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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

If a Porcelain Veneer Falls Off, Should It Be Replaced with a Crown?

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Last December, my dentist placed 6 porcelain veneers on my front teeth. Two weeks after my dentist bonded the veneers, one of the incisor veneers fell off and broke while I was eating. The tooth was quite sensitive. My dentist said that he needed to adjust my bite. He shortened the opposite bottom tooth and the porcelain veneer. My dentist applied chemicals to my tooth that hurt so bad because it was already sensitive, despite his claims that the fix would be painless.

Last week, the same veneer fell off while I was eating. I feel the same sensitivity in my tooth. I called my dentist’s office to report the problem, and he returned my call and asked me to schedule an appointment for a porcelain crown because my bite must still be off. My dentist hasn’t looked at my tooth, and he wants me to get a crown. I’m suffering from sensitivity in the tooth, and I’m very skeptical about returning to my dentist. Is it normal for a cosmetic dentist to replace a veneer with a crown that keeps falling off?  – Omar from CT

Omar,

Two things aren’t normal about your situation. Porcelain veneers don’t commonly fall off, and it isn’t reasonable to grind down your tooth to replace the veneer with a dental crown.

Your dentist’s explanation about why your porcelain veneer is falling off doesn’t sound logical—especially since your dentist adjusted your bite, and the veneer fell off again. When a dentist properly bonds a porcelain veneer, it might chip or crack—but not fall off.

Why Do Porcelain Veneers Fall Off?

Improper bonding – Porcelain veneers require skill and proper bonding techniques. A dentist needs post-graduated cosmetic dentistry training to understand which tools and materials are needed for successful bonding. We are skeptical that your dentist has received the proper training to give you a long-lasting smile makeover.

Aggressive tooth preparation – If your dentist aggressively prepared your tooth and removed too much enamel, it would cause sensitivity in your tooth and make it a challenge for the veneer to stay in place.

Switch to an Advanced Cosmetic Dentist

If you take the veneer to an advanced cosmetic dentist—preferably accredited— he or she will ensure your tooth is prepared correctly and bond the veneer back in place. A cosmetic dentist who can save your tooth from a crown and ensure your veneer is secure.

Michael Szarek, DMD, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, MA, sponsors this post. Dr. Szarek’s office is conveniently located near Dracut, Chelmsford, Tewksbury, Billerica, Westford, Andover, Lawrence, Wilmington, Bedford, and Burlington.
Below are porcelain veneers photos of one of Dr. Szarek’s patients.

3 Reasons Porcelain Veneers Can Lose Their Shine and How to Get the Gloss Back

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Have your porcelain veneers lost their shine? If your veneers are new, it’s unusual for them to lose their gloss. There are a few possible causes of the change in the appearance of your smile.

Dental Tools or Chemicals

Photo of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneers, from the office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek of Lowell, MA.

Porcelain veneers are harder than tooth enamel

Porcelain veneers are harder than tooth enamel. A substance must be extremely abrasive to dull the gloss on your teeth. Although toothpaste is abrasive, it is unlikely to cause your veneers to lose their shine. But dental tools and chemicals can damage them. A hygienst who has been trained in how to care for porcelain veneers knows which instruments and substances to use.

Power polishing equipment – Dental hygienists use specific instruments, including the prophy jet, that will blast the glaze off veneers and cause them to dull.

Some fluoride treatment – Some fluoride contains hydrofluoric acid, which will etch porcelain, dull the surface of your veneers, and cause them to stain.

Your Veneers Might Not Be Porcelain at All

If your veneers are made of dental composite—not porcelain—they are much more likely to stain. Several substances will scratch composite, including:

  • Abrasive toothpaste – As you brush your teeth, the toothpaste will create tiny scratches on the composite, which attract stains.
  • Polishing pumice – At the end of professional dental cleaning, most hygienists use polishing pumice to make your teeth shine. The abrasive polish doesn’t harm tooth enamel, but it can scratch composite veneers.
  • Alcohol-based mouthwash – Alcohol softens dental composite and makes it easy to get scratched and stain.

How to Care for Your Porcelain Veneers

  • Brush them with a non-abrasive toothpaste, and floss between them.
  • Don’t use your teeth to bite or open hard objects.
  • Ensure you receive dental cleanings from a hygienist who is trained to care for porcelain veneers. He or she knows which dental tools to use—and which tools to avoid—to maintain the luster of your smile.
  • Visit a cosmetic dentist who will safely polish your veneers and give them a glossy shine.

What Can You Do If Your Veneers are Already Stained?

Schedule an appointment for an exam with an advanced cosmetic dentist to determine the cause of your dull porcelain veneers. Look at a few cosmetic dentist’s websites to read about their training and experience. You’ll receive the best results from an accredited cosmetic dentist.

A cosmetic dentist might be able to polish your veneers to improve their appearance. If not, he or she will explain your options. If your porcelain veneers are permanently damaged, they will need to be replaced to regain your bright smile.

This post is sponsored by accredited cosmetic dentist Michael Szarek, DMD. His Lowell, MA office is conveniently located near Dracut, Chelmsford, Tewksbury, Billerica, Pelham, Westford, and Andover.

Is it true that I can’t use toothpaste on porcelain veneers?

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I was told that if I get porcelain veneers that I can’t use regular toothpaste on them. Do porcelain veneers require special care beyond natural teeth? Thanks. Bridget

Bridget – You should treat porcelain veneers as you would your natural teeth. Floss and brush them, but use a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste.

It’s important that you get your teeth regularly examined and cleaned by a cosmetic dentist with staff training in maintaining porcelain veneers. Some of the equipment used to clean and polish natural teeth will damage porcelain veneers, so it’s important to have a dentist who is skilled in caring for veneers.

This post is sponsored by Lowell dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Cracked 2 teeth playing musical chairs. Which cosmetic dentistry is best?

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Over the weekend I was bar hopping with some friends. We ended up drinking more than I thought we would, singing karaoke and playing musical chairs until late. I didn’t make it in a seat and my feet slipped out from under me. When I fell I also slid and my teeth hit the metal on one of the chairs. I now have a crack to in two different teeth. Won’t be repeating that performance. What cosmetic treatment will work best for me a veneer or a crown? – Tim

Tim – Your teeth need to be examined by an experienced cosmetic dentist. The treatment that will be recommended will depend on the length and severity of the crack in each tooth.

It is possible that your teeth can be restored with dental bonding. After your teeth are roughened, composite bonding that matches the color of your teeth will be applied to them. The bonding will be smoothed, shaped, and polished for a natural look. You will have to be careful to avoid an excess of food and drink that can stain your bonding, such as berries, coffee, tea, and colas. Tobacco use can also stain bonding.

Porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns are more stain resistant. They are also more durable than dental bonding, which will wear and need to be replaced in a few years.

If you are fortunate enough to find an accredited cosmetic dentist, the results with the restoration of your teeth will be so beautiful that you won’t be able to tell the teeth were once damaged.

This post is sponsored by Lowell dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Rough edge on porcelain veneer

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On the right side of my mouth, the third tooth from the front, there is a rough edge on the porcelain veneer. I noticed it about 3 weeks ago. I have had the veneers for 4 years. Is this normal? Thanks. Jan.

Jan – No, it’s not normal to have a rough edge on a porcelain veneer. But it can occur.

If veneers are polished at a dental office with abrasive instruments, or if acid fluoride treatments are used, the glaze on the veneers can break. The veneer will become porous and rough.

Biting hard objects, such as pins, nails, or bottles can cause the veneers to fracture.

Visit an expert cosmetic dentist to have your veneers examined. He or she will determine if your veneers can be polished, or if another treatment is appropriate.

This post is sponsored by Lowell dentist Dr. Michael Szarek. Dr. Szarek is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentisty.