Porcelain And Composite Veneers In West Perth

Porcelain veneers usually need some enamel removed, and that change is permanent, so a veneer does change the tooth even when it is done well. Composite veneers often need little or none. Ask how much preparation your own teeth would need before you decide, and we’ll tell you before anything starts.

How much depends on the tooth, its shape and colour, how thick the veneer needs to be and how big a change you want. Enamel doesn’t grow back, so we compare smaller options first: whitening may meet a colour goal (healthdirect, teeth whitening), bonding can cover small chips, and aligners can close some gaps without drilling.

Other things to ask about are sensitivity, chipping, a veneer coming loose and gum changes at the edge. Grinding can damage dental work, veneers included (healthdirect, teeth grinding), so a night splint may be part of the plan. Veneers need cleaning, checks and, eventually, repair or replacement. You’ll have a written quote and the likely future costs before you decide.

• healthdirect (Australian Government). Teeth grinding (bruxism)
• healthdirect (Australian Government). Teeth whitening

Sometimes. A single veneer has to match the teeth beside it in shade, shape and surface, and that takes careful planning. We’ll tell you whether it’s realistic for your teeth before you commit.

Natural teeth vary in colour and translucency, and a single veneer can look different in different light. If the neighbouring teeth are darker, whitening them first may help, though whitening only changes natural tooth, not existing crowns, fillings or veneers (healthdirect, teeth whitening). Matching is then done to the shade you end up with.

Other options for one tooth include composite bonding, which can be added to or repaired later, or veneers on the neighbouring teeth too, which means more enamel removed and a bigger cost. We’ll compare them with you. Photos and mock-ups help with planning but can’t promise the result, so we can’t promise an exact match. You’ll get a written quote for each option, and you can decide not to go ahead. We plan every cosmetic treatment this way, as set out across our services pages.

• healthdirect (Australian Government). Teeth whitening

Neither suits everyone. Porcelain is stronger and resists staining, while composite is quicker, needs less preparation and is easier to repair. We’ll weigh them up for your teeth, your bite and your budget, and show you the trade-offs side by side.

Porcelain veneers usually need some enamel removed, and that’s permanent. They are made in a laboratory or, for selected cases, with CEREC, and they usually take two or more visits. Composite veneers often need little or no enamel removed, are built up on the tooth, and can often be done in one visit, but they’re more prone to staining and wear.

Costs differ, so ask for a written quote for each option, with what it costs to maintain and replace over time. Neither lasts forever. If you clench or grind, tell us, because grinding can chip veneers and other dental work (healthdirect, teeth grinding). We don’t rank one material above the other, and we can’t promise how either will look or last in your mouth.

• healthdirect (Australian Government). Teeth grinding (bruxism)

Yes. Porcelain and composite veneers are both tooth-coloured and contain no metal. That’s true of the veneer itself, so ask us what the products used with it, such as the bonding materials, are made of, and we’ll tell you.

Metal-free doesn’t mean free of trade-offs. Porcelain is strong and resists staining, and it can chip or be harder to repair. Composite is quicker and easier to repair, and it stains and wears more. 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).

If you’d rather avoid metal, say so. You don’t need a medical reason. If you have a known allergy to a dental material, tell us when you book and bring any test results. Allergy testing isn’t done at the practice, but your doctor or an allergy specialist can arrange it, and we’ll plan around the result where that’s possible. We won’t call any material toxic or pure, and we can’t promise a material will suit everyone.

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

They don’t last forever, and we won’t give you a number of years, because it varies from person to person. Chipping, wear and gum changes can mean repair or replacement, and any enamel removed is gone for good. That’s why we plan for upkeep before you start.

What shapes how long they last: how well you clean, whether you clench or grind, what you bite on, the material and how it was made and bonded. Grinding can damage dental work, veneers included (healthdirect, teeth grinding), so a night splint may be suggested. Composite is easier to repair and also more prone to staining and wear. Porcelain is strong but harder to repair if it chips.

Veneers need cleaning, regular reviews and, in time, replacement. We’ll explain the likely costs over the years before you decide, not only the cost on day one. If a veneer chips, comes loose or the edge of the tooth feels rough, phone us rather than waiting. We can’t promise a result will last, and a replaced veneer may need more preparation of the tooth.

• healthdirect (Australian Government). Teeth grinding (bruxism)

No. Whitening lightens natural tooth only. Veneers, crowns and fillings keep their shade, so after whitening the natural teeth around them can look different from the work (healthdirect, teeth whitening). That’s why whitening is usually planned before veneers, and why we ask about it at the start.

If you want whiter teeth and veneers, tell us the order you have in mind. New veneers are matched to the shade of your natural teeth at the time, so a later change in your natural colour can leave a mismatch. Whitening can also cause tooth sensitivity, which is a common effect (Eachempati et al., 2018), so tell us if your teeth are already sensitive.

Ask whether whitening alone could meet your goal, because it needs no enamel removal. For some colour concerns it may be enough, and for others it won’t be. We can’t promise a shade. Whitening isn’t for everyone, and your dentist will check your gums, fillings and teeth first and explain what it can and can’t change before you decide.

• 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

Almost certainly not the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, and your fund may pay little or nothing. Services Australia says the schedule doesn’t cover orthodontic or cosmetic dental work, or dental services provided in hospital, and veneers are usually a cosmetic choice. Medicare doesn’t cover most dental services.

Private health funds differ from policy to policy. Some policies list particular items, with waiting periods and annual limits, and cosmetic items are often excluded or capped. If veneers are replacing a tooth structure that has failed, ask your fund whether the item would be classed differently. That’s a question only your fund can answer.

Ask us for the item numbers and a written quote before you start, then check with your fund what you’d have left to 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 through providers such as Afterpay, humm and Zip are explained on our payment options pages, and each lender sets its own terms.

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