Dental Veneers Singapore

Dental Veneers or porcelain veneers are thin shells made of tooth-coloured materials like plastic or resin designed to enhance the appearance of the teeth. Dental veneers are custom made and used to address issues such as crooked teeth, gaps between teeth, chipped teeth and discoloured teeth from stains or root canal treatment. Aesthetic problems aside, dental veneers commonly used for resolving any physical issues you have with your teeth, such as the shape of your teeth.

Dental veneers (especially porcelain veneers) can be used for your smile makeover in Singapore.

Step 1: Diagnosis and treatment plan by your dentist

Your dentist will help you to understand what you want to achieve from the whole procedure and come up with a treatment plan. This includes communicating your needs, dissatisfaction you have with your teeth and what you dislike about your smile. Your dentist will examine your teeth and explain the procedure as well as its limitations. Factors like your face shape, natural teeth and lips will be kept into consideration. You will also have to decide on your dental veneers of choice i.e. porcelain veneers or composite veneers. Impressions and X rays will be taken of your teeth to create a custom design of your new smile.

Step 2: Preparation of the dental veneers

Once the design is approved, some enamel is removed from your teeth to prepare for the veneers to be placed. How much enamel is removed differs case by case. For example, patients with large, crooked teeth with a significant amount of teeth stains will require more shaving, while patients with short teeth or gaps between their teeth do not require shaving. But generally, not more than 0.5mm of enamel is shaved. Most of the time, local anaesthetic is not required, but will be given by your dentist if necessary.

Step 3: Mock up of the dental veneers

A mould of your teeth is made based on the desired size and shape of the veneers. The dentist will present to you the mock up veneers and any adjustments can be made on the spot. Once you are happy with the design of the veneers, temporary veneers made of plastic are put in place. This allows you and the dentist to check how the veneers look in your mouth.

Step 4: Bonding the dental veneer

Veneers take about 7-10 days to manufacture. Once your veneers are ready, the dentist will check the real veneers before bonding them to your teeth. The veneers are bonded to your teeth using a special cement. After bonding, the dentist will remove the excess cement and adjust the shape of the dental veneers. Minor adjustments can still be made to the veneers at this point.

Step 5: Fine tuning of your smile and dental veneers

Patients may come back to fine tune their smile and dental veneers, including the shape, colour and surface.

Porcelain veneers.

Porcelain veneers are usually the chosen veneers of choice due to their strength, reliability, longevity and appearance; they resemble natural teeth the most. Not only are porcelain veneers crafted specifically to fit your natural teeth, but they are also a lot more stain-resistant compared to composite veneers. Porcelain veneers are however more expensive and usually require two sessions to be fitted.

Composite veneers.

Composite dental veneers are made of plastic or resin and can be fitted in a single appointment. They are also cheaper compared to porcelain veneers. Hence, composite veneers are a perfect short-term option for those looking for an affordable and convenient alternative. However, composite veneers are not as stain-resistant or as strong.

Depending on your preference, lifestyle habits and location of the tooth that requires veneers, your dentist will recommend the best option for you.

With proper care and maintenance, porcelain veneers can last, conservatively, from 15-20 years and composite veneers can last 5-8 years. Depending on the patient and their oral hygiene, sometimes veneers can last up to 20-30 years.

Veneers are made with composite or porcelain resin to look like a whole natural tooth, while teeth bonding uses composite resin to fill a missing part of your tooth or to alter the colour of a stained part of a tooth.

Porcelain veneers require very little maintenance as they are not porous like our natural teeth and hence are extremely stain-resistant. The colour is permanent for the lifespan of the veneer. With porcelain veneers, the natural tooth underneath is protected so there is rarely any chance of decay or gum disease.

However, you should always practice good dental hygiene for the healthiest smile possible.

1. Brush your teeth regularly. Twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed! There is no need to over brush them as well.
2. Floss. This will help to make sure that you do not get any food stuck between your teeth. It is just good dental hygiene!
3. Go for regular cleanings with your dentist. No matter how well you brush, you will not be able to clean as thoroughly as the dentist can!
4. Avoid food with natural staining agents, such as red wine, coffee and tea. While your veneers will not be affected, your natural teeth will — when that happens, the colour of your porcelain veneers will not match the colour of your natural teeth.

In Singapore, veneers are a great treatment option for many patients; however they should only be placed on girls 16 and above and boys 17 and above or when teeth are fully erupted.

Porcelain veneers cost about $1,000-$2,500, while composite veneers cost about $250-$1,500.