MiVeneer® 5D: How We Plan Porcelain Veneers

No. Photos, scans and mock-ups help with planning and discussion, but the final result can differ. A mock-up shows the plan, not a promise, and we can’t promise a particular look or shade.

A mock-up helps you see the proposed shape and length before any enamel is touched, and it helps us hear what you like and don’t like. Your real veneers are made and bonded afterwards, and differences in thickness, light and the colour of the tooth underneath can show up. Ask what can change between the mock-up and the final result.

Use the mock-up to compare, ask and decide. Tell us what you notice, and ask to see changes. The Detail stage agrees the shade, contours and how much preparation is needed. You can also stop at the mock-up stage and leave your teeth as they are. If you decide to go ahead, you’ll have a written quote, and a review is built in after fitting. Ask how sensitivity, chipping and debonding apply to your teeth.

That depends on your teeth and how big a change you’re after. You’ll know before anything starts whether enamel would be removed, and how much. Porcelain veneers usually need some enamel removed, and that’s permanent. Composite often needs little or none.

Enamel doesn’t grow back, so smaller options are compared with veneers first: whitening changes natural tooth colour with no enamel removed, though sensitivity is common (healthdirect, teeth whitening); composite bonding removes little or none; and aligners move teeth without covering them. The Diagnose stage assesses your enamel, gums, bite and what you’d like to change.

How much preparation a tooth needs varies from tooth to tooth, and we don’t promise “no prep”. We’ll show you the plan and explain where preparation is needed. Existing fillings and wear shape what’s possible, and so does grinding. Ask which teeth would be prepared, why and what the alternatives are. You can decide not to go ahead, and nothing proceeds without your agreement.

• healthdirect (Australian Government). Teeth whitening

Then we’ll look at smaller changes, or leaving your teeth as they are, depending on what you want and the health of your mouth. Not everyone is suited to veneers, and saying so is part of the assessment, not a refusal.

Reasons veneers may not suit include gum problems that haven’t been treated, not enough sound enamel, heavy grinding, a bite that would damage porcelain or a change you could reach another way. We’ll explain which applies to you. Whitening, bonding or aligners may meet your goal with less change to the tooth, and a referral may be right for a complex bite.

You can ask for a second opinion at any point, and you can say no. We won’t suggest veneers for a problem they can’t solve. If gum disease or leaking fillings are the first priority, we’ll treat those first, because a cosmetic change sits on top of what’s underneath. Ask what each alternative would cost and what upkeep it needs.

No. Whitening works on natural tooth, not on porcelain or composite, so existing veneers, fillings and crowns keep their shade and can look darker than the teeth beside them afterwards. They may need replacing to match (healthdirect, teeth whitening). Sensitivity is a common side effect.

That’s why we ask about whitening at the Diagnose stage. If you’re planning veneers and want whiter teeth, the order matters, because new veneers are matched to the shade of your natural teeth at the time. A later change in natural colour can leave a mismatch. A Cochrane review of home-based whitening found tooth sensitivity was a common effect (Eachempati et al., 2018).

Ask whether whitening alone could meet your goal. It removes no enamel, and for some colour concerns it may be enough. Tell us if your teeth are sensitive or worn. We’ll check your gums, teeth and existing work first and explain what whitening can and can’t change. We can’t promise a shade, and results vary between people.

• healthdirect (Australian Government). Teeth whitening
• Eachempati P, et al. Home-based chemically-induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018. PubMed 30562408

Check with your fund before you start, because cover for veneers and whitening is limited at best. Services Australia says the Child Dental Benefits Schedule doesn’t cover orthodontic or cosmetic dental work, or dental services provided in hospital, and Medicare doesn’t cover most dental services.

Private health funds differ. Some policies list particular items, with waiting periods and annual limits, and cosmetic items are often excluded or capped. Whether a veneer or whitening is covered is for your fund to say, and it may depend on the reason for the treatment.

We give you a written quote after assessment, and the item numbers, so your fund can tell you what it would pay. We can claim eligible items on the spot through HICAPS with participating funds, but we can’t promise a rebate or a set gap. Payment plans are explained on our payment options pages, and each provider sets its own terms. A review after fitting is part of the plan, so ask what it costs. Our other treatments are quoted the same way, as set out on our services page.

• Services Australia. What’s covered by the Child Dental Benefits Schedule