Dental Veneers

What are dental veneers?

Dental veneers are one form of cosmetic dentistry we perform at our Hobart clinic, where we place a layer of tooth-coloured ceramic or composite resin over the visible surfaces of your teeth.

We do this to correct the following:

• Worn tooth enamel
• Uneven tooth alignment
• Abnormal spacing
• Discolouration
• Uneven teeth
• Chips or cracks

Dental veneers can improve the appearance of your smile and may help protect the surface of damaged teeth. However, they are not always a substitute for other dental treatments, and your dentist will discuss the most appropriate options for your individual needs. There are two options to consider when it comes to creating your dental veneers at our Hobart clinic:

CERAMIC VENEERS

These are considered the gold standard choice for enhancing your smile. Ceramic veneers are known for their durability and natural appearance, which many patients find closely resembles real teeth. It is crucial to ensure your satisfaction with the shade and overall aesthetics of the veneers before their placement, as ceramic veneers cannot be whitened once placed.

Ceramic veneers are highly resistant to staining and durable, but they can chip or break. They may require replacement over time, and proper care, including avoiding hard foods and maintaining good oral hygiene, is essential to preserve their appearance and longevity.

A skilled dental technician will create your ceramic veneers in one of our select dental laboratories.

Your dentist may recommend ceramic veneers for more significant corrections or if you are seeking a longer-term solution, depending on your individual needs and clinical assessment.

COMPOSITE VENEERS

During your appointment, your dentist creates composite dental veneers by permanently attaching tooth-coloured dental material to your teeth using dental adhesives and a high-intensity curing light.

We recommend these veneers when the correction is less severe and a moderate-term solution is needed.

There are two main types of composite veneers:

1. Direct Composite Veneers – usually one or two teeth

Your dentist will apply tooth-coloured dental material directly to your teeth and then sculpt it to improve your smile’s appearance. This procedure is also commonly known as ‘bonding’ by patients.

Bonding is usually an ideal and less expensive solution for people with chips, gaps between the teeth, staining and discolouration, slight crookedness and misshapen teeth.

2. Injection Moulded Composite Bonding – usually two or more teeth

Injection moulded composite bonding utilises a customised mould to shape your natural teeth using a tooth-coloured composite material. The mould is placed over your teeth and composite material is injected into the mould using a needle. Many cases of injection moulded composite bonding can be completed in a single appointment. However, individual results may vary, and additional visits may be needed to achieve the desired outcome.

Note: the injections are into the mould, not your gums or mouth.