Cosmetic Dentistry In West Perth

Start with a consultation and describe what bothers you, in your own words. You don’t need to name a treatment or arrive with a plan. We’ll check your teeth, gums and bite and lay out the options from the smallest change up, so you can decide what fits.

It helps to bring photos, or to point out in a mirror what you’d change: colour, a chip, a gap, crowding or the shape of a tooth. Tell us why it matters to you, because that shapes where we start. Sometimes the answer is whitening or bonding, sometimes aligners or veneers, and sometimes it’s leaving things as they are.

Gums come first. Inflamed gums and leaking fillings are treated before cosmetic work, because a change sits on top of what is underneath. You’ll hear what each option involves, what it costs to maintain and what may need replacing in time, and you get a written quote to take home. There’s no pressure to decide at the first visit, and we can’t promise a particular look or shade.

No. Whitening lightens natural tooth only, so existing fillings, crowns and veneers keep their shade. After whitening they can look darker than the teeth beside them and may need replacing to match (healthdirect, teeth whitening). Tooth sensitivity is a common side effect.

That’s why the order is worth planning. If you have visible fillings or crowns in your smile, tell us before you start, because new work is matched to the shade of the teeth beside it. We’ll talk through whether to whiten first and then match any new work to the lightened teeth, or to leave whitening out.

A Cochrane review of home-based whitening found tooth sensitivity was a common effect (Eachempati et al., 2018). Tell us if your teeth are already sensitive or worn, and ask what’s suggested for you and how often. Whitening doesn’t suit everyone, results vary from person to person, and we can’t promise a shade.

• 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

No. Veneers are one way to change the shape of a tooth, not the only way. Bonding, aligners or small reshaping can get you close in some mouths with less change to the tooth, so we compare them with veneers for your teeth before suggesting one.

Composite bonding adds tooth-coloured resin to the tooth, often with little or no drilling. It can stain or chip over time, and it can be repaired. Aligners move teeth instead of covering them, so they can close gaps without removing enamel, but they only work when worn most of the day, and retainers are needed afterwards (Martin et al., 2023). Porcelain veneers usually need some enamel removed, and that change is permanent.

Which suits you depends on the tooth, your gums, your bite and how big a change you want. Ask how much enamel each option would remove, how it can be repaired and what it will cost to maintain, and ask for a written quote for each. We can’t promise a particular result, and leaving the tooth as it is remains a fair choice.

• Martin C, et al. Retention procedures for stabilising tooth position after treatment with orthodontic braces. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2023. PubMed 37219527

Usually, yes. Bonding uses tooth-coloured composite resin, and veneers are porcelain (ceramic) or composite, so most cosmetic work contains no metal. You’ll hear which material suits each tooth, and the reason, before you decide.

Metal-free doesn’t mean free of trade-offs. Composite is quicker and easier to repair, but it stains and wears more. Porcelain is strong and resists staining, but it is harder to repair if it chips. A very heavy bite or some bridge designs may need a different material, and we’ll explain why. If you’d rather avoid metal, say so. You don’t need a medical reason.

On one common worry, BPA, the Australian Dental Association states there is no evidence that long-term exposure from dental materials is linked to harm (ADA Policy 6.27, 2025). We don’t call any material toxic or pure. If you have a known allergy, tell us and bring any test results. Testing isn’t done at the practice, but your doctor or an allergy specialist can arrange it.

• Australian Dental Association. Policy Statement 6.27 – Bisphenol-A in Dental Restorative Materials (amended October 2025)

Your dentist recommends what fits your teeth and your goals, and you can always say no. Before any treatment you’re entitled to hear the options, their risks and their costs, including the option of doing nothing for now. A consultation is for understanding your options. It isn’t a commitment, and nothing goes ahead without your agreement.

Useful questions to ask: What are all my options, including waiting? What does each cost now and over time? What is this material made of, and why this one for this tooth? What happens if I do nothing? Taking time, or getting a second opinion, is fine. We’ll explain which decisions can wait and which need attention sooner.

Cosmetic work is your decision alone. We won’t suggest it for a problem it can’t solve, and we’ll say if a smaller change, a referral or no treatment looks like the better fit. If the plan changes after we’ve started, because of something we find, we’ll explain what and why and ask you before going further. You’ll have the likely future costs before you start. The same applies to the other treatments on our services page.

Usually little or nothing. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule doesn’t cover cosmetic dental work, and Medicare doesn’t cover most dental services. Private health funds treat cosmetic items differently from policy to policy, so ask your fund before you decide.

Services Australia says the Child Dental Benefits Schedule caps basic dental services at $1,158 over two consecutive calendar years, indexed each 1 January, and that it doesn’t cover orthodontic or cosmetic dental work, or dental services provided in hospital. The scheme is for children aged 0 to 17 who meet its eligibility rules.

For adults, extras cover depends on your policy: which items it lists, its annual limits and any waiting periods. We can claim eligible items on the spot through HICAPS with participating funds, but whether cosmetic work is eligible is for your fund to say. Ask us for the item numbers and a written quote, then check with your fund before you start. We can’t promise a particular rebate or gap.

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