Hello there!
Having fillings done on the front teeth can be a tricky job at times though it seems like a straight forward job to most.
A few things to take into consideration before deciding which is the best option for you would be:
- How big are the fillings?
- Are your teeth the same colour? Or is there a gradient / patchy appearance in the teeth generally?
- Are your teeth straight or crowded?
Here is a list of different types of veneers together with their pros and cons!
1. Direct composite veneers
These are built up by hand by the dentist, on the spot. The material used is the same family as regular tooth colour filling materials called composite. The shade selection is the most important, but when done well, it looks really natural!
PROS – conservative with tooth structure ie not much shaving to be done (1 visit)
CONS – the shine needs to be maintained with a regular yearly touch up / polish
PRICE – $$
2. Prefabricated veneers
Think of acrylic nails for the ladies. Its literally a premade shell that comes in various shapes and sizes to suit the patient’s teeth. It is pressed in with the composite.
PROS - A stronger, more durable option with higher flexural strength ie not going to chip so easily. (1 visit)
CONS – requires regular maintenance with yearly touch up / polish
PRICE – $$$
3. Porcelain veneers
The gold standard in aesthetic dentistry to achieve a brilliant shine, translucency and colour.
PROS – The most aesthetic outcome.
CONS – Removes a lot more tooth structure. More invasive. If enamel quality is poor may need to do a full crown instead.
(2 – 3 visits)
PRICE – $$$$$
Depending on your needs, you could always try to replace the fillings with more matching materials and shades which some dentists are really good at, before thinking about proceeding to veneers. But best to do a consultation with a dentist who has a good aesthetic dental eye first, before deciding on what to do!
PS, if you love toffeenut latte and other dark coloured drinks and food, it will cause discolouration to the filings overtime.
All the best!
Regards,
Dr Beth
