to the front surface of any affected teeth. They are mainly made of either porcelain or composite materials/resin. We offer veneers for:
- Cosmetic purposes, to cover discolouration, cracks or chips
- Functionality, to lengthen a smaller-than-average tooth or close the gaps between teeth
What’s the process for getting veneers?
There are different processes depending on the type of veneer you want to opt for, that is, either a composite resin veneer or a porcelain veneer. However, they all involve a similar process to getting a crown made – we need to recontour your tooth (shave down) to make space to fit the veneer over the top.
- Composite resin veneer – after exfoliating the surface of the tooth, the dentist will apply layers of composite resin (think of it as dental cement) to the surface and utilise various shaping techniques to mimic a natural tooth; this is usually done for small cracks on the tooth’s layer
- Porcelain veneer – the dentist will start by grinding down a thin layer of the tooth’s surface before taking an impression of it to send to our lab. A temporary tooth will be put in place while we wait for the veneer to be made. Once we receive the porcelain veneer, we get you back in to permanently attach the veneer
Which is better – composite or porcelain veneer?
We give you all the information to help you consider which veneer option is best, depending on cost, longevity and appearance. Composite resin veneers are usually completed within one visit, and while this means it’s a less expensive option, it may not last as long as porcelain veneers, particularly if it’s not taken care of. On the other hand, porcelain veneers require a return visit to be put in place but have an estimated longevity of 7-10 years and are less likely to stain.
How do you match the colour of veneers to your natural teeth colour?
During your consultation, we take various photos in natural lighting as well as use a shade guide to best match the final colour of the veneer to the shade of your other teeth.
What is the aftercare for veneers?
When you’ve had veneers put in place, you’ll want to put in place great oral hygiene and other habits to ensure you get the longevity of it. These things include:
- Maintaining regular flossing and teeth brushing routine daily
- Avoiding chewing on hard objects like pens and fingernails
- Avoiding opening packaging and bottles with your teeth
- Having yourself assessed for any bruxism/grinding, which may have been a reason for your needing veneers put in place
- Seeing your dentist every six months to make sure they’re still in good condition
What are other options instead of veneers?
It’ll depend on your tooth’s current condition. Other options include teeth whitening for any discolouration, orthodontics for gappy or unsymmetrical teeth and dental implants to replace a broken tooth altogether. We cover all the treatment options to help you achieve the look you’re after.
Book online or give us a call on 9569 8091 if you think veneers might work for your cracked or discoloured tooth!
