This page provides general information about the risks, limitations, suitability considerations, and aftercare associated with treatments offered at our practice. It is general in nature and does not replace individual advice from your dentist, which will be based on a clinical assessment of your teeth, gums, jaw, and overall oral health. Individual results and experiences vary between patients.
Jump to a section: Teeth Whitening · Composite Veneers · Porcelain Veneers · Dental Implants · Clear Aligners / Braces · Wisdom Teeth Removal · Root Canal Treatment · Full Mouth Reconstruction · Other Dental Services
Teeth Whitening
Suitability: Not suitable for everyone. Your dentist will assess your teeth and gums beforehand, including any existing sensitivity, decay, or gum disease. Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for patients with untreated cavities or active gum disease.
Risks and limitations:
- Temporary tooth sensitivity to hot or cold, particularly in the first few days after treatment — this is the most common side effect
- Temporary gum irritation if whitening gel comes into contact with soft tissue
- Results vary between patients depending on the original shade, condition, and cause of discolouration
- Mottled enamel (fluorosis) and staining caused by antibiotics such as tetracycline are more resistant to whitening, and may require extended treatment time or additional options such as veneers
- Existing crowns, veneers, or fillings will not change colour, which can affect colour match with newly whitened natural teeth
- Results are not permanent and typically fade over time, particularly with smoking or consumption of staining foods and drinks
Aftercare: Avoid staining foods and drinks (e.g. coffee, tea, red wine) for 48 hours after treatment; use a straw for staining beverages where possible; follow any touch-up protocol recommended by your dentist; maintain good oral hygiene to help results last longer.
Composite Veneers
Suitability: Not suitable for everyone. Your dentist will assess your enamel condition, bite, grinding/clenching habits, gum health, and the extent of discolouration, chipping, or shape irregularity before recommending this treatment.
Risks and limitations:
- Temporary tooth sensitivity to hot or cold
- Staining and discolouration over time, more so than porcelain, particularly with coffee, tea, red wine, or smoking
- Chipping or fracturing under pressure from hard foods, nail-biting, or grinding
- Limited lifespan — generally requires repair, polishing, or replacement after several years
- Irreversible tooth preparation in some cases, where a small amount of enamel is removed
- Colour matching that may not be exact and can shift relative to natural teeth over time
- Temporary gum sensitivity or irritation after placement
Aftercare: Avoid biting very hard foods or ice; wear a night guard if advised; maintain good oral hygiene; limit staining foods and drinks; attend follow-up appointments to monitor wear and staining.
Porcelain Veneers
Suitability: Requires sufficient healthy enamel for bonding and a clinical assessment of bite and gum health. Not reversible once enamel has been prepared, and not suitable for patients with significant untreated decay, gum disease, or uncontrolled grinding.
Risks and limitations:
- Irreversible removal of a layer of enamel to fit the veneer
- Temporary sensitivity to hot, cold, or pressure following placement
- Risk of chipping, cracking, or debonding, particularly under grinding or trauma
- Colour and shade are fixed at placement and cannot be whitened afterwards
- Possible need for replacement over time, typically after many years of wear
- Rare risk of allergic or gum reaction to bonding materials
- Cost of replacement if a veneer is damaged or lost
Aftercare: Wear a night guard if grinding or clenching is present; avoid using teeth to bite very hard objects; maintain regular dental check-ups to monitor veneer condition and margins.
Dental Implants
Dental implants involve a surgical procedure and carry risks distinct from, and generally more significant than, non-surgical cosmetic treatments.
Suitability: Requires adequate bone density and volume, healthy gums, and general health suitable for surgery. Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, certain medications (e.g. some osteoporosis treatments), and untreated gum disease can affect suitability and success rates. Not every patient assessed will be a suitable candidate, and further diagnostic imaging (e.g. CT scans) is usually required and charged separately.
Risks and limitations:
- Standard surgical risks: bleeding, infection, swelling, bruising, and pain
- Implant failure or failure to integrate with the jawbone, which may require removal and retreatment
- Nerve damage causing temporary or, rarely, permanent numbness, tingling, or altered sensation in the lip, chin, or tongue
- Damage to adjacent teeth, sinus perforation (for upper jaw implants), or need for additional procedures such as bone grafting or sinus lifts
- Longer-than-expected treatment timelines if complications or additional procedures are required
- Peri-implantitis (gum/bone inflammation around an implant) which can develop over time and, if untreated, lead to implant loss
- Not all patients assessed as suitable for implants will be suitable for immediate/same-day teeth
- Ongoing maintenance and possible future replacement of the implant crown or components
Aftercare: Follow post-surgical instructions closely, including any prescribed antibiotics or pain relief; maintain a soft-food diet as advised (commonly required for a period following surgery); avoid smoking, which significantly increases failure risk; attend all follow-up appointments for healing checks; maintain rigorous oral hygiene around the implant long-term.
Clear Aligners / Braces (Orthodontic Treatment)
Suitability: Not all bite or alignment issues can be corrected with clear aligners; some cases require traditional braces or referral to an orthodontist. Treatment length and outcome depend on patient compliance with wear-time instructions.
Risks and limitations:
- Temporary discomfort, pressure, or soreness, particularly after starting a new aligner or brace adjustment
- Speech changes (usually temporary) during initial adjustment
- Risk of tooth root resorption (shortening) in some patients, more common with significant tooth movement
- Relapse (teeth shifting back) if retainers are not worn as instructed after treatment
- Treatment may take longer than initially estimated if compliance is inconsistent or if teeth respond more slowly than expected
- Braces (fixed appliances) carry a higher risk of food trapping, difficulty cleaning, and a slightly increased risk of decalcification (white spot marks) or decay if oral hygiene is inadequate during treatment
- Not all cosmetic concerns (e.g. tooth shape or colour) are addressed by orthodontic treatment alone and may require complementary treatment
Aftercare: Wear aligners for the prescribed number of hours per day; wear retainers as instructed after treatment to prevent relapse; maintain thorough oral hygiene, especially around fixed braces; attend scheduled review appointments.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Suitability: Not all wisdom teeth require removal — this depends on position, impaction, symptoms, and risk of future problems. Your dentist will assess this via clinical examination and imaging (e.g. OPG or CT scan).
Risks and limitations:
- Pain, swelling, and bruising following extraction, usually resolving within days to a couple of weeks
- Dry socket (delayed healing at the extraction site), which can cause significant pain
- Infection at the extraction site
- Nerve proximity risk (particularly for lower wisdom teeth), which can cause temporary or, rarely, permanent numbness or altered sensation in the lip, chin, or tongue
- Jaw stiffness or limited mouth opening for a period after surgery
- Possible need for referral to an oral surgeon for complex or deeply impacted teeth, which may involve additional cost and separate risks associated with sedation or general anaesthetic
Aftercare: Follow post-extraction instructions carefully, including rest, soft foods, and avoiding straws or vigorous rinsing in the first 24 hours; take prescribed pain relief or antibiotics as directed; attend a review appointment if recommended; contact the practice promptly if you experience worsening pain, swelling, fever, or bleeding.
Root Canal Treatment
Suitability: Recommended based on clinical and radiographic assessment of the tooth’s nerve and root condition. In some cases, a tooth may not be salvageable and extraction may be the more appropriate option, which your dentist will discuss with you.
Risks and limitations:
- Temporary discomfort or sensitivity following treatment
- Possibility that the tooth may still require extraction if infection persists or the tooth fractures
- Root canal-treated teeth become more brittle over time and often require a crown for long-term protection, which is a separate cost
- Small risk of instrument fracture within the root canal during treatment
- Possible need for retreatment or referral to an endodontist if the canal anatomy is complex or infection recurs
- Rare risk of flare-up (temporary worsening of symptoms) after treatment
Aftercare: Avoid chewing on the treated tooth until any recommended restoration (e.g. crown) is placed; take prescribed pain relief as needed; attend follow-up appointments to monitor healing; report ongoing pain, swelling, or a return of symptoms promptly.
Full Mouth Reconstruction
Full mouth reconstruction typically combines several of the treatments listed on this page (e.g. implants, crowns, veneers, root canal treatment) and carries the cumulative risks and considerations of each individual procedure involved in your specific plan, in addition to the points below.
Suitability: Requires comprehensive clinical assessment, diagnostic imaging, and a personalised treatment plan. Not all patients will be suitable for every component of a full reconstruction, and your dentist may recommend staging treatment over multiple visits or referring you to a specialist for certain components.
Risks and limitations:
- Extended treatment timelines, often spanning weeks to months depending on complexity
- Higher overall cost, with the potential for the treatment plan to change if complications arise during earlier stages
- Combined risks of all component procedures (e.g. surgical risks from implants, structural risks from crowns/veneers, as detailed in the relevant sections above)
- Adjustment period as your bite, appearance, and function change, which may require review and refinement appointments
- Long-term success depends on ongoing maintenance, oral hygiene, and regular review
Aftercare: Follow the specific aftercare instructions for each procedure included in your plan; attend all scheduled review appointments, as full mouth reconstructions are usually monitored closely during the adjustment period; maintain excellent long-term oral hygiene to protect your investment in treatment.
Other Dental Services
This page does not describe every treatment we offer. All dental and surgical procedures — including those not specifically listed above (such as fillings, crowns, bridges, teeth whitening, dentures, periodontal treatment, and general or emergency dentistry) — carry their own risks, benefits, and limitations, and results vary between patients. A full assessment by one of our AHPRA-registered dentists is required before any recommendations can be made, and your dentist will explain the risks, alternatives, and expected outcomes relevant to your specific treatment during your consultation. Please speak with our team if you have questions about a treatment not covered on this page.
Questions?
If you have questions about whether a particular treatment is right for you, or about the risks, alternatives, and care involved, please speak with our dental team during your consultation.
