What Are the Types of Porcelain Veneers That Are Available?
Hi! I’m Dr Michael Cai, the principal dentist here at Pitt St Dental Centre in Sydney CBD.
Last Friday, we had a new cosmetic patient, Jaxton from Palm Beach, come into the practice looking at upgrading his smile. He wants to fix his uneven teeth and improve the brilliance of his smile.
As we went through his concerns and evaluated his teeth, we decided porcelain veneers would be the best option for him. During the smile consultation, he asked me, “Hey Michael, what are the types of Porcelain Veneers that are available?”
What a great question! So I thought I’d make a video to share with you what I shared with him.
Porcelain Veneers, surprisingly, come in three distinct types. Each has its own set of advantages and drawbacks that make it perfect for specific aesthetic needs and demands.
We have the in-house milled veneers, created using advanced CAD/CAM technology. These veneers are a brilliant choice for those who want a quick yet effective solution for their dental needs. Through the usage of a sophisticated CEREC machine, we can design and mill these veneers in a single appointment!
However, while they’re relatively inexpensive and fast to produce, their aesthetic value might be slightly less compared to other types. This limitation is because they are made from a block of ceramic. Even though we can stain and glaze these veneers, it does not quite replicate the unique characteristics of natural teeth.
We have pressed veneers, handcrafted in a laboratory. These are a step up in aesthetics from CAD/CAM veneers, as a ceramist meticulously moulds the tooth shape in wax before pressing the ceramic to form the final shape. These veneers are robust because of their homogeneous material, but they can still lack the natural translucency and intricacy of a natural tooth.
Now, let’s talk about the third and, personally, my favourite type: the hand-layered veneer. This type of veneer is artistically created by mixing different shades of porcelain powder with water.
It’s then baked in a porcelain furnace multiple times to create a natural shine, colour transition, and translucency that truly resembles a natural tooth. This is my top choice for most aesthetic cases, as it allows us to seamlessly blend the veneers into the surrounding tissue and modify the colour, shape, size, and proportion of the teeth simultaneously.
Now, perfection comes with its challenges. These veneers demand a high degree of artistic skill and precision. Fortunately, here in Australia, we are privileged to work with some of the best ceramists in the world, who excel in creating these hand-layered veneers. So, whatever your veneer needs may be, rest assured, we have the perfect solution just for you.
I hope this video gives you a better understanding of the types of Porcelain Veneers that are available and the pros and cons of each.
If you are looking for a cosmetic dentist to help you upgrade your smile, we would love to help!
We look after some of the leading TV and Sports personalities in Australia, and we would love to look after you too.
At Pitt St Dental Centre, we offer flexible payment options, so you can get your dream smile faster.
Simply call us on 02 9223 4767, complete the booking form on our website, or send us a DM on social media, and we’ll be in touch to help you organise your smile consultation. See you in the next video.
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Services We Mentioned:
Dental Veneers
Cosmetic Dentistry
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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.