Monet Smile Veneers Process

Understanding Veneers

Dental veneers are wafer-thin shells that are custom made in the shape and size based on your natural teeth. Porcelain veneers are usually the preferred choice by cosmetic dentists and patients because they mimic the characteristics of our dental enamel, highly resistant to stains, and are much stronger than composite materials. Porcelain veneers have a reputation for longevity. A 2021 study of 84 people with porcelain veneers found that the veneers had lasted as long as 20 years.

Veneers are designed to be tough, but they’re not indestructible. Like any type of dental restoration (or like natural teeth, for that matter), veneers can still break or chip.

A veneer can break for many reasons. For example: 

• As a result of biting into hard foods like ice or bone, finger nails, pork crackle

• As a result of teeth grinding

• As a result of a blow or impact to the mouth or face

• As a result of tooth decay behind the veneer

• As a result of consistently drinking acidic or fizzy drinks

When you receive your veneers, your dentist should provide you with detailed instructions for care, thereby ensuring the maximum possible lifespan for your new veneers.

It’s important to keep in mind, though, that a broken veneer is relatively rare. A responsible dentist is extremely diligent about checking the condition of the teeth beforehand, applying a sufficient bond, and ensuring the integrity of the covering. In addition, porcelain is known for its durability, which is why it’s a preferred choice for teeth among dentists and patients.

 Therefore, with good oral hygiene and proper care, you can expect your porcelain veneers to last a decade or longer in most cases.

How many appointments will it take to get dental veneers?

The whole process of getting dental veneers generally takes 3 or 4 appointments:

1. Consultation. The initial visit will be a consultation with our dentist, Dr Hau, during which he will inspect the condition of your teeth and gums. Dr Hau will have a closer look at the health of your teeth and gum to make sure you are a candidate for dental veneers. You will also discuss your desired outcome with Dr Hau in this appointment. In some cases, orthodontic treatments are recommended prior to the commence of your veneers journey. If there are signs of tooth decay and gum diseases, they need to be addressed before before the veneer journey begins, because the veneers would need to have a good and healthy foundation for their stability and longevity.

2. Check up and clean. We recommend that you have a professional check up and clean to establish if your gums and teeth are healthy enough for dental veneers. It is essential to have make sure your teeth and gums are in a good and healthy condition before you start the tooth preparation appointment.

3. Prep. After the check up and clean and having a clear understanding on what we are trying to achieve with your smile makeover, Dr Hau will start the preparation of your teeth for the planning of your dental veneers. Sometimes gum contouring is required to achieve that balanced and harmonised smile that you’re after. Meticulous planning and execution in the preparation process is crucial to the success and outcome of your new smile. In the preparation appointment, in most cases, a very minimal layer of your dental enamel needs to be removed in order to allow room for the veneers to be applied to your teeth. This is an irreversible procedure and in most cases, it’s necessary to ensure that your beautiful veneers will fit comfortably in your mouth without appearing bulky or affecting your bite.

Once the teeth surfaces have been thoughtfully prepared, Dr Hau will use a digital intra-oral scanner to scan your teeth to prepare for the design of your new smile. No more physical impression in your mouth that might make you gag.

Your facial ratios, bite and symmetry will be taken into the consideration of the design, because we want your new teeth to complement your face, smile and your persona. You will get to choose your desired tooth shade for your new veneers, whether you are aiming for a quiet luxury natural shade or a gleaming bright look, the choice is yours.

Once the design of your new smile is ready, you will review the look of your veneers. If there is any changes you’d like to make, we will alter the design before the final production of the veneers begins. Bare in mind that the design of each veneer is limited by your natural tooth shape and the bite, as we need to make sure each veneer is aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. Once we finalised on the design, it may take two to four weeks for us to have the veneers ready for you.