Yes. At The Grand Dental Surgery in Bowral, porcelain veneer treatment is planned using the Digital Smile Design process, so you can see your new smile twice before any work is done on your teeth. First as an on-screen design at your smile consultation, then as a physical mock-up you try on in your mouth. A mock-up is a preview of the planned result, not a guarantee of the final outcome.

This guide explains how the preview works and what to weigh up before deciding on porcelain veneers.

Why preview your smile before veneers?

Veneers are a significant decision. Fitting porcelain veneers involves removing a small amount of the outer surface of each tooth. Most people considering them have been thinking about it for a while and want to be confident before they commit.

A preview helps in three ways:

• It turns preferences into something you can see. Words like 'whiter', 'longer' or 'more even' mean different things to different people. Seeing a design on your own face removes much of the guesswork.
• It lets you make changes early. If you'd like the teeth a little shorter or longer, or the shape a little softer, that is far easier to adjust at the design stage.
• It gives you time to decide. You can look at the design, think it over, and come back with questions before committing to anything.

How does the preview work, step by step?

Every plan is tailored, but the preview process at our practice generally follows these steps:

1. Smile consultation (complimentary). Dr Shekher Arora (registered dentist, general registration, takes photos and video of you smiling, laughing and talking, and asks what you like about your current smile and what you would like to change.
2. On-screen design (complimentary). Using Digital Smile Design software, you and Dr Arora design your new smile on screen, considering tooth colour, shape and size. You can approve the design or ask for changes, then take your time deciding whether to go ahead.
3. Planning visit. If you decide to proceed, Dr Arora checks the health of your teeth and gums, takes more photos and video, and takes a scan of your teeth so the design can be planned on your real teeth.
4. Mock-up try-in. A model of your planned smile is made so you can try it on at your next visit. You see how the new teeth look when you talk, smile and laugh, and how they feel in your mouth. More photos and video are taken so the design can be fine-tuned.
5. Treatment. Once you are happy with the mock-up, your teeth are prepared and impressions are taken. Your porcelain veneers are handcrafted by our ceramist, Oliver, here in Australia, which takes around two weeks, and you wear temporary veneers in the meantime. At the final visit the temporaries come off and your veneers are fitted.

We're proud to introduce Oliver, our ceramist. He works on the shape, colour and finish of each of your bespoke veneers to match the design you approved.

How does the preview help you and your dentist plan together?

Much of what makes a smile look natural is about proportion: how long the front teeth are compared with their width, how the edges follow the line of the lower lip, how much tooth shows when you speak. These details are hard to describe and easy to misunderstand. Designing on screen with photos and video of your own face, then trying the design on, gives you and Dr Arora a shared reference point. It also means the ceramist making your veneers works from a design you have already seen and approved, rather than from a written description.

What's the difference between the on-screen design and the mock-up?

Each stage of the preview shows you something different. This is how they compare:

Do you have to go ahead after the preview?

No. The point of the preview is to help you decide, not to commit you to treatment. You can think it over, ask for changes, or decide that a different approach would suit you better. We would rather you take the time you need than start treatment you aren't sure about.

Who is a good candidate for veneers?

Porcelain veneers can change the shape, size and colour of the front teeth. They are often considered for teeth that are:

• discoloured in a way whitening can't improve
• chipped, worn or uneven in length
• slightly misshapen or small
• spaced with small gaps

A good candidate also has healthy teeth and gums, enough natural tooth structure to support a veneer, and realistic expectations about what veneers can achieve. If teeth are significantly crooked, straightening them first, or instead, may give a better result with less change to the natural teeth. Your smile consultation is where this is assessed, and the preview helps you see whether the planned change matches what you want.

What are the risks of porcelain veneers?

Veneers are a cosmetic treatment with real benefits, but there are risks and trade-offs to understand before you decide. Your dentist should talk these through with you for your own situation. In general:

• They are irreversible. A thin layer of the tooth's outer surface is removed to make room for the veneer.
• Sensitivity can occur. Some people notice sensitivity to hot or cold after teeth are prepared. It usually settles, but should be reported if it doesn't.
• Veneers can chip, crack or come loose. Habits such as grinding, nail biting or using teeth to open things increase the risk.
• They may need replacing in the future. How long veneers last depends on care, bite and habits, and regular check-ups help catch problems early.
• They won't change colour. Porcelain does not respond to whitening, so if you plan to whiten the rest of your teeth, that is usually done first so the veneers can be matched.

Veneers aren't suitable for everyone. If there isn't enough healthy tooth structure, or there is existing dental work, a crown may be a better option. Crowns are designed by our ceramist too, so they can be matched to the look of veneers.

What if veneers aren't right for you?

Part of a good smile consultation is hearing about the alternatives. Depending on what you want to change, other options may achieve your goal with less change to your natural teeth:

• Teeth whitening if the main concern is colour rather than shape.
• Invisalign if the teeth are healthy but crooked, crowded or gapped.
• A combination, planned together as a smile makeover.

What should you ask at your smile consultation?

A smile consultation is your chance to understand the plan fully before deciding. Questions worth asking include:

• Am I a suitable candidate for a smile design?
• How many teeth would be involved, and why that number?
• How much of my natural tooth will be removed?
• What are the alternatives for my teeth, and how do they compare?
• What does the quoted price include, and is the mock-up included?
• What are the risks for me in particular, given my bite and habits?
• How should I look after veneers, and what might need maintenance later?

Bringing a few photos of smiles you like, or notes about what bothers you about your own, can also help the design conversation.

How do you look after porcelain veneers?

Veneers are cared for much like natural teeth. Brush twice a day and clean between your teeth daily, because the tooth underneath a veneer and the gum around it still need protecting from decay and gum disease. Avoid biting very hard objects such as ice, pens or fingernails, and ask about a night guard if you grind your teeth. Regular check-ups and cleans let us spot any problems early.

How much do porcelain veneers cost at our Bowral practice?

Porcelain veneers at The Grand Dental Surgery are from $1,850 each, and the smile consultation is complimentary, as published on our fees chart (October 2026). The total depends on how many teeth are involved and whether any other treatment is needed first, and you will receive a treatment plan with costs before you decide.

We accept all major health funds, with HICAPS for on-the-spot claims where your cover applies. Health fund cover for cosmetic treatment varies, so check with your insurer.

How long does the process take?

Veneers with a preview take several visits: the smile consultation, a planning visit, the mock-up try-in, the preparation visit when temporaries are fitted, and the fitting visit. The veneers themselves take around two weeks to be crafted after your teeth are prepared. Dr Arora will give you a timeline for your own plan, including any treatment needed beforehand.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see what veneers will look like before I get them?

Yes. At The Grand Dental Surgery, veneer treatment is planned with the Digital Smile Design process. You see an on-screen design of your new smile at your smile consultation and, if you decide to go ahead, you try on a physical mock-up before any work is done on your teeth.

Is a veneer mock-up the same as the final result?

No. A mock-up shows the planned shape, length and proportions of your new teeth, but it is made from a temporary material. The final porcelain will differ in finish and translucency, and results vary between patients.

Do I have to go ahead with veneers after the preview?

No. The preview is there to help you decide. You can take the time you need, ask for changes, or choose a different option.

How much do porcelain veneers cost in Bowral?

At our practice, porcelain veneers are from $1,850 each, as published on our fee chart. The smile consultation is complimentary. Your plan and quote depend on how many teeth are involved and whether other treatment is needed first.

Can I ask for changes after trying on the mock-up?

Yes. That is one of the main reasons for the try-in. Photos and video are taken while you wear the mock-up so the design can be fine-tuned before your final veneers are made.

Are veneers reversible?

No. Fitting porcelain veneers involves removing a small amount of the tooth's outer surface, which cannot be put back. This is one of the main reasons we preview the result before treatment starts.

See your smile before you decide

If you are thinking about veneers, start with a complimentary smile consultation in Bowral. You can book online or call us on (02) 4862 2162. Learn more about porcelain veneers at our practice.

The Grand Dental Surgery, Suite 16, The Grand Arcade, 295 Bong Bong Street, Bowral NSW 2576. Phone (02) 4862 2162. Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Process as described on The Grand Dental Surgery's porcelain veneers and smile makeover pages; prices from our published fee chart, October 2026. This article is general information and does not replace an individual assessment. Porcelain veneers are a cosmetic procedure; individual results vary, and all treatment carries risks.