Are they easy to look after?
There is no special care needed; you brush, floss and come for regular dental cleaning. Some patients find it much easier to clean their teeth after Smiledesign as their teeth are straighter! The veneers will protect the teeth against dental caries!
How long does my smile last?
With good maintenance, there is no reason for anything to need changing until 20-30 years. Of course, this is barring accidental breakage or grinding of teeth! The porcelain will not change colour over its lifetime!
Is there any drilling of my teeth?
Yes! Rarely will we ever not shave teeth at least slightly. We will shave as much as is necessary but as little as possible to get a great result! For most patients, there is so little shaving that they don’t require any anaesthetic at all!
How fast can my smile be transformed?
The normal process of Smiledesign takes around two weeks but we can arrange an express service that can transform the smile in 5 days!
Are there any side effects?
No negative side effects are to be expected. You may find yourself smiling more and being more confident…?
Is there any “downtime” during the procedure?
There is rarely any downtime and some patients have the procedures done during their lunch breaks!
How painful is the whole process?
Most patients do not even need any anaesthetic but we do use local anaesthetic when required. Note that each of us have different pain thresholds.
Will it affect the way I speak?
The changes in speech will tend to be subtle and patients speak normally within a few hours. However, we do use Smiledesign to correct many speech defects and can actually improve pronunciation!
Will Smiledesign change my eating habits?
The porcelain will not stain and they actually reinforce the teeth so that the whole structure is actually harder than the original tooth! We do recommend avoiding any very hard food like bones, crab claws and opening melon seeds(a Chinese thing!)
Will it harm my teeth?
Our teeth will wear out over our lifetimes through brushing and eating. The amount of tooth structure removed is routinely equivalent to 20 years of brushing and eating! For some older patients, the teeth are permanently protected against any further frontal wear and wear of the tips!
What happens if I break the porcelain or it drops off?
The most common cause of breakage or dislodging is grinding of teeth during sleep. This is more common than most people realize. If there is an issue with this, Dr Kevin will normally prescribe a nightguard to protect them. We do give a warranty against manufacturing defects for one year but it is almost unheard of for them to break within the first year. Minor breakages are easily repairable on the spot and refixing is possible if the veneers are not damaged.
How much does Smiledesign cost?
The cost can vary from under a thousand dollars to over $10,000 depending on many factors. The cost will be discussed with each patient as to determine the optimum spend! The cost tends to be in the similar range as traditional orthodontics or Invisalign.
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We are happy to answer any oral health related questions.