Do I Need To Shave My Teeth For Dental Veneers?
Hi, I’m Dr Michael Cai, the principal dentist of Pitt St Dental Centre here in Sydney.
We have a new cosmetic patient, Stephen from Pyrmont, who is about to start his cosmetic Smile Makeover journey with us. During his consultation, he asked me: Hey Michael, Do I need to shave my teeth for dental veneers?
This is such a common question from our veneers patients, so I thought I’d make a video sharing with you what I shared with Stephen.
The answer to this question depends on several factors. In general, when getting porcelain veneers, some tooth structures may need to be adjusted to place the veneers properly. Veneer preparation is a minimally invasive procedure that is typically done under local anesthesia.
This is because the veneers need to fit over the front surface of your teeth without looking bulky or unnatural. It also needs to have a minimum thickness of 0.3mm for adequate strength.
However, the amount of tooth structure that needs to be adjusted can vary based on factors like the smile design, the thickness of the veneers, the shape of your original teeth, the presence of existing restorations, and the amount of tooth structure that is already present.
While tooth surface adjustment may be necessary for some patients, it’s important to note that it’s not always required. Sometimes, we can place the veneers without removing any tooth structure. Sometimes, we alter the position of teeth with orthodontics to minimise the amount of tooth preparation.
It’s also worth noting that there are alternative types of veneers, like no-prep veneers, which require little to no tooth structure removal. However, these types of veneers may not be suitable for all patients. During your smile consultation, we can help you determine what is the best course of action to achieve the smile you want.
So, in conclusion, the answer to whether or not you need to shave your teeth for dental veneers is sometimes unclear-cut. It depends on various factors, including the smile design, the type of veneer you’re getting, the thickness of the veneers, and the amount of tooth structure already present.
If you’re looking at upgrading your smile with a smile makeover that is natural and beautiful, we’d love to look after you. Here at Pitt St Dental Centre, we have done thousands of smile makeovers with dental veneers, and we offer flexible payment plans so you can get your dream smile faster.
Call us on 9223 4767, complete the form on our website, or send us a DM on social media, and we’ll help you organise a smile consultation. See you in the next video.
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Services We Mentioned:
Smile Makeovers
Dental Veneers
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Kristen K.
I have been going to Dr Cai for almost two years and each time I visit he and the staff are so lovely and professional. I cannot recommend them enough.
Nikki J.
Best dentists I have ever been to. I even travelled to Pitt Street Dental when we lived interstate to see them. Very capable, thoughtful and kind dentists and team.
