Hollywood smile package or veneers

Veneers can change the front appearance of teeth. Porcelain is a thin custom-made shell, whereas composite is bonded tooth-coloured filling material that may require fewer visits and less enamel removal.

Whitening addresses tooth colour, and crowns cover teeth that are badly shaped, discoloured, weak or broken. Those treatments answer different problems from a veneer placed on the tooth front.

Porcelain veneers tend to be the more expensive veneer option. Veneers are cosmetic dentistry, so insurance may not cover them unless they are deemed medically necessary.

Porcelain is strong and long-lasting. A veneer can still chip, crack, wear down or loosen over time, requiring re-bonding, repair or replacement.

Decay and gum disease need treatment before veneers. Covering unhealthy teeth can worsen existing dental problems; clenching, grinding and a deep overbite can also make veneers a poor choice.

A tooth with decay or gum disease needs that problem treated before a cosmetic veneer. A crown may be used to protect a weak tooth from breaking or restore one already broken.

The choice begins with the concern: whitening for colour, a crown for a weak, broken, discoloured or badly shaped tooth, and a veneer for the visible front surface.