Dental Veneers are strong, resilient and a good investment in the long-term beauty of your smile. Veneers are very durable but, as with natural teeth, chips happen.
Some of the reasons Dental Veneers may chip or break are:
- Trauma to the tooth
- Grinding of clenching of teeth
- Problems with bite alignment
- Biting into a hard substance
If your veneer chips, depending on the size and place of the chip, it may be able to be repaired by smoothing the chipped area or filling it with a bonding material.
What to do if a piece of your veneer breaks off:
Gently remove the broken piece from your mouth- If it’s larger than just a chip, and there is only one piece, the veneer might have come loose without breaking and can possibly be reattached
- Call our office, to get an appointment, as soon as possible
- Wrap the piece in a tissue and place it in a small container (like a pill bottle). Even if just a small piece has broken off, it will be easier to asses the damage and find a solution, if Dr. Stone can see the piece that has chipped. If the entire veneer has come off, treat it carefully, so that it can be reattached if it is in good condition.
- Your tooth may feel sensitive to hot or cold, or you may feel roughness in the chipped area. You can cover the tooth with dental wax, which is sold in most drug stores, until your appointment.
Preventive Care Measures for Dental Veneers
Regular dental visits can help Dr. Stone assess the health of your Dental Veneers.
Small chips can sometimes indicate a problem with the alignment of your bite or the shape of the veneer. It may be possible to trim or round off a portion of the veneer to improve your bite and prevent chips.
Dr. Stone may recommend a mouth guard, to be worn at night, if you grind or clench your teeth while you sleep.
Long Term Veneer Care
Dental Veneers can last ten years or more. Since they will likely have to be replaced some time in your lifetime, replacing them if they break remains a good long-term solution to keeping your smile bright and beautiful.
Call the office for an appointment, as soon as possible, if you are experiencing any problems with a Dental Veneer.