Dental veneers – A bright, clean and healthy-looking smile — who doesn’t want one? It makes you look healthy and happy and gives you confidence. It can also have a big impact on other people and how they think about you — consider the importance celebrities and people in the public eye place on having good-looking teeth!
But for many reasons, our smiles aren’t always what we would want them to be. Your teeth can become discoloured through the foods you eat and what you drink, or through smoking, poor dental hygiene, or decay. Some people have chips or cracks in the surface of their teeth, or teeth that are misaligned, and this too can detract from the overall appearance of your smile.
Dental veneers are an effective way of restoring the look of your teeth and smile. As well as giving teeth a new, clean and fresh appearance, dental veneers can also help to reduce the gaps between teeth or to build up teeth that have become worn. They are a long-lasting and low maintenance solution that strengthens the structure of your teeth while at the same time enhancing your self-esteem and confidence.
What are dental veneers?
Dental veneers are a straightforward and popular method for teeth whitening. There are two main types — porcelain veneers and veneers made from composite resin. Dental veneers differ from crowns in that they are only applied to the front (visible) surface of your teeth, not the entire tooth as is the case with most types of dental crowns.
Porcelain is a hard, translucent white ceramic material, and it is used to create custom-made shells that are then cemented to the front surface of your teeth (the process is not dissimilar to the way in which false fingernails are applied over the top of your existing ones). Porcelain veneers can be used to change the colour of your teeth, giving you a bright, white smile once more, or to alter the appearance of your teeth in terms of their shape or size.
One of the reasons why porcelain veneers are one of the most popular forms of cosmetic dentistry is because each of the shells that are applied to your teeth is custom made, and so they both look and feel very natural — once in place, it’s impossible to tell that you have them. It is also a cost-effective and minimally invasive procedure, and you can choose how many of your teeth you want to have treated. If you are only having porcelain veneers applied to some of your teeth, the colour can be subtly altered so that your new veneers blend perfectly with your existing teeth.
When you have composite resin veneers, individual layers of resin are applied to the front of the teeth, one at a time. Each layer is shaped and hardened before the next is applied, and the number of composite veneer layers you need will depend on the type of work being done i.e., whether you are simply aiming for a brighter smile, or whether this cosmetic dentistry is being used to restore cracked, damaged or chipped teeth as well. Once the final layer is in place, your new teeth are polished so that you have a natural looking and healthy smile once more.
One of the positive advantages of dental veneers is that once you have had them fitted, you can carry on life as normal — there is no need to be wary of certain foods or drinks, and you can continue to brush and floss your teeth normally. There is no need to adopt elaborate dental hygiene routines just because you have undergone some cosmetic dental surgery. With proper care, you can also expect porcelain veneers to last for at least 15 years (and in many cases, even longer), while composite resin veneers will usually last for up to ten years.
What do dental veneers cost?
The costs of dental services in Australia can vary quite significantly, and this applies to cosmetic dentistry as well. According to 2017 National Dental Fee Survey, the average dental veneers costs in Australia are $1,983 per tooth for a porcelain veneer, or $860 per tooth for a composite resin veneer.
However, at Australia Medical Travel we are able to arrange Thailand dental holiday packages where the dental veneers cost is significantly lower — up to $1,400 lower per tooth for porcelain veneers.
Thailand dental holiday packages
At Australian Medical Travel, we specialise in organising medical travel for Australians getting veneers in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya, as well as in Selangor in Malaysia. We partner with internationally accredited hospitals and dental clinics — Bangkok Hospital and Sunway Medical Centre — who provide outstanding cosmetic dental surgery treatment and facilities.
When you opt for a Thailand dental holiday package with Australian Medical Travel, we take care of all aspects of the trip for you. This includes making the travel and accommodation arrangements and communicating with your preferred dental surgeon before you leave, and then being with you to support you throughout your stay.
