Cosmetic Dentistry
Welcome to our Cosmetic Dentistry Perth page. Click below to jump to the relevant section for Veneers Perth, Dental crowns Perth and Dental Bridges
At Dentista, we love working with you to achieve the smile you deserve!
Cosmetic Dentistry is all about using different tools to make the most out of your smile! Often a combination of several techniques are required to get the best outcome in each unique smile. The dentists have been helping people discover their smiles! They work closely with some of the best Perth technicians to deliver high quality results. In the below page we will look at 3 different cosmetic options, veneers, dental crowns and dental bridges.
Check out some of our cosmetic dentistry below at our Smile Gallery page.
Cosmetic Dentistry Perth with Dentista Dental Centre - Before and After
Cosmetic Dentistry Perth - Check out our Smile Gallery
Veneers Perth
A veneer is a thin layer of material bonded to the surface of the tooth. The after cosmetic look can be that perfect veneer smile that you see on TV or a veneer smile that can be made to look as natural as possible.
Veneers can cover one, or several surfaces of the tooth. A crown covers the whole tooth. Veneers can provide the following benefits:
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improving the colour of teeth
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improving the shape of teeth
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improving the alignment or position of the teeth
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closing gaps between teeth
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protecting worn or damaged teeth from further damage
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widening the smile
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restoring damage to the teeth caused by decay, trauma and erosion
There are two different materials available for dental veneers Perth. Porcelain, and Composite Resin. Each individual scenario will determine which veneer material is best for you.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain Veneers are hand crafted by a dental technician, so that each veneer is precisely designed and made to fit your tooth. It is then bonded into place by the dentist. For this reason, porcelain veneers are more expensive compared to resin veneers. Some other facts about porcelain are below;
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stronger than resin
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shinier than resin
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do not stain like resin
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colour of the porcelain will not change with time
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require at least two dental appointments for treatment after planning appointments
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often require irreversible cutting of the tooth enamel to make room for the porcelain (veneers shaving teeth).
Composite Resin Veneers
Composite Resin veneers, as their name implies, are made from a compound of plastic (resin) and silica. Unlike porcelain veneers, resin veneers are usually made directly onto your tooth. This means they can be provided at a lower cost, and usually saves on appointment time.
See some facts about resin veneers below;
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not as strong as porcelain
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not as shiny as porcelain
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can stain easily, and require regular maintenance
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can chip easier than porcelain, however are easy to repair
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can be completed in fewer appointments
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may be completed without cutting of the tooth enamel - can be reversible (does not need veneer teeth shaving).
Are Porcelain Veneers always better than Composite Resin Veneers?
No! Sometimes resin veneers are better!
Some situations where resin veneers may be more appropriate than porcelain veneers:
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closing small gaps between teeth (see our before and afters in the section on White Fillings)
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enlarging small teeth to make them a more proportional size
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restoring teeth in young people who's teeth position and gum position is still changing
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trial veneers. These can be used to assess a planned change in bite, position, aesthetics. This is especially great for people with extensive wear and tear on back and front teeth
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interim veneers - a more affordable solution and then progressing to porcelain veneers in the future
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when it needs to be done fast! Porcelain veneers take at least 2 weeks between having your teeth prepared ('veneer shaved teeth') and having the veneers bonded onto your teeth
Cosmetic Dentistry Perth - Above, combination of porcelain crowns and porcelain veneers made locally in Perth for Dr Carla
Veneers Shaving Teeth?
Veneer shaving, is it necessary? It depends on the situation! Often times with porcelain veneers we need to shave the tooth down to get the best looking result, otherwise the teeth can look bulky, unnatural, and also trap plaque at your gum and cause gum disease.
With resin veneers, it is not always necessary to shave the tooth down. But it depends on every situation.
Dr Carla will always plan the final result to ensure only the very minimum amount of drilling (teeth shaving) to your tooth has to happen! She will take frequent measurements during your treatment to keep track.
Shaving teeth is permanent, there's no do overs or mulligans... so you need a dentist with both the knowledge and experience. Veneer shaved teeth are all based on the end result in mind - once the final shape of your veneers has been planned we work backwards to know exactly how much shaving down needs to be done. The ceramic of the veneer has a minimum thickness, which is about 0.3mm. Thus the end result will incorporate knowing this 0.3mm and work backwards from this figure
If you are considering veneers and no plan has been made before your teeth get shaved, you need to ask, where is the plan??!!!
Veneers Disadvantages?
Things to consider before having veneers
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teeth shaving and shaving down teeth for veneers is irreversible
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the porcelain veneer or resin veneer may chip, break, or come off completely
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you need to be careful with biting into hard and sticky things (like bones and toffee) with your veneered teeth, as you may damage or chip the veneer
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if you grind or clench your teeth you may need to wear a night guard to protect your veneers
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the veneers will need maintenance, and at some stage will likely require replacement
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your gums may recede with time changing the look of the veneers
As you can see.. there are a lot of factors at play when considering veneers, and there can be consequenses if you don't go with a dental practice and dentist that has the tools and experience needed.
If you are looking for veneers then contact our experienced and professional dentists today.
A patient of Dr Carla's stone model of teeth before
A patient of Dr Carla's, porcelain crowns on six front teeth replacing existing crowns that did not fit the teeth well anymore.
Porcelain Veneers Perth Cost
At Dentista we charge $1700-$2000* (current 2024) per veneer. The variation depends on if your tooth needs any supporting work like fillings prior to the veneer. As always, an exact teeth restoration cost can be given with a consult.
There is a lot of time and effort that goes into making quality veneers. There is planning involved from the dentist, the time in consulting with the you the patient that everyone is on the same page, and there is the craftsmanship from the laboratory technician who makes them.
If you have been quoted for veneers and it is very cheap, these are questions you may want to ask if quality is important to you
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do I know what the veneers are going to look like at the end?
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do I know the quality of the ceramic? (some ceramics are rough which makes them look DULL!)
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where are the veneers getting made?
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what is the warranty?
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is there a comprehensive plan with respect to shaving down your teeth?
Teeth shaving cost involves the whole process of the veneer - there is no separate fee for the shaving and the veneer, they're one total price.
We have written blogs on Veneers Perth if you wish to find out more information.. please click here - veneers Perth
Dental Crowns Perth
Dentista places dental crowns using both the traditional method and using the latest cerec technology which give you same day crowns.
A dental crown or teeth caps, is a covering that covers your entire tooth - we call this a full crown or a tooth cap. Normally a full crown will be placed on a tooth for the following reasons;
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to strengthen a tooth that has been structurally compromised. This includes teeth that have;
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had a root canal treatment
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very large white resin fillings that keep breaking
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very large fillings where food is getting caught between the teeth
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to replace an existing crown that has decay under it
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to replace an existing crown to improve the look
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to replace an existing crown to improve the fit and the gum health
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to improve to look of a tooth that has turned dark from root canal treatment
As stated, Dentista now offer dental crowns for Perth with the CEREC, enabling you to receive same day crowns! To find out more, see our page on this topic here.
Dental crowns can also be placed on implants to replace missing teeth. Read more about dental implants.
What are crowns made from?
There are several options for dental crowns, each option has pros and cons
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Pressed All Ceramic: these are the most common. They can be 'bonded' strongly onto your tooth, they generally look the nicest too because they can mimic the 'lifelike' transulcency of natural teeth. They can be one colour with surface staining, or layered with different colours of ceramic
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Zirconia Ceramic: These are very strong. They can be layered with different colours of ceramic as well.
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Gold: Believe it or not gold is actually the best material for crowns! The gold can be very thin (which means less shaving of your tooth), and they fit the teeth very well. They are very strong so are great for people who clench and grind their teeth. Because of the colour, most people opt for back teeth only... although Dr Carla has done some front teeth in gold!
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Porcelain fused to metal: these were very popular prior to the newer all ceramic and zirconia crowns. They consisted of a substructure of metal, and then veneered with ceramic over the top. These also carry the name full crown veneered which is the private health insurance name for this and is discussed later below. These are very strong, however the veneering ceramic is prone to breaking, and due to the dark metal underneath having to be masked it makes the white ceramic over the top appear lifeless.
Above, dental crown and teeth shaving down a natural tooth
Front Teeth Crowns
Crowns on front teeth before and after see the pic below!
Front teeth crowns can be used to enhance the appearance and the strength of compromised teeth. As seen in the pic above teeth have to be shaved down to create space for the crown material. If most of the tooth is fillings that keep chipping, shaving the tooth down to place a crown can actually make it stronger. A crowned tooth is never going to be as strong as an restored virgin tooth, but can certainly strengthen teeth that have lots of fillings, as in the case below. How strong are crowns on front teeth really depends on so many factors
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how much natural tooth is remaining underneath the crown
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does the tooth have a root canal treatment (will make the tooth weaker)
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what material is the crown made of (porcelain, metal, zirconia)
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how well is the crown glued on
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very importantly does the mouth that the crown belongs to enjoy eating lots of very hard and sticky foods, is there lots of tooth grinding happening and are the crowns protected by a night guard?
The picture below show crowns on front teeth before and after.
crowns on front teeth before and after
Will my crown last forever?
Transformation of the original bathroom into the sterilisation room
Maybe! How strong are crowns on front teeth? How strong and long a crown lasts depends on lots of factors. Usually a crown is provided to help out an underlying tooth that has already been structurally compromised with lots of fillings or a root canal. So the starting foundation is not strong. Always remember that there is nothing stronger than your natural teeth, and if they didn't last forever it's unlikely anything else will!
Some things that help keep your underlying tooth, and crown for longer are;
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regular maintenance and x-rays (to help see what's going on under the crown)
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avoiding very hard and sticky foods like Minties, toffies, bones etc
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keeping your mouth extra clean with tooth brushing and cleaning between your teeth with floss or brushes
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wearing a night guard if you clench or grind your teeth
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avoiding frequent exposure to acids (see our pH series videos) that can rot your underlying teeth
Difference Between Crown and Veneer
Veneers vs crowns.. What is the difference between crown and veneer? It can be quite confusing. The main differences are number of surfaces and material. See the chart below for crown vs veneer.
Veneers
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not all surfaces of the tooth are shaved
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can be made of resin OR porcelain
Crowns
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all 5 surfaces of the tooth are shaved
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can be made of porcelain, gold, metal NOT usually resin
Below is a visual representation of crowns vs veneers.
Difference between crown and veneer
For a more in depth look into crowns vs veneers, we have a blog post which delves into the details including the advantages and disadvantages of each, and whether veneers or crowns are better for your situation. Please click veneer vs crown here.
Dental Crown Price 2024
Teeth restoration can be a complicated issue, but we will endeavour to give you a dental crown price guide. Whilst the crown price differs due to lab costs, position of the tooth and other factors, generally a dental crown cost will be between $1700 - $2500* (current 2024)
Bridges
A bridge is a way to replace one or more missing teeth. The supports to hold up the missing tooth/teeth can be other natural teeth, or implants. For conventional bridges, the supporting teeth or implants have crowns, that the bridge tooth (known as the 'pontic') is attached to. The bridge tooth rests on the gum and appears as though it is emerging from the gum like a natural tooth.
Above: A 3 unit bridge - two natural teeth support one pontic tooth
Above: A 3 unit bridge - two implants support one pontic tooth
Bridges can be in many different configurations. They can be a 3 unit bridge where there is a support either side of the pontic tooth, they can be a 2 unit bridge where only one support tooth/implant holds up the pontic, or there can be even more than a 3 unit bridge involving multiple supports and multiple pontics. In some situations, primarily for replacing a missing front tooth, the support tooth does not need to be shaved down for a crown, this is known as a Maryland Bridge.
Bridges offer a great solution to replace missing teeth. The main disadvantage of a bridge is that because the support crowns are attached to the bridge (pontic) tooth, the floss cannot go between the teeth. Another point to consider about bridges is that they require the supporting teeth to be shaved down to support the bridge (i.e. have a crown placed on them). Sometimes this is beneficial if the support tooth has lots of fillings and could be strengthened by a crown. If however the support tooth has never had a filling, an implant may be more conservative.
Cleaning between the teeth can be achieved with interdental brushes, or threading supa-floss (stiff floss that can be threaded) under the bridge.
For a further dive into dental bridges, please see our blog post here.
