A New Smile with Custom-Made Porcelain Crowns and Veneers
At Geelong West Dental, we provide high-quality dental crowns and veneers to restore and improve your smile.
Whether you need a dental crown to protect a damaged tooth or porcelain veneers to improve the appearance of your teeth, our personalised treatments may help you achieve a natural-looking smile.
What Are Dental Porcelain Crowns and Veneers?
A dental porcelain crown is a custom-made cap that covers a damaged or weakened tooth to restore its shape, strength, and function.
● Covers the entire tooth for added durability.
● Commonly used after root canals, severe decay, or fractures.
Veneers are thin custom-made shells bonded over the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance.
● Covers the front surface of the tooth.
● May help conceal stains, chips, gaps, and minor misalignment.
*Photos are stock images only.
Both porcelain crowns and veneers are designed to assimilate with your natural teeth. Our dentists will assess your teeth and recommend the best solution based on your dental needs.
The Treatment Process
Step 1: Consultation and Assessment
Meet our dentist to discuss your dental concerns and treatment goals.
A thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and bite will be conducted, along with dental radiographs and scans for treatment planning.
Using advanced digital imaging, a 3D smile simulation may be created for us to visualise results and discuss expectations.
Step 2: Treatment Planning and Preparation
Once the treatment plan is finalised, the teeth involved will be carefully prepared.
Digital scans are done using the latest Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC) technology. In many cases, the porcelain crowns and veneers are custom-made and fitted on the same day.
Step 3: Temporary Crowns or Veneers
In some cases, temporary restorations may be placed to protect your prepared teeth and allow you to get accustomed to the new shape, size and bite.
The duration of having the temporary restorations depends on the complexity of the case, which will be discussed during your treatment planning.
Step 4: Final Placement and Bonding
Once your custom-made porcelain crowns or veneers are ready, the temporary restorations (if placed) are removed. Try-ins of the porcelain crowns and veneers are done before they are permanently bonded.
A follow-up appointment may be scheduled for review and bite adjustments as needed.
General FAQs
Is the procedure uncomfortable?
Local anaesthesia is used during teeth preparation. Sensitivity after bonding of porcelain crowns and veneers is normal and generally improves after a few weeks. For patients with dental fear, sleep dentistry options can be discussed with the dentist.
Do crowns and veneers look natural?
The porcelain crowns and veneers at Geelong West Dental are custom-made to assimilate with the shape, size, and shade of your natural teeth.
Can crowns or veneers fix crooked teeth?
Whilst dental porcelain crowns and veneers may improve the appearance of mildly misaligned teeth, many cases of crowded teeth may require orthodontic treatments first.
Treatment and Considerations FAQs
What should I consider before getting porcelain crowns or veneers?
Before treatment, it is important to assess factors such as your oral health, existing tooth structure, and long-term maintenance needs.
At Geelong West Dental, our dentists will evaluate these during your consultation to determine whether porcelain crowns or veneers are the right option for you.
Can porcelain crowns or veneers be whitened later?
No, porcelain crowns and veneers do not respond to whitening. Whitening is generally done first before porcelain crowns and veneers.
What are alternatives to crowns and veneers?
If crowns or veneers are not the right option for you, alternative treatments may be considered, such as orthodontic treatment (conventional braces or Invisalign ®), or teeth replacement (if the existing teeth are unsalvageable).
Our dentists will assess your case and recommend the most suitable treatment.
How long does it take to get crowns and veneers?
This varies depending on case complexity. Our dentist will assess your oral condition and discuss expectations in terms of timeframe to achieve your new smile.
Care and Maintenance FAQs
Do crowns and veneers require special care?
Maintain regular brushing, flossing, and professional check-ups. Please avoid using your teeth, crowns and veneers for habits including opening packaging and nail-biting to prevent damage.
Can I eat normally with crowns and veneers?
Yes, but it is best to avoid chewing very hard foods such as ice to reduce the risk of damage.
In the case of temporary veneers, which foods should I avoid?
- Hard foods such as raw fruits, vegetables, and hard candy.
- Tough meat such as steak, which may scratch or dislodge them.
- Sticky foods such as caramel or taffy, which may put extra pressure on them.
Do I need to replace my crowns or veneers over time?
Porcelain crowns and veneers may need replacement due to normal wear, gum recession, or accidental damage over time.
Other FAQs
How much does dental crown and veneer treatment cost?
The cost of crowns and veneers varies depending on case complexity.
At Geelong West Dental, we offer complimentary smile design consult to assess your oral condition and discuss treatment options that best meet your goals. We also offer accessible options, including interest-free payment plans.
Why Choose Geelong West Dental?
Personalised Smile Design
We design bespoke porcelain crowns and veneers which may complement your facial features and help achieve your smile goals.
Patient-Centred Care
We work with you to understand your dental concerns and goals, ensuring ample opportunities to ask questions, discuss options, and envision results before treatment begins.
Long-Term Results
Our porcelain crowns and veneers in Geelong are custom made using durable materials that resist staining and wear, ensuring your smile lasts for years with proper maintenance.
Accessible Payment Plans
We endeavour to make our dental treatments accessible to everyone by offering options such as interest-free payment plans.
Case Studies
Photography and permission to post given by patients. Photos are an indication of results which may vary between individuals. Consultation is required for further assessment.
See the difference
Take a look at how digital smile design changed the smile of Lyn, our patient! She came to see us to address gaps that were progressively widening on her upper front teeth due to gum disease.
After a digital smile design consultation, we agreed on replacing the upper anterior teeth with an implant-supported fixed zirconia bridge, then protected the remaining upper teeth with porcelain crowns to restore teeth function and aesthetics.
Results may vary between patients. Consult is needed for further assessments. For recovery process and risk assessments, visit geelongwestdental.com.au/digital-smile-design/.
Case 1: Cosmetic smile design utilising upper porcelain crowns and bridges to replace missing upper teeth (patient was wearing upper partial denture initially), improve shape, colour and appearance, and protection of the upper teeth. Photos were taken at baseline and one week after bonding.
Case 2: This patient had porcelain veneers, crowns and bridges to protect his upper teeth from grinding and to replace the failing root-canal treated, discoloured teeth. Photos were taken at baseline and one week after bonding.
Case 3: This patient has been considering options for her teeth for quite some time before coming to see us. Her main concerns are failing old upper porcelain crowns, worn teeth, and leaky restorations.After a thorough treatment planning utilising digital smile design, we decided on upper porcelain veneers, crowns and bridges to alter shape, size and colour of existing upper front teeth, thereby restoring function and aesthetics. Photos were taken at baseline and one week after bonding.
Case 4: This patient came to see us looking for options to replace his loose teeth due to advanced gum disease. We also discussed options to replace his missing teeth.We bonded an upper fixed porcelain crown and bridge and replaced his lower front teeth with an interim removable prosthesis in preparation for future implants, thereby restoring aesthetics and chewing function.
Photos were taken at baseline and immediately after insertion of upper bridge.
Case 5: This case is challenging due to thin gingival(gum) biotype and congenitally missing teeth. Using digital smile design, we fabricated upper porcelain crowns and bridges to alter shape, size and colour of existing upper front teeth. We also managed to broaden the smile at the end. Photos were taken at baseline and one week after bonding.
Case 6: This patient came for a consult to replace his missing front tooth. He has been wearing a removable plate for 5 years. We replaced the missing tooth with a bonded porcelain crown and bridge, thereby restoring the function and aesthetics.
Photos were taken at baseline and immediately after bonding, hence the lips were lower due to anaesthesia.
Case 7: Porcelain crowns and bridges to alter shape, size and colour of existing upper four front teeth. One of the upper teeth was replaced as well due to failing root canal treatment and leaky crown.
Photos were taken at baseline and one week after bonding.
Case 8: Ange had upper crowns, bridges and implants to replace missing posterior (back) teeth, alter shape and colour of the front teeth, and protect her teeth from bruxism(grinding). Photos were taken at baseline and one week after insertion.
Case 9: Porcelain crown and bridge were done to replace failing teeth resulted from advanced periodontitis (gum disease). Photos were taken at baseline and one week after bonding.
Additional General Dentistry Options
