problem with porcelain veneer Archives

I’m hoping you can shed some light on my cosmetic dentistry problem. I just had nine total eMax veneers placed last week. Now, I can’t floss. Is that a big problem in maintaining the look of my porcelain veneers?

-Sheila in Florida

Sheila,

Not being able to floss correctly after getting porcelain veneers is a major problem. Excellent oral hygiene is imperative in maintaining and keeping cosmetic dentistry beautiful. Lack of daily flossing will lead to an increased risk of tooth decay around the shell of the porcelain. If the situation is not remedied, your teeth are highly susceptible to serious problems, not to mention the health of your gums.

The truth of the matter is that only a very small percentage of dentists that “claim” to be cosmetic dentists, actually do beautiful work that meets the standard of care. It is not a recognized specialty area within dentistry, so any dentist can say the do porcelain veneers. But in order to provide excellent care requires extensive training and coursework beyond dental school. Since your dentist did not use correct dental bonding techniques, the spacing sounds like it’s all wrong.

You should be able to floss between each tooth, even after getting porcelain veneers placed. The floss should glide smoothly along each tooth and not run into any snags or bumps along the way. You will be at risk for gum disease as well, if this is not corrected. Your gums will become puffy and their overall health will suffer without regular flossing.

At this point it may be wise to seek a second opinion from an experienced cosmetic dentist, one that thoroughly understands the proper porcelain veneer bonding techniques to provide adequate function and spacing. You can go back into the dentist that placed them and express your concern. But since this was the end product he left you with, you really may be better off moving on.

Thank you for your question. Hopefully, it will help others be careful in learning more about their cosmetic dentist before moving forward.

I’m mortified because I look silly. One of my porcelain veneers came off. I’m sure this isn’t a dental emergency under normal circumstances, but I have a job interview in two days. My dentist doesn’t seem like it’s a big deal. So I’m considering seeing an emergency dentist. I guess they don’t see this as an urgent need and their schedule will not allow it. Can I just Super Glue the veneer back on to get through the interview?

-Tracy in Arizona

Tracy,

Please don’t use Super Glue! That would be a dental nightmare, to say the least. Yes, it will hold it in place for your job interview. But you may cause serious damage to the tooth underneath. Let’s put it this way. If you use Super Glue to reattach it, you will increase the chances of creating a dental emergency. It could stick too well, or you may not get the seal done correctly. Bacteria flourishes under circumstances like that. This means you will be dealing with tooth decay too. The veneer could break and irreversible damage can be done to your natural tooth. So, please do not use Super Glue!

Your dentist probably leaves space in the daily schedule for dental emergencies, but something like this may not be as urgent as someone in pain. A cosmetic dentist may feel differently and better accommodate your needs. But, since you aren’t a regular patient of record, it may still be difficult to get in to a new dentist before your job interview. For the short term, you may want to consider temporary dental cement. You can find this at your local drug store. It is most often used for a dental crown, but it will work safely to reattach your porcelain veneer. Just remember that this is a temporary fix. Decay can happen quickly if the tooth isn’t checked out. It also may be decay which caused the veneer to pop off in the first place. If you decide to try the temporary cement, try to avoid eating and drinking on the tooth. Then, get into see your dentist at the earliest convenience.

Thank you for your question and good luck on the job interview.

Is it strange that I can no longer floss after getting porcelain veneers?

My porcelain veneer came off. Can I see an emergency dentist to fix it?