And… if you’re looking at a smile makeover, is the Top Gun Maverick star the best example of cosmetic treatment out there?
Possibly not…
In fact if you search for anything to do with Tom Cruise’s ‘Hollywood smile’ online, chances are your search results will be peppered with stories about misaligned teeth and his infamous ‘middle tooth’.
Ignoring the rumour mill, the question of, ‘What does it take to get a smile like Tom Cruise?’ or any other Hollywood star for that matter, is probably not the right place to start your new smile research.
When asked what was the most important consideration when it came to smile makeovers, Airsmile founder Heath Fraser said it all came down to the individual’s needs.
“Having a dentist who is really well armed with all options of veneers, crowns and aligners will ensure that the patient gets the right solution for them,” Mr Fraser said.
“Cost is clearly important but ultimately coming up with the right strategy to achieve the desired outcome is the number one consideration.
“Therefore a dentist experienced in all facets of cosmetic treatment is best placed to correctly map out the right treatment plan.”
Mr Fraser said although clickbait-style ‘Tom Cruise middle tooth’ headlines and articles were great for website traffic, they weren’t going to leave you better off when it came to researching the right smile makeover for you.
“Tom Cruise had a complex series of problems that needed many layers of dental work to solve, just like many other patients.”
“He has porcelain veneers, he’s also had teeth whitening and alignment work (braces or similar) done over a number of years.”
You might have crooked teeth, irregularly shaped teeth, weakened teeth or a combination of these and other characteristics that have prompted you to start researching what your dream smile might look like.
“I guess what we can learn from the ‘Cruise case’ is that there is no one size fits all solution when it comes to how a dentist approaches any patient’s unique needs,” Mr Fraser said.
What are porcelain veneers good for?
Porcelain veneers are thin shells that are permanently bonded to the front surface of your tooth.
They’re natural looking and longer lasting (about 7 – 15 years) than resin veneers (4 – 8 years).
Porcelain veneers can be used for a variety of cosmetic dental procedures including teeth whitening and correcting misaligned teeth. Because of their versatility they are one of the ‘go to’ treatment options for patients looking for an aesthetically beautiful smile.
Are porcelain veneers the right choice for me?
If you have discoloured teeth, gaps in your smile, crooked teeth or chipped or cracked teeth then porcelain veneers might be the right choice for you.
You’ll also need to meet some fundamental dental health criteria. You’ll need to have good gum and dental health as well as a healthy amount of natural tooth enamel.
How are porcelain veneers applied?
Your teeth will need to be prepared for the veneers. This includes a small amount of tooth enamel being removed to make room for your veneer. Your dentist will administer local anaesthetic so you don’t feel anything.
After shade matching your teeth, your dentist will bond the veneers to your tooth using dental cement.
Porcelain veneers can last up to 15 years before you need to replace them.
What do porcelain veneers cost?
Once again, as far as the cost of porcelain veneers is concerned, the short answer is always going to be ‘it depends’.
It depends on the location of your dentist (e.g. a dentist located in the CBD is likely to charge more than their suburban counterpart) as well as the materials used to make the veneers (porcelain veneers can be made from a variety of materials) and the experience of the dentist.
In Australia, the price of porcelain veneers can range from $700-$2000 per tooth. Despite being the more expensive option, porcelain veneers look more natural and are more durable than composites, and will typically last much longer than resin veneers.
