Cosmetic Dentistry at Core Dental Melbourne product guide
## 2. COSMETIC DENTISTRY ### Teeth Whitening **What it involves** Professional teeth whitening uses carefully controlled concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (or carbamide peroxide) to break down sta...
Complete Product Guide with Standardized Values
2. COSMETIC DENTISTRY
Teeth whitening
What it involves
Professional teeth whitening uses carefully controlled concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (or carbamide peroxide) to break down stain molecules in the enamel and dentine. Core Dental offers two options.
In-chair Zoom! WhiteSpeed
- 90-minute appointment
- 30% hydrogen peroxide gel applied to teeth; a Philips Zoom! LED lamp activates the gel
- Results: up to 8 shades lighter in a single visit
- Some patients experience 24-48 hours of tooth sensitivity afterwards - normal and temporary
Take-home Pola (Pola Day / Pola Night)
- Custom-fitted trays fabricated from impressions of your teeth
- Whitening gel applied in trays for 30 minutes (day version) or overnight (night version)
- Treatment period: approximately 2 weeks
- Gentler and more gradual, with less sensitivity than in-chair treatment
- Trays are reusable for future top-ups
Important: dental assessment first
Active decay or gum disease must be treated before whitening. Existing fillings, veneers, and crowns won't change colour with whitening - replacements may be needed after treatment to match your new shade.
What causes staining?
Coffee, tea, red wine, smoking, age (natural darkening), antibiotics taken during tooth development (tetracycline staining), and poor hygiene. Internal staining from trauma can be treated with internal bleaching.
What whitening cannot fix
- Fillings, crowns, and veneers won't lighten and may need replacement
- Tetracycline staining - veneers typically give the best results here
- Fluorosis (developmental white spots) - treatable with microabrasion or composite veneers
Aftercare
Results aren't permanent. Top up with your take-home kit every 3-6 months, and avoid coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking for 48 hours after treatment, because enamel pores are temporarily more open during that window.
FAQs
Is whitening safe? Yes, when performed by a registered dentist with appropriate concentrations. DIY products and non-dental clinics (beauty salons, shopping kiosks) use unregulated products that can cause permanent enamel damage - the ACCC has banned products with unsafe peroxide levels.
Can I whiten if I'm pregnant? No. Whitening isn't recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
My teeth are sensitive - can I still whiten? Often yes, with the gentler take-home Pola Night system and a sensitivity-reducing toothpaste. Worth discussing with your dentist.
Charcoal whitening - does it work? No. Charcoal is abrasive and strips enamel irreversibly. It doesn't whiten teeth.
Composite veneers
What it involves
Composite (resin) veneers are bonded directly to the front surface of your teeth in a single appointment. Your dentist shapes and sculpts the composite material by hand, cures it with an LED light, and polishes it to a natural finish. Most cases require minimal or no tooth preparation, which makes this a conservative and often reversible option.
Good for: minor chips, discolouration, mild gap closure, irregular tooth shape, or younger patients who want to trial a result before committing to porcelain.
Visits: 1 appointment Lifespan: 5-10 years, depending on habits and care Repairability: Chairside repair is possible the same day if chipped
Aftercare
- Brush twice daily with a non-abrasive toothpaste
- Avoid biting nails, chewing ice, or using teeth as tools
- Wear a mouthguard for contact sport
- Wear a night guard if you grind - bruxism destroys composite veneers quickly
- Coffee, tea, and red wine can stain the composite over time
FAQs
Are composite veneers cheaper than porcelain? Yes, significantly. They're also a practical way to see whether you love the result before upgrading to porcelain.
Can they be upgraded to porcelain later? Yes.
Porcelain veneers
What it involves
Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin, custom-crafted ceramic shells bonded to the front surface of your teeth. They're the gold standard for aesthetic smile transformation - durable, stain-resistant, and virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth when done well.
They can correct chips, cracks, wear, staining that doesn't respond to whitening, mild crowding or spacing, and misshapen or irregularly sized teeth.
The process
- Appointment 1: Consultation and treatment planning; digital photographs; a small, precise amount of enamel is removed (this is irreversible - it's a genuine commitment); digital scan or impressions taken; temporary veneers placed
- Appointment 2 (1-2 weeks later): Temporary veneers removed; custom porcelain veneers bonded with dental cement; bite checked; final polish
Lifespan: 10-25 years with proper care
Porcelain itself can't decay, but the underlying tooth structure can, so good oral hygiene still matters.
What's distinctive at Core Dental
Core Dental's sister practice Smile Solutions pioneered Same-Day Porcelain Veneers™ - the world's first same-day porcelain veneer system, developed in collaboration with master ceramist Greg Karabasis, winner of the 2024 Australian Business Award for Business Innovation. Enquire about availability at Core Dental locations via Collins Street Specialist Centre.
FAQs
Are veneers reversible? No - a small amount of enamel is permanently removed, which is why some patients try composite veneers first.
Will I always need veneers once I get them? Yes. Once enamel is removed, the tooth always needs a veneer or crown covering it.
Can veneers be placed if I grind my teeth? With caution. A night guard is mandatory to protect the investment.
Do veneers look fake? In skilled hands, no. Modern porcelain mimics the translucency of natural enamel exceptionally well.
Dental crowns
What it involves
A crown (or "cap") covers the entire visible surface of a tooth. It's used when a tooth is too damaged or structurally compromised to hold a filling - typically after root canal treatment, following a significant fracture, or when decay has destroyed most of the tooth structure.
Crown types
| Type | Best for | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| Full ceramic (lithium disilicate/zirconia) | Front or back teeth; most aesthetic | 10-20+ years |
| Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) | Back teeth with strength requirement | 10-15 years |
| Gold alloy | Back teeth; maximum longevity; minimal tooth removal | 40+ years |
The process
- Appointment 1: Tooth assessed and prepared (outer surface filed down); digital scan or impression taken; temporary crown placed
- Appointment 2 (1-2 weeks later): Temporary removed; permanent crown cemented; bite adjusted; polished
Technology used: CEREC chairside milling (same-day option for some cases); iTero digital scanner for accurate impressions without putty
Aftercare
Treat it like a natural tooth: brush, floss, and keep up 6-monthly check-ups. Crowns don't decay, but the root below them can.
FAQs
Is a crown better than a large filling? For teeth with very little remaining structure, yes - a crown distributes biting forces across the whole tooth and dramatically reduces fracture risk.
How long will it last? 10-20 years, depending on oral hygiene and whether you grind. A night guard extends crown life significantly.
Dental bridges
What it involves
A bridge is a fixed, non-removable replacement for one to six missing teeth. It consists of artificial teeth (pontics) anchored to crowns on the adjacent natural teeth or implants. Once cemented, it feels and functions like your natural teeth.
Best suited for patients with healthy adjacent teeth on either side of the gap, or where implants aren't feasible.
The process
Adjacent teeth are prepared, impressions sent to the lab, and temporary caps placed. The bridge is fitted approximately 2 weeks later.
Lifespan: 10-15 years with good care
Special flossing under the bridge using Superfloss or a floss threader is essential - plaque under the bridge can cause decay.