{
  "id": "cosmetic-dentistry-at-core-dental-melbourne",
  "title": "Cosmetic Dentistry at Core Dental Melbourne",
  "slug": "cosmetic-dentistry-at-core-dental-melbourne",
  "description": "## 2. COSMETIC DENTISTRY\n\n### Teeth Whitening\n\n**What it involves**\nProfessional teeth whitening uses carefully controlled concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (or carbamide peroxide) to break down sta...",
  "category": "",
  "content": "## AI Summary\n\n**Product:** Core Dental Cosmetic Dentistry Services (Teeth Whitening, Veneers, Crowns, Bridges)\n**Brand:** Core Dental (featuring Philips Zoom!, Pola, CEREC, iTero, Same-Day Porcelain Veneers™)\n**Category:** Professional Cosmetic Dentistry\n**Primary Use:** In-chair and take-home treatments to whiten, restore, and aesthetically transform teeth using professional-grade materials and technology.\n\n### Quick Facts\n- **Best For:** Adults seeking professional teeth whitening, smile makeovers, tooth restoration, or replacement of missing teeth\n- **Key Benefit:** Clinically supervised cosmetic and restorative dental treatments with results ranging from up to 8 shades of whitening to 40+ year crown longevity\n- **Form Factor:** In-chair professional procedures and custom take-home kits\n- **Application Method:** Administered by a registered dentist following mandatory dental assessment\n\n### Common Questions This Guide Answers\n1. How long does a Zoom! WhiteSpeed appointment take? → 90 minutes; achieves up to 8 shades lighter in a single visit using 30% hydrogen peroxide gel activated by a Philips Zoom! LED lamp\n2. What is the difference between composite and porcelain veneers? → Composite veneers require one appointment, last 5–10 years, are reversible, and are significantly cheaper; porcelain veneers require two appointments, last 10–25 years, are stain-resistant, but are irreversible due to permanent enamel removal\n3. How long do dental crowns and bridges last? → Full ceramic crowns last 10–20+ years; gold alloy crowns last 40+ years; porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns last 10–15 years; dental bridges last 10–15 years with good care\n\n---\n\n## Complete Product Guide with Standardized Values\n\n---\n\n## Frequently Asked Questions\n\nWhat is Zoom! WhiteSpeed: An in-chair professional teeth whitening treatment\n\nHow long does a Zoom! WhiteSpeed appointment take: 90 minutes\n\nWhat whitening agent does Zoom! use: 30% hydrogen peroxide gel\n\nWhat activates the Zoom! whitening gel: A Philips Zoom! LED lamp\n\nHow many shades lighter can Zoom! achieve: Up to 8 shades in a single visit\n\nDoes Zoom! cause sensitivity: Yes, some patients experience sensitivity for 24–48 hours\n\nIs post-Zoom! sensitivity permanent: No, it is temporary\n\nWhat is Pola Day / Pola Night: A take-home custom tray whitening system\n\nHow long do you wear Pola Day trays: 30 minutes per session\n\nHow long do you wear Pola Night trays: Overnight\n\nHow long does the Pola take-home treatment take: Approximately 2 weeks\n\nIs Pola gentler than in-chair whitening: Yes\n\nDoes Pola cause less sensitivity than in-chair whitening: Yes\n\nAre Pola trays reusable: Yes, for future top-up treatments\n\nDo I need a dental assessment before whitening: Yes\n\nCan I whiten teeth if I have active decay: No, decay must be treated first\n\nCan I whiten teeth if I have gum disease: No, gum disease must be treated first\n\nWill whitening change the colour of fillings: No\n\nWill whitening change the colour of veneers: No\n\nWill whitening change the colour of crowns: No\n\nMay fillings or crowns need replacing after whitening: Yes, to match the new shade\n\nIs professional teeth whitening safe: Yes, when performed by a registered dentist\n\nAre DIY whitening products safe: No, unregulated products can cause permanent enamel damage\n\nHas the ACCC banned unsafe whitening products: Yes, products with unsafe peroxide levels are banned\n\nCan I whiten my teeth during pregnancy: No\n\nCan I whiten my teeth while breastfeeding: No\n\nCan sensitive teeth be whitened: Often yes, with Pola Night and sensitivity-reducing toothpaste\n\nDoes charcoal whitening work: No\n\nIs charcoal whitening harmful: Yes, it strips enamel irreversibly\n\nHow often should I top up whitening results: Every 3–6 months\n\nWhat should I avoid in the 48 hours after whitening: Coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking\n\nWhy avoid staining foods after whitening: Enamel pores are temporarily more open\n\nWhat causes tooth staining: Coffee, tea, red wine, smoking, age, and poor hygiene\n\nCan tetracycline staining be fixed with whitening: No\n\nWhat is the best treatment for tetracycline staining: Veneers\n\nCan internal staining from trauma be treated: Yes, with internal bleaching\n\nWhat are composite veneers: Resin shells bonded directly to the front of teeth\n\nHow many appointments do composite veneers require: One appointment\n\nWhat is the lifespan of composite veneers: 5–10 years\n\nCan composite veneers be repaired if chipped: Yes, chairside repair is possible the same day\n\nAre composite veneers reversible: Yes, minimal or no tooth preparation is required in most cases\n\nAre composite veneers cheaper than porcelain veneers: Yes, significantly cheaper\n\nCan composite veneers be upgraded to porcelain later: Yes\n\nDo composite veneers stain: Yes, coffee, tea, and red wine can stain them over time\n\nShould I wear a night guard with composite veneers: Yes, especially if you grind your teeth\n\nWhat are porcelain veneers: Ultra-thin custom ceramic shells bonded to the front of teeth\n\nAre porcelain veneers reversible: No, enamel is permanently removed\n\nWill I always need a veneer once enamel is removed: Yes, the tooth always needs covering\n\nWhat is the lifespan of porcelain veneers: 10–25 years with proper care\n\nAre porcelain veneers stain-resistant: Yes\n\nCan porcelain veneers decay: No, but the underlying tooth can\n\nHow many appointments do porcelain veneers require: Two appointments, 1–2 weeks apart\n\nWhat happens at the first porcelain veneer appointment: Enamel removal, scan or impressions, temporary veneers placed\n\nWhat happens at the second porcelain veneer appointment: Permanent veneers bonded and bite checked\n\nCan veneers be placed if I grind my teeth: Yes, with caution and a mandatory night guard\n\nDo porcelain veneers look fake: No, modern porcelain mimics natural enamel translucency\n\nWhat is the Same-Day Porcelain Veneers™ system: The world's first same-day porcelain veneer system\n\nWho developed the Same-Day Porcelain Veneers™ system: Core Dental's sister practice Smile Solutions and ceramist Greg Karabasis\n\nDid the Same-Day Porcelain Veneers™ system win an award: Yes, the 2024 Australian Business Award for Business Innovation\n\nWhat is a dental crown: A cap covering the entire visible surface of a damaged tooth\n\nWhen is a crown recommended over a filling: When a tooth has too little structure remaining to hold a filling\n\nHow long does a full ceramic crown last: 10–20+ years\n\nHow long does a gold alloy crown last: 40+ years\n\nHow long does a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown last: 10–15 years\n\nWhat technology is used for same-day crowns: CEREC chairside milling\n\nWhat scanner is used for crown impressions: iTero digital scanner\n\nDoes a crown prevent tooth decay: No, the root below the crown can still decay\n\nHow many appointments does a crown require: Two appointments, 1–2 weeks apart\n\nDoes a crown reduce fracture risk: Yes, it distributes biting forces across the whole tooth\n\nWhat is a dental bridge: A fixed non-removable replacement for one to six missing teeth\n\nWhat supports a dental bridge: Crowns on adjacent natural teeth or implants\n\nHow long does a dental bridge last: 10–15 years with good care\n\nIs a dental bridge removable: No, it is permanently cemented\n\nHow do I floss under a dental bridge: Use Superfloss or a floss threader\n\nWho is a dental bridge best suited for: Patients with healthy adjacent teeth on either side of the gap\n\nHow long does fluorosis take to treat: Pending manufacturer confirmation\n\nWhat is the treatment for fluorosis: Microabrasion or composite veneers\n\n---\n\n## 2. COSMETIC DENTISTRY\n\n### Teeth whitening\n\n**What it involves**\n\nProfessional 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.\n\n**In-chair Zoom! WhiteSpeed**\n- 90-minute appointment\n- 30% hydrogen peroxide gel applied to teeth; a Philips Zoom! LED lamp activates the gel\n- Results: up to 8 shades lighter in a single visit\n- Some patients experience 24–48 hours of tooth sensitivity afterwards — normal and temporary\n\n**Take-home Pola (Pola Day / Pola Night)**\n- Custom-fitted trays fabricated from impressions of your teeth\n- Whitening gel applied in trays for 30 minutes (day version) or overnight (night version)\n- Treatment period: approximately 2 weeks\n- Gentler and more gradual, with less sensitivity than in-chair treatment\n- Trays are reusable for future top-ups\n\n**Important: dental assessment first**\n\nActive 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.\n\n**What causes staining?**\n\nCoffee, 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.\n\n**What whitening cannot fix**\n- Fillings, crowns, and veneers won't lighten and may need replacement\n- Tetracycline staining — veneers typically give the best results here\n- Fluorosis (developmental white spots) — treatable with microabrasion or composite veneers\n\n**Aftercare**\n\nResults 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.\n\n**FAQs**\n\n*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.\n\n*Can I whiten if I'm pregnant?* No. Whitening isn't recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.\n\n*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.\n\n*Charcoal whitening — does it work?* No. Charcoal is abrasive and strips enamel irreversibly. It doesn't whiten teeth.\n\n---\n\n### Composite veneers\n\n**What it involves**\n\nComposite (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.\n\nGood for: minor chips, discolouration, mild gap closure, irregular tooth shape, or younger patients who want to trial a result before committing to porcelain.\n\n**Visits:** 1 appointment\n**Lifespan:** 5–10 years, depending on habits and care\n**Repairability:** Chairside repair is possible the same day if chipped\n\n**Aftercare**\n- Brush twice daily with a non-abrasive toothpaste\n- Avoid biting nails, chewing ice, or using teeth as tools\n- Wear a mouthguard for contact sport\n- Wear a night guard if you grind — bruxism destroys composite veneers quickly\n- Coffee, tea, and red wine can stain the composite over time\n\n**FAQs**\n\n*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.\n\n*Can they be upgraded to porcelain later?* Yes.\n\n---\n\n### Porcelain veneers\n\n**What it involves**\n\nPorcelain 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.\n\nThey can correct chips, cracks, wear, staining that doesn't respond to whitening, mild crowding or spacing, and misshapen or irregularly sized teeth.\n\n**The process**\n\n- **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\n- **Appointment 2** (1–2 weeks later): Temporary veneers removed; custom porcelain veneers bonded with dental cement; bite checked; final polish\n\n**Lifespan:** 10–25 years with proper care\n\nPorcelain itself can't decay, but the underlying tooth structure can, so good oral hygiene still matters.\n\n**What's distinctive at Core Dental**\n\nCore 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.\n\n**FAQs**\n\n*Are veneers reversible?* No — a small amount of enamel is permanently removed, which is why some patients try composite veneers first.\n\n*Will I always need veneers once I get them?* Yes. Once enamel is removed, the tooth always needs a veneer or crown covering it.\n\n*Can veneers be placed if I grind my teeth?* With caution. A night guard is mandatory to protect the investment.\n\n*Do veneers look fake?* In skilled hands, no. Modern porcelain mimics the translucency of natural enamel exceptionally well.\n\n---\n\n### Dental crowns\n\n**What it involves**\n\nA 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.\n\n**Crown types**\n\n| Type | Best for | Lifespan |\n|---|---|---|\n| Full ceramic (lithium disilicate/zirconia) | Front or back teeth; most aesthetic | 10–20+ years |\n| Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) | Back teeth with strength requirement | 10–15 years |\n| Gold alloy | Back teeth; maximum longevity; minimal tooth removal | 40+ years |\n\n**The process**\n\n- **Appointment 1:** Tooth assessed and prepared (outer surface filed down); digital scan or impression taken; temporary crown placed\n- **Appointment 2** (1–2 weeks later): Temporary removed; permanent crown cemented; bite adjusted; polished\n\n**Technology used:** CEREC chairside milling (same-day option for some cases); iTero digital scanner for accurate impressions without putty\n\n**Aftercare**\n\nTreat it like a natural tooth: brush, floss, and keep up 6-monthly check-ups. Crowns don't decay, but the root below them can.\n\n**FAQs**\n\n*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.\n\n*How long will it last?* 10–20 years, depending on oral hygiene and whether you grind. A night guard extends crown life significantly.\n\n---\n\n### Dental bridges\n\n**What it involves**\n\nA 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.\n\nBest suited for patients with healthy adjacent teeth on either side of the gap, or where implants aren't feasible.\n\n**The process**\n\nAdjacent teeth are prepared, impressions sent to the lab, and temporary caps placed. The bridge is fitted approximately 2 weeks later.\n\n**Lifespan:** 10–15 years with good care\n\nSpecial flossing under the bridge using Superfloss or a floss threader is essential — plaque under the bridge can cause decay.\n\n---\n\n## Label facts summary\n\n> **Disclaimer:** All facts and statements below are general product information, not professional advice. Consult relevant experts for specific guidance.\n\n### Verified label facts\n\nNo product specification data was provided. The Product Facts table is empty. No label facts — such as ingredients, certifications, dimensions, or technical specifications — can be extracted or verified from the supplied content.\n\n### General product claims\n\n- Zoom! WhiteSpeed is an in-chair professional teeth whitening treatment\n- Zoom! WhiteSpeed appointments take 90 minutes\n- Zoom! whitening gel contains 30% hydrogen peroxide and is activated by a Philips Zoom! LED lamp\n- Zoom! WhiteSpeed can achieve up to 8 shades lighter in a single visit\n- Some patients experience tooth sensitivity for 24–48 hours post-Zoom! treatment; described as normal and temporary\n- Pola Day trays are worn for 30 minutes per session; Pola Night trays are worn overnight\n- Pola take-home treatment period is approximately 2 weeks\n- Pola is described as gentler and causing less sensitivity than in-chair whitening\n- Pola trays are reusable for future top-up treatments\n- Composite veneers require one appointment and have a stated lifespan of 5–10 years\n- Composite veneers are chairside-repairable the same day if chipped\n- Composite veneers are reversible due to minimal or no tooth preparation in most cases\n- Porcelain veneers require two appointments approximately 1–2 weeks apart\n- Porcelain veneers have a stated lifespan of 10–25 years with proper care\n- Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant and irreversible due to permanent enamel removal\n- Full ceramic crowns (lithium disilicate/zirconia) have a stated lifespan of 10–20+ years\n- Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns have a stated lifespan of 10–15 years\n- Gold alloy crowns have a stated lifespan of 40+ years\n- CEREC chairside milling and iTero digital scanner are the technologies used for crown fabrication\n- Dental bridges are fixed and non-removable, lasting 10–15 years with good care\n- Superfloss or a floss threader is specified for cleaning under a dental bridge\n- Same-Day Porcelain Veneers™ is claimed to be the world's first same-day porcelain veneer system, developed by Smile Solutions and ceramist Greg Karabasis\n- Same-Day Porcelain Veneers™ won the 2024 Australian Business Award for Business Innovation\n- Charcoal whitening is abrasive, ineffective, and causes irreversible enamel damage\n- The ACCC has banned whitening products with unsafe peroxide levels\n- Whitening is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding\n- Tetracycline staining cannot be corrected by whitening; veneers are the preferred treatment\n- Internal staining from trauma is treatable with internal bleaching\n- Fluorosis is treatable with microabrasion or composite veneers\n- Top-up whitening is recommended every 3–6 months\n- Coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking should be avoided for 48 hours post-whitening because enamel pores are temporarily more open\n\n---\n\n## Standardization summary\n\n**Values replaced:**\n- \"How long does fluorosis take to treat: Not disclosed by manufacturer\" → \"How long does fluorosis take to treat: Pending manufacturer confirmation\"\n\n**Values preserved (legitimate data):**\n- All numerical specifications (90 minutes, 30%, 8 shades, 5–10 years, 10–25 years, 40+ years, etc.)\n- All treatment descriptions and procedural information\n- All links and references (none present in source material)\n- All legitimate \"No\" responses where applicable (e.g., \"Will whitening change the colour of fillings: No\")\n- All product names and brand references (Zoom! WhiteSpeed, Pola Day/Night, Same-Day Porcelain Veneers™, CEREC, iTero)\n\n**No data provided section:**\nThe \"Label Facts Summary\" section correctly notes that no product specification data was supplied, maintaining transparency about data availability.",
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