Dental veneers are among the most common cosmetic dental procedures performed because it involves a minimally invasive treatment that produces drastic results. Thanks to advancements in dentistry, veneers are now more durable than ever to offer a long-term solution to improve the appearance of your smile. However, veneers are still subject to damage and can become chipped or cracked. As a Massapequa cosmetic dentist, we want to see your veneers last as long as possible. However, we understand that they may become damaged. Should your veneer become damaged, we can replace your veneer to restore your beautiful smile.
What Causes Veneers to Become Damaged?
Veneers are made to withstand normal wear and tear for a prolonged period of time. But, there are certain instances that can cause a veneer to become damaged. Of course, trauma or injury to the mouth can lead to a damaged veneer. However, the most common reasons for veneers to become damaged involves not following the dentist’s recommendations. For example, using the teeth as tools, chewing on ice or other hard objects, or not maintaining oral hygiene, including visits to your dentist. In addition, a poor bite and grinding of the teeth can also lead to a broken veneer.
Treating a Damaged Veneer
The most common forms of damage to a veneers involves a fracture or the veneer debonding. No matter the cause or type of damage, your cosmetic dentist in Massapequa at South Shore Dental Care will be able to restore the damaged veneer.
If your veneer has come off of your tooth in one piece, carefully get the veneer and wrap it in a soft cloth or tissue. Then, place it inside of a hard container for an added layer of protection. If the veneer is not broken, we may be able to be reattach it to the tooth without needing to create a new veneer.
If you have had a veneer become severely cracked or chipped, the veneer may be able to be patched. However, in most cases, you will require a new veneer. While a patch may be a simple solution, it will not look as good as it did prior to being damaged and the repair will not last as long as a new veneer.
For minor chips, the dentist may be able to simply trim or buff the veneer until the flaw has been polished out. However, this may involve the surrounding teeth to be recontoured to maintain a proportionate appearance of the smile.
In some cases, a veneer may crack or thin lines may develop. In cases such as these, the veneer is likely to remain bonded to the tooth. It is best to have the veneer replaced because overtime, the fractured pieces will fall off. Not to mention, the tooth will become susceptible to staining through the crack, ruining the bright, white appearance of the veneer.
Your Dentist for Veneers
While a broken veneer may be a bit frightening, it is not an emergency. You can wait until your dental appointment without any concern, however, you may experience some tooth sensitivity in the meantime. If you have had a veneer become damaged, please contact our office to schedule an appointment.