A great smile can make a big difference in how we feel day to day. Over time, chipped or cracked teeth, discolouration, or changes related to age can affect the appearance of our smile. For many people, porcelain veneers offer a practical way to address these concerns.
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are bonded to the front surface of teeth. They are carefully designed to improve aspects such as colour, shape, and symmetry, while blending naturally with your features. At The Dental Room, we focus on creating veneers that look subtle and individual, rather than overly uniform or artificial.
Some people consider veneers after trying whitening treatments or orthodontics, when they still feel their smile could be refined. At our Melbourne clinic, Dr Shawn Rama works closely with our in-house master ceramist, Ms Chloe Park, to design and create each veneer. This collaboration allows for a tailored approach where every detail, from shade to texture, is considered as part of your overall smile design.
What is veneer teeth?
Veneers – or porcelain veneers which The Dental Room specialises in – are very thin sheets of porcelain which are attached to the front surface of your teeth to improve the overall aesthetics of your smile. The permanently bonded veneer is designed to mask the tooth’s natural colour, shape, or positioning in the mouth.
You may be wondering what the difference is between veneers vs crowns (both of which, we can assist with!). A crown is a type of dental covering that is used to protect a tooth that presents with structural issues. It covers the whole tooth, and acts as a shield for the remaining portion. When assessing between the two, Dr Shawn and his team of highly skilled experts prefer to stay on the conservative side – any time you can build on someone’s own tooth (rather than cutting it down as you would find with a crown), it is going to last longer.
Porcelain veneers can improve the colour, shape, size, and overall appearance of a smile. They may be considered for concerns such as staining, chipping, old restorations, uneven edges, spacing, or minor crowding. In some cases, veneers can also support the lips and cheeks, contributing to a fuller, more balanced appearance.
Veneers can be used to treat a single tooth or several teeth as part of a broader smile design. Because they are highly versatile and individually crafted, veneers can be tailored to suit your teeth and your treatment goals.
What are dental veneers made of and are veneers permanent?
Unlike most dental clinics, all of our ceramic work is done in our own state-of-the-art in-house lab, by our talented master ceramist Ms Chloe Park – who carefully handcrafts each ceramic veneer with complete detail and to the highest standard. Chloe sits in on planning sessions with clients from as early as the initial consultation, which means the process is very collaborative and seamless from the get-go.
Chloe’s veneer-creation process includes getting the texture, colour, translucency, and even studying how light reflects off them right. In most veneers cases, Dr Shawn shaves away no more than 0.5 millimetres of the tooth structure (the thickness of your fingernail, to put it into perspective!), in order to achieve exceptional results. This shaving technique creates longer-lasting veneers (typically 10-15 years) and helps reduce your sensitivity to hot and cold drinks, not to mention leads to less postoperative complications.
See more before & after photos
Porcelain or composite veneers?
When it comes to veneers, you may ask what are composite veneers and how do they compare to porcelain? There are some noticeable differences between the two, so it’s worth researching.
Resin materials have advanced over the years, now with better polishing capability, and a variety of colours to choose from which allows mimicking of the tooth and light reflection. Despite this, porcelain is a far stronger material than resin, and porcelain veneers have a translucent quality that is quite similar to the tooth enamel, making it look more natural. Not to mention – porcelain veneers have strength and durability, plus they’re an excellent solution for all cases of worn enamel, wear and tear, genetic defects, and uneven teeth… the list goes on!
Direct composite veneers can be fabricated while you wait, making it a same-day treatment. They’re actually applied directly to your teeth, where they can be shaped and sculpted by the dentist. Minimal preparation work is required on your natural teeth, meaning they are not permanently altered, and therefore, future reversibility is possible. On the flip side, however, composite veneers are not suitable for severe concerns; for instance, discolouration or spacing issues may not be adequately treatable by composite veneers, and therefore, porcelain veneers are your best option.
On average, composite veneers cost between $250 and $650 per tooth in Australia, and last between five and seven years. Porcelain veneers when well maintained, can last from 10 to 15 years, so value is a big consideration when weighing up which veneer is for you. The best advice is to consult your dentist who will conduct a thorough oral health evaluation as part of your consultation, to determine your options.
Pros & Cons of veneers
It’s important to understand both the benefits and limitations of veneers so you can make an informed decision about whether they are right for you.
The pros of porcelain veneers are:
Natural appearance – Porcelain has similar qualities to natural enamel, such as translucency and the way it reflects light. When designed carefully, veneers can blend in with surrounding teeth for a natural look. At The Dental Room, our in-house ceramist, Chloe, crafts each veneer individually with attention to detail in colour, texture, and shape.
Strength and durability – Porcelain is a strong and durable material. When bonded to the tooth structure, veneers can provide a stable and long-lasting result if cared for properly. With good oral hygiene and regular dental visits, porcelain veneers may last many years.
Lack of staining – Unlike resin bonding or natural teeth, porcelain veneers tend not to stain. They’re glazed in the oven in the final stages, and this minimises staining
The cons of porcelain veneers is:
Price – as discussed, it is more costly to opt for porcelain veneers. Each smile design starts with a consultation with Dr Shawn Rama. Porcelain veneer costs are personalised to each individual. The costs of veneers can be seen as a barrier at first, however note that value is second to none when you consider the longevity of porcelain veneers, and the quality that is provided at The Dental Room. We can also set you up with a monthly payment plan, so it feels much more manageable to achieve the smile of your dreams
A little more involved – A small amount of the tooth will need to be removed off the surface to be replaced with the veneer. The amount to be shaven down really depends on the dentist, but here at The Dental Room, Dr Shawn in most cases will only remove 0.2 / 0.5mm of a tooth – basically the thickness of a fingernail. And in some cases, there may be no need to shave the tooth structure at all (these are called prepless veneers!). This is completed under anaesthetic with minimal discomfort.
Overall, there are many more advantages than disadvantages in opting for porcelain veneers. It’s advised to book an original smile consultation, where you can discuss all of your options with Dr Shawn and team.
What to expect at The Dental Room
From your very first visit to The Dental Room, you can expect a warm and friendly welcome. What sets us apart from other clinics is the environment we create – from unprecedented access to experienced dentist Dr Shawn Rama and in-house ceramist Ms Chloe Park, to the amazing attention and quality care you receive along the way, not to mention next level customisation that we offer. We help clients from within Melbourne, but also interstate and internationally. If coming from within Melbourne, the veneer process takes around 7 days, and for interstate or internationally, this can be completed in 5 days.
In your initial smile consult, Dr Shawn and Chloe will meet you to discuss your current concerns, desired outcomes, examine your smile, provide recommendations and pricing. In the next stage, which is the planning stage, Dr Shawn and his ceramist will use 3D scans, moulds, high resolution facial photography and radiographs to study and create your improved smile using facial aesthetic principles. At your next appointment recommendations will be shown to you, sometimes even digitally so you can see what your new smile will look like.
Your next appointment will take place over half a day, and this is where Dr Shawn will prepare your teeth by gently reshaping them. Impressions are then taken, and temporary veneers are fitted. These temporaries give you the opportunity to experience your new smile for about a week and provide feedback before the final veneers are made. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic to help you remain comfortable throughout.
We encourage clients to return two days later to provide feedback on the look of their temporary veneers, as this is when there is still the opportunity to refine the shapes, lengths, and anything else to your liking. Adjustments will then be made to the temporary veneers and a copy is taken by Ms Chloe Park to ensure feedback is taken into account in the creation of your final veneers.
This is the exciting part! In your last half-day appointment, your temporary veneers come off and your new porcelain veneers are carefully tried in. We check the fit, shade, and shape together, and with our in-house ceramist available, any tweaks can be made straight away. Once we are happy with the positioning of the veneers, they will be permanently bonded to your teeth. Local anaesthetic is used during the process to keep you comfortable.
For more information on the veneers process, visit here.
Dr Shawn Rama is the Principal Dentist and Founder of The Dental Room, with more than 20 years of experience in dentistry. He has a strong focus on aesthetic dentistry and works closely with our in-house ceramist to design customised porcelain veneers. Dr Shawn has created a clinic environment where clients are welcomed by a friendly team and supported throughout their treatment journey.
Contact us on (03) 9857 3988 or book an appointment with us online here.
Disclaimer: Results, potential risks, complications, and recovery times can differ for each individual and each procedure. Any dental procedure carries risks and benefits. Refer to thedentalroom.com.au/risks for more information on risks and potential complications.
Before starting any treatment, we recommend seeking independent advice from an AHPRA-registered health practitioner and considering a second opinion. This content is intended for adults, is general in nature, and should not be regarded as medical advice. Individual results cannot be guaranteed.
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