Dr. Hall,
I have porcelain veneers that have been on 20 years, just about the life expectancy that my dentist told me. I have noticed some changes in the past 6 months to a year. There seems to be more of a gap between the veneers where I am constantly catching whatever I eat. Also, it looks like I have a space developing between the top of the veneer and the gum line. Can these veneers be removed for new ones?
My teeth were badly stained by tetracycline. I had tooth bonding done before all the great whitening treatments that are readily available today. I would have preferred that, although my dentist told me that the whitening treatments don’t really work on the type of staining I had.
So … can you let me know what the best route of refurbishing my old veneers would be. THX!
Nancy from New Jersey
Nancy,
Porcelain veneers can be touched up. They can be polished and the margins smoothed off.
But from what you’re telling me, it sounds like you may need a new set.
You say you have a space developing between the top of the veneer and the gumline. In other words, your gums are receding a little and exposing some of the tooth. And if you have tetracycline staining, this may be noticeable, depending on where your lip falls.
Teeth bleaching simply doesn’t work well for tetracycline staining. That stain is very stubborn, and even if you lighten the teeth, they never become sparkling and vital the way you would like.
But you absolutely need one of the best cosmetic dentists for replacing these veneers. I have heard stories like yours and they have the old bonding or old veneers replaced, and they look terrible. We have a number of New Jersey cosmetic dentists we recommend all over the state. I would strongly recommend that you consult with one of them. Only a small percentage of dentists who advertise that they do cosmetic dentistry have the skills necessary to produce a beautiful smile on top of tetracycline stains.
And even though the life expectancy of your porcelain veneers seems to be what your dentist predicted, there is a lot of variability in that life expectancy. From what you’re telling me, the problems you are having are from changes in your teeth, not from a deterioration of the veneers. They might last quite a bit longer if it weren’t for that.
I hope this is helpful.
Dr. Hall
Read more about how long porcelain veneers last.
About David A. Hall
Dr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists.
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