Causes And Solutions For Compromised Dental Veneers

Posted on: 22 November 2022

Dentists use dental veneers to cover cosmetic and minor structural imperfections on teeth. For example, your dentist may advise you to get veneers to cover chipped enamel or stains that bleaching cannot correct. Veneers work well, but they will not necessarily last forever. Below are the causes and solutions for veneer problems.

Problems

Veneer Staining

Dental veneers are available in different materials. The common ones are porcelain and composite resin. Porcelain veneers do not stain, but composite veneers might stain. Some things that stain composite veneers include poor dental hygiene, staining foods, and smoking. Red wine, coffee, and colored berries are common causes of veneer stains.

Gum Recession

As you age, your gums pull away from your teeth. The gum recession exposes parts of your teeth that previously were under it. Since those parts of the teeth do not have a veneer cover, they may interfere with your smile if they are not the same color as the veneers.

Dental Injury

Serious dental injury can cause your teeth to bleed. Such injuries may also leave you with dead tissues. The dead tissues and dried blood might discolor your teeth, and the discoloration might show through the thin veneers.

Veneer Damage

Veneers do not scratch easily, but they can scratch in a few specific cases. For example, dental trauma, aggressive brushing, and hard-bristled toothbrushes can scratch your veneers. The scratches can trap debris, such as food particles, and give your teeth a discolored appearance.

Micro-Leakage

Dentists use a special bonding material or cement to stick veneers on your teeth. Sometimes the cement leaks and attracts debris, compromising your teeth's appearance.

Solutions

You can deal with composite veneer aesthetics in different ways. Below are some solutions to consider.

Choose the Right Veneers

If you are planning to get veneers, get porcelain veneers that do not stain easily. The veneers might require a significant investment compared to their composite counterparts, but they are worthwhile.

Prevent Staining

If you already have veneers, avoid habits or things that stain teeth or veneers. For example, you should go easy on foods that stain teeth and stop smoking. You should also brush and floss your teeth regularly. Ensure you rinse your teeth every time you take staining foods. Lastly, don't forget to wear mouthguards while playing contact sports to prevent dental injuries.

Replace the Veneers

Dental bleaching is a common method of whitening discolored teeth. However, the bleach does not work on veneers since they don't have the same material as your natural teeth. The only way to fix compromised veneers or veneer-treated teeth is to replace the veneers.

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When my three children were young, they were all excited to go to the dentist. The dentist's office was great fun with a large fish tank and a variety of puzzle toys in the waiting room. I liked the pediatric dental office so much that I jumped at the chance when I was offered a receptionist job. Many of the children who came to see the dentist were not nearly as happy as my children. Most kids were scared and anxious, and I learned fairly quickly that the children were worried because they had no idea what to expect. The dentist at the office provided me with a set of dental tools that I could show to the children. I explained how each of the devices worked. This eased the fears, and I started this blog so parents could share dental information with their children before dental visits.

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