Cosmetic dentistry
Cosmetic Dentistry Melbourne: a dentist-led approach to your smile
Cosmetic dentistry is any treatment chosen mainly for how your teeth look: whitening, veneers, straightening with clear aligners, or a combination planned together. At Avenue Dental our dentists will talk you through the options that suit your teeth, what each involves, and what to expect from it. The aim is a smile that still looks like yours, with the things that bother you addressed.
The place to start is a free consultation with our team. You’ll leave knowing your options, what each involves and what it would cost, with nothing to commit to on the day.
Not sure which treatment you need? Start here.
Most people know what they’d like to change about their smile long before they know what it’s called. A stain that whitening won’t shift, a chip that catches your eye in every photo, a gap that’s always been there. Which treatment fixes it, and what that costs, depends on your teeth.
Tell us what’s bothering you and one of our team will come back to you with the options that suit your case, what each involves, and a guide to cost, so you can decide whether to take the next step.
Or come and see us. Your cosmetic consultation is free — a dentist will look at your teeth, take a digital scan and talk through what would work for you.
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Your cosmetic options at Avenue Dental Melbourne
Four treatments cover most of what people want to change about their smile. Each one does a different job, and the right choice depends on what’s bothering you, your current oral health conditions, rather than what’s most popular. Here’s what each is for, and where to read more.
Many smiles are a combination: whitening first, then a couple of composite veneers, or aligners followed by whitening once the teeth are where they should be. Your dentist will map the order that makes sense, so you’re never redoing work.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute clinical advice. Individual suitability, treatment and costs depend on an assessment specific to you. Before proceeding, seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. View treatment risks here.
Real patients results at Avenue Dental
Dr Ernesto Villalba (DEN0002568419), Registered dentist, general registration. Treatment: Dental Implants, Invisalign, Veneers and Crowns. Final image taken 2 weeks after final treatment.
Dr Peter Borbiro (DEN0002134869), Registered Dentist, General Dentist. Treatment : Bridges + Crowns. Final image was captured on the day the bridge/crowns were placed.
We always encourage you to weigh up your options, ask questions and make a decision alongside your practitioner, and to seek independent advice or a second opinion from an AHPRA-registered health practitioner before going ahead.
The images shown on this page are for informational purposes only and depict examples of dental treatments performed at Avenue Dental. Results can vary based on individual circumstances, and any dental procedure carries risks and benefits. A comprehensive dental examination and consultation are required to determine the most appropriate treatment options for your needs. These images are not intended to be testimonials or guarantees of outcomes. All of our patients have consented to images being shared here. This content is general in nature and intended for adults. It is not medical advice. Any surgical or cosmetic procedure carries risks. Read more about the risks here.
Your cosmetic options at Avenue Dental Melbourne
Four treatments cover most of what people want to change about their smile. Each one does a different job, and the right choice depends on what’s bothering you, your current oral health conditions, rather than what’s most popular. Here’s what each is for, and where to read more.
“My teeth are yellow or stained”
Start with whitening. Dentist-supervised whitening lifts the natural shade of your teeth and, for most people, is all that’s needed. Surface stains from coffee, tea or red wine respond well.
If the discolouration is deep in the tooth, from an old injury, certain medications or a root canal, whitening may not shift it evenly, and a veneer on the affected tooth can be the better answer.
“One tooth is chipped, short or worn”
A single composite veneer, sculpted by your dentist in one visit, is usually the most conservative fix. It rebuilds the edge and matches the teeth either side.
Where several front teeth are worn down, often from grinding, porcelain may hold up better over time, and the cause of the wear needs addressing too or the new surface will wear the same way.
“My teeth are crooked or have gaps”
Clear aligners move your own teeth into a straighter position without covering them. For crowding, spacing and teeth that have shifted since braces, this is the approach we’ll usually suggest first.
Veneers can visually close a small gap or even up the front teeth, and sometimes that’s the right call. But using veneers to disguise crowding means covering healthy teeth, and your dentist will be honest about the trade-off.
“I want to change my whole smile”
This is where planning matters most. A smile makeover is usually a sequence rather than one treatment: straighten first if needed, whiten, then veneers only on the teeth that still need shape or colour work.
Doing it in that order means fewer veneers, less tooth preparation and a result that holds up. Your dentist will map the whole sequence with you before the first step.
There’s a pattern in the four answers above: the most conservative treatment that solves the problem comes first. Whitening before veneers. Aligners before covering crooked teeth. One composite veneer rather than six. It isn’t the fastest way to sell cosmetic dentistry, but it’s the way that leaves you with more of your own teeth and less to maintain in ten years.
Book a free consultation and we’ll tell you which applies to you
Why Choose Avenue Dental for Cosmetic Dentistry in Melbourne
The least treatment that solves the problem – Whitening before veneers. Aligners before covering crooked teeth. One veneer rather than six. We plan cosmetic work in the order that keeps the most of your own teeth, because you’re the one living with the result long after the photos.
You see it before you decide – For veneers and smile makeovers, your free consultation includes a digital scan and a 3D render of your proposed smile. You review the shape and shade with your dentist, on screen, before anything is made or touched.
Every option in one place – Whitening, composite and porcelain veneers, and clear aligners are all provided at Brunswick, by the same dentists. That means the treatment you’re offered is the one that suits your teeth, and if the plan is a combination, it’s coordinated by one team.
Made locally, by hand – Porcelain veneers are crafted by dental technicians in laboratories local to our practices, and composite veneers are sculpted by your dentist in the chair.
Open when you can get there – Brunswick is open 7am to 7pm Monday to Thursday, 7am to 5pm Friday and 9am to 1:30pm Saturday, so consultations and reviews can fit around work.
Flexible payment options – Interest-free payment plans through Humm are available, with approval and terms assessed by Humm. We’ll walk you through the options before you decide anything.
Dr Angela Chen (DEN0002310635), Registered dentist, general registration. Treatment: Invisalign Final image taken on completion of treatment. Results are individual and yours may differ.Results can vary based on individual circumstances, and any dental procedure carries risks and benefits. See treatment risks here.
How to choose a cosmetic dentist in Melbourne
How much of your tooth will be removed with veneers?
This is the question most people don’t know to ask, and it’s the one with the longest consequences. Enamel doesn’t grow back. Some practices prepare teeth heavily because it makes the veneers easier to fit; others prepare as little as possible and accept that it takes more skill and more time. Ask which, and ask why.
Will you see the result before anything is done?
A digital scan and a 3D render of your proposed smile should be standard, not a premium extra. It’s the only way to check the shape and shade are what you want before a tooth is touched. If a clinic asks you to commit first and see later, keep looking.
Who does the work, and who makes the veneers?
Ask whether the dentist you meet is the dentist who treats you, and where porcelain work is manufactured. A local laboratory means your dentist can speak to the technician about your case. Offshore is cheaper, and that’s fine as long as you know that’s what you’re paying for.
Did they suggest anything other than veneers?
A good cosmetic dentist should sometimes talk you out of veneers. If whitening or aligners would solve the problem with your own teeth intact, you should hear that. A practice that answers every concern with the same treatment is selling a product, not planning your smile.
What’s included, and what happens if you’re not happy?
Get the scope in writing: consultations, scans, temporaries, adjustments, and what the review process is if the shade or shape isn’t right once it’s in your mouth. The answer tells you a lot about how the practice thinks about the years after the treatment.
None of these questions are rude, and any dentist worth choosing will be glad you asked them. We’d rather you asked us at a free consultation than found out the answers afterwards.
The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute clinical advice. Individual suitability, treatment and costs depend on an assessment specific to you. Before proceeding, seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. View treatment risks here.
Cosmetic dentistry in Melbourne: your questions answered
What are the most popular cosmetic dental treatments in Melbourne?
Teeth whitening, veneers (composite and porcelain) and clear aligner straightening account for most cosmetic dentistry in Melbourne, with whitening the most common starting point. Many people end up with a combination, such as aligners followed by whitening, or whitening followed by one or two composite veneers. The right choice depends on what you want to change rather than what’s most popular.
What’s the difference between a cosmetic dentist and a regular dentist?
In Australia there is no separate registration for cosmetic dentistry. Any registered dentist can provide it, so cosmetic dentist describes a focus rather than a qualification. What separates practices is training, experience with specific treatments, how conservatively they prepare teeth, and whether they plan for the health of your teeth as well as how they look. At Avenue Dental Brunswick, cosmetic treatment is provided by the same dentists who look after your general care.
How much does cosmetic dentistry cost in Melbourne?
It ranges widely because the treatments do. Whitening is the least costly option. Across Melbourne, composite veneers are quoted from around $350 to $1,200 per tooth and porcelain from around $1,200 to $3,000 per tooth, and clear aligner treatment from around $2,000 to $9,000. Your cosmetic consultation at Avenue Dental is free, and you receive a written treatment plan and quote before anything begins. See our Melbourne veneer pricing.
Why do cosmetic dentistry prices vary so much between Melbourne clinics?
Mostly because the work varies. A composite veneer can be a single layer of resin or hand-sculpted layer by layer. Porcelain can be made offshore or by a local laboratory. Teeth can be prepared minimally or reduced heavily. A quote can include scans, planning, reviews and adjustments, or leave them out. A lower price isn’t automatically wrong, but it’s worth asking which of these you’re paying for.
Can I see what my smile will look like before treatment?
Yes. For veneers and smile makeovers, your free consultation includes a digital scan and a 3D render of the proposed result, which you review on screen with your dentist and can ask to have changed before anything is made. For clear aligners, your treatment plan includes a preview of the planned tooth movement.
Can cosmetic treatments be combined?
Often they should be. Straightening first, then whitening, then veneers only where still needed is a common sequence for a full smile change. Whitening is usually done before veneers so the veneer shade can be matched to your whiter teeth. Your dentist maps the order at your consultation so nothing is done twice.
Is cosmetic dentistry safe? Does it damage your teeth?
Whitening and clear aligners, when supervised by a dentist, don’t remove tooth structure. Veneers require some preparation of the tooth surface, and that preparation isn’t reversible, which is why we work with minimal preparation and suggest whitening or aligners first where they’d solve the problem. All dental treatment carries risks, and your dentist will discuss the ones relevant to you before you consent. View treatment risks here.
How long do cosmetic dentistry results last?
Whitening results typically last one to three years depending on diet and habits, and can be topped up. Composite veneers may last on average three to seven years; porcelain veneers ten to fifteen. Straightened teeth stay straight as long as retainers are worn as advised. Longevity varies between individuals and depends on oral hygiene, bite, diet and habits like grinding.
How long does cosmetic dental treatment take?
Whitening takes one or two appointments, or a couple of weeks with take-home trays. Composite veneers are completed in a single visit. Porcelain veneers take two or three visits over about two weeks while the laboratory makes them. Clear aligners run six to eighteen months. A combined smile plan is sequenced across these, and your dentist will give you a timeline at the outset.
Does health insurance cover cosmetic dentistry in Melbourne?
Cosmetic treatment is generally not covered, as most funds exclude work done purely for appearance. Some funds contribute where there is a clinical reason, for example a veneer on a fractured tooth, and orthodontic extras cover may contribute towards aligners. Medicare doesn’t cover cosmetic dental work. We’ll give you the item numbers so you can check with your fund.
Is the cosmetic consultation really free?
Yes. The consultation with a dentist, including the digital scan and, for veneers, the 3D render, is provided at no cost. It’s an information-gathering appointment and doesn’t replace a full examination. Before cosmetic treatment begins, a full check-up including x-rays is needed, and if it has been more than two years since your last visit we’d recommend booking one.
What should I look for when choosing a cosmetic dentist in Melbourne?
Ask how much tooth will be removed, whether you’ll see the result before anything is done, who does the work and where veneers are made, whether the dentist suggested anything other than veneers, and what’s included in the quote. A practice that answers those openly, and sometimes talks you out of a treatment, is one to take seriously.
Flexible payment plans
At Avenue Dental on the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne, we understand that dental treatment can be difficult to fit into your budget, which is why we offer a range of different dental payment plan options.
