Cosmetic dentistry in Panjim, Goa

What is cosmetic dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry changes how your teeth look: their colour, shape, size or line. Much of it also makes teeth stronger or easier to keep clean, so looks and health often go together.

The aim is a smile that looks natural on you: a shade that suits your skin and age, and teeth in proportion to your face and lips, rather than the brightest possible white.

The main options

• Teeth whitening lightens the natural colour of your teeth. It works best on yellow staining from age, tea, coffee and tobacco.
• Tooth-coloured fillings and bonding. A tooth-coloured filling material is shaped onto the tooth and set hard with a light. It can repair a chip, close a small gap or cover a stain, often in one visit and with little or no drilling.
• Veneers are thin shells of porcelain bonded to the front of the teeth. They change the colour and shape of front teeth that are stained, worn, chipped or uneven.
• Ceramic crowns cover the whole tooth. They suit front teeth that are badly broken, heavily filled or darkened after a root canal.
• Clear aligners and braces move crooked or crowded teeth into line, rather than covering them.
• Replacing missing teeth. A gap at the front can be filled with an implant, a bridge or a partial denture.

Veneers

A veneer covers only the front of the tooth, so less of the tooth is trimmed than for a crown. A thin layer of enamel is usually removed so the veneer sits flush and does not look bulky. Because of that, veneers are a lasting choice: once a tooth has been prepared, it will always need a veneer or crown.

Veneercovers the front of the tooth

Crowncovers the whole tooth

Veneers are made in a dental lab from moulds or a scan of your teeth, so they usually need two visits, a few days to two weeks apart. Porcelain keeps its colour, and with good care veneers last many years. Like natural teeth they can chip, so do not bite on very hard things such as ice, nails or bottle caps.

Veneers do not suit every tooth. A tooth with a large filling or a lot of damage is usually better off with a crown, and heavy grinding can break veneers.

Planning your smile

Cosmetic work is done on a healthy mouth. Dr. Laura first checks for decay and gum problems, which are treated first. A professional clean removes surface stains, so you can see the true colour of your teeth.

She then talks through what you would like to change, which options suit your teeth, how many visits each takes and what it will cost, before anything starts.

If you plan to whiten your teeth, whiten first. Veneers, crowns and fillings keep the shade they were made in, so they are matched to your teeth once your teeth have reached their new colour.

Common questions

How much does cosmetic dentistry cost in Goa?

It depends on the treatment and how many teeth are involved. Whitening and bonding cost the least; veneers and ceramic crowns cost more, because each one is made in a lab. Dr. Laura will explain the cost of each option before you decide.

Veneers or crowns?

Veneers cover only the front of the tooth and keep more of it. Crowns cover the whole tooth and are stronger, so they suit teeth that are broken, heavily filled or have had a root canal. Dr. Laura will explain which suits each tooth.

Can a chipped front tooth be fixed in one visit?

Often, yes. A small chip can usually be repaired with a tooth-coloured filling in one visit. A larger break may need a veneer or a crown.

Will veneers look natural?

They should. The shade, shape and length are chosen to suit your face and your other teeth, not just to look as white as possible.

Can I have cosmetic treatment during a short visit to Goa?

Whitening and bonding usually fit into a short stay. Veneers and crowns need lab time between visits, so allow about one to two weeks, and mention your dates when you book.

This page gives general information, not advice for your own teeth. Dr. Laura will explain what suits you, and what it will cost, after examining you.