Do veneers ruin your teeth?

A common question patients have when installing dental porcelain veneers is whether this smile transformation procedure will ruin their teeth. That is a valid concern since dental veneers involve removing some natural tooth enamel, a substance on our teeth that acts as a protective barrier against acid and bacteria. When enamel is lacking due to damage or decay, our teeth become more sensitive — which explains why we experience sensitivity when eating hot and/or cold food.

The answer is no, dental veneers will not ruin your natural teeth as long as they are installed properly and you upkeep proper dental hygiene. We also try to keep the amount of enamel removed as low as possible. But there are certain factors that can cause your veneers to break down, which will, in turn, affect your teeth.

Are veneers suitable for everyone?

Veneers are thin porcelain shells placed over your teeth to change the shape, size and colour of your teeth. They are commonly made from either ceramic or porcelain. You are a perfect candidate for porcelain veneers if:

Your teeth are stained to the extent that teeth whitening treatments no longer work, or you just prefer a teeth whitening option that requires less maintenance.
You have gaps in your teeth that are not more than 1-3 mm. Anything more than that, you might want to consider Invisalign instead.
Your teeth are worn down from grinding.
Your teeth are chipped or damaged due to injury or trauma.
You have slightly crooked teeth.

However, do take note that veneers only act as aesthetic cover-ups and do not carry any functional use. In other words, they do not actually straighten your teeth or close the gap in your teeth; they merely give the impression that you have straight, healthy teeth. So with that said, dental veneers like porcelain veneers are a poor option if you suffer from gum disease, have weak teeth or have other underlying dental issues. They are also not suitable if you tend to grind your teeth repeatedly.

Not sure whether to get veneers or crowns? This article on dental veneers vs. dental crowns might help.

Find out more about Dental Veneers with Dental Design today!

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Can I still get cavities with porcelain veneers?

Yes, it is possible that you can still get cavities even with porcelain veneers. There are a few reasons why.

Veneers only cover the front part of a tooth, so the tooth’s back side still remains exposed to bacteria and plaque.
You do not floss and brush properly, causing decay to form around and under the veneer. This is made worse if your diet is high in sugar and refined carbohydrates.
If your veneer was not bonded properly, bacteria can grow and spread around it, affecting your natural teeth.
As mentioned, porcelain veneers do not cure teeth of pre-existing problems like decay, gum disease and weakened dental enamel. Being on long-term medication with side effects like dry mouth may also greatly increase the risk of cavities in veneer-supporting teeth.

How can I prevent cavities with porcelain veneers?

The best way to take care of your teeth and veneers is to ensure excellent oral hygiene. That includes:

Brushing twice a day and flossing regularly

Ideally, you should floss or rinse your mouth after every meal to get rid of food debris stuck between your teeth. Make sure to brush for two minutes each time and do not neglect the backs or area along the gum line. A manual toothbrush is fine, but it’d be better if you can get an electric toothbrush as it’s easier to reach harder-to-reach areas with an electric toothbrush.

Avoid hard, sticky food or food that stain

These include nuts, bones, raw vegetables like carrots (hard food), candy (sticky food) and coffee, tea, wine and tomatoes (staining food). Even chewing on ice is a no-no! In the same vein, you should not use your teeth as a tool to open bottles or anything that involves biting down.

Avoid grinding your teeth

Grinding your teeth can damage porcelain veneers, leaving you susceptible to decay. Generally, it’s not advisable for those with bruxism to get this restoration, but if you must, get a night guard from your dentist.

Visit your dentist every 6 months

We encourage everyone to visit their dentist every 6 months for a thorough cleaning session; this is especially important if you have veneers. You should also get your dental veneers done by a cosmetic dentist who has a good track record. Don’t be afraid to ask your dentist for pictures, their past veneer cases and if this procedure is even suitable for you to begin with. A good dentist should be someone who cares about your oral health and appearance instead of merely trying to sell you a service.

Have more questions? Read about how dental veneers are made to match our face and teeth.

Find out more about Dental Veneers with Dental Design today!

Whatsapp us at : +65 9100 0961

Call us at : +65 6221 8284

References

Jordan A. (2015). Clinical aspects of porcelain laminate veneers: considerations in treatment planning and preparation design. Journal of the California Dental Association, 43(4), 199–202.
Burke F. J. (2012). Survival rates for porcelain laminate veneers with special reference to the effect of preparation in dentin: a literature review. Journal of esthetic and restorative dentistry : official publication of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry ... [et al.], 24(4), 257–265. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1708-8240.2012.00517.x

Deciding Between a Veneer or Dental Crown Singapore

A common question that surfaces in the mind of patients is: Should I choose a dental crown or a veneer? Here are the answers you've been looking to get.

Why do I need a dental crown or veneer?

For one, your teeth are damaged or decayed, exposing the dentine and pulp. Or they may be discoloured and worn out, with parts that have chipped off. For another, treatment is needed to protect these tiny but indispensable structures from wear and tear.

What is a restoration?

This is a procedure that brings a tooth back to its original state, or better. The dentist first prepares the work site by cutting away the damaged or decayed parts. Then he or she places material to cover over the exposed dentine and pulp. In smaller areas, this can be fixed with a filling. However, when the defect is larger, or for aesthetic reasons, either a veneer or a crown may be used.

What is a dental crown?

It acts as a protective layer that encircles the structure. It is like a cap on a tooth that has been reduced due to root canal treatments and large cavities. The crown restores both structure and strength that have been compromised by chips and cracks. Think of it as a bumper for your car - if there is a high force onto your bumper, it will break but the frame will still be protected.

Similarly, if there is any high force that is large enough to damage the tooth, the crown breaks instead, absorbing the impact. It is fitted onto your teeth, beside the neighbouring and opposing teeth. The difference between this and dental implants is that the latter serves to replace missing teeth.

What are dental veneers?

These are thin shells that are adhered to the tooth. Mostly done on the front surface for cosmetic reasons, they are effective when the dentine and pulp are not exposed. Veneers are custom made to suit the shape, size, and colour (shade) of your jaw. The cosmetic dentists at our clinic are interested in less reduction of your original tooth structure because the restoration is more successful.

The main advantage here is the improvement of your smile. Teeth actually have many shades and shapes. The job of a dentist is to skillfully design one that will suit the rest, making it virtually indistinguishable from the other structures. The material is carefully painted and stained by trained laboratory technicians to make it match your natural teeth colour.

Veneers come in two materials, ceramic (or dental porcelain veneers) and composite resin veneers. There also are traditional versus modern ones. If you want no grinding down included, your doctor might recommend prepless veneers.

How do you choose the right dentist?

Indications of a good professional include one that will explain to you what your condition is and what treatment options you have. This includes all the pros and cons of picking each procedure, as well as long-term considerations. When you are settling for a permanent, long-lasting treatment like these two are, you need to be assured that the specialist is capable of delivering an outcome that you will be satisfied with in the long run.

Your choice actually lies between digital versus traditional dentistry. An orthodontist will best be able to advise whether to restore your tooth using a crown or a veneer. However, being the patient, you have the autonomy to select an expert who has upgraded their skills to the new revolutionary methods. Talk about intra-oral scanners that are less intrusive and nicer versus traditional unpleasant impressions. Or those 3-4 hours spent to restore your tooth versus two appointments with a wait of up to two weeks.

The most dedicated professionals invest in technology such as the 3D intra-oral scanner to design your smile. Using the software in their clinic, they have total control over the entire process. By contrast, traditional dentists sub their work out to dental laboratories and the quality of the job depends on the technician's skill.

What are the main considerations of choosing between the two treatments?

Generally speaking, a crown is done if the teeth are decayed or a root canal procedure has been carried out, resulting in not enough material left for the dentist to place a veneer.
Veneers are approximately 0.5-1mm in thickness, and used on the outer tooth surface. This means your original structure is kept intact as much as possible. This saves you money in the long run. The material is placed with the shape of your smile in mind.
If you lack enamel on the facial (the surfaces of the tooth touching the cheeks), veneers are not the best way to go. They require an adequate amount of enamel in order to attach and remain stable on the surface.
Many dentists prefer crowns in lieu of veneers because the latter option can be difficult to fit in.

Regardless of the procedure you opt for, you still need to maintain a good oral hygiene routine in order to sustain the results.

What is involved in a visit to the dentist for dental veneers?

To answer this question, the typical traditional dentist’s workflow must be explained. For dental crowns, they first prepare your tooth to create the space it takes to fit in. They then make a hold or impression of your prepared tooth and send it to the traditional laboratory to mould. Next up, they place or restore a temporary preparation on your tooth, and this marks the end of the first appointment.

Typically, you have to wait about two weeks until the laboratory has made your restoration. In the meantime, do keep in mind the following. First, the temporary fixture is rough, hence you should be careful to not dislodge it when brushing and flossing. Second, you ought to avoid chewing hard or sticky foods on that side so as not to break it. The tooth may also be more sensitive as it is not fully covered.

After two weeks, you will have to go back to the dentist and they will place the actual dental crown.

Alternatively, you can narrow down your appointments to one if the products are made by a CEREC trained specialist. Instead of placing a traditional temporary crown or veneer, they can design your tooth immediately after the preparation work is done.

CEREC revolutionises this conventional method. In general, the whole process of starting and completing the treatment can be done in around three hours. The first visit is the preparation which takes one hour. After that, you can go back to work or have coffee while you wait. The restoration will be CAD/CAM milled in our CEREC machine, individually stained, glazed and hand-finished. In an hour’s time, you return to the dental clinic and have the permanent material fitted in.

This means no more troublesome unreliable temporary restorations, and fewer appointments. The visit itself will be more pleasant with the 3D intra-oral scanning experience, compared to the normal dental impressions that leave you gagging in the dental chair.

I Want to Improve my Smile, Can I Do That with Veneers in Singapore?

Veneers can change the shape and size of your smile to a more alluring appearance, with the added bonus of teeth whitening.

However, if you require orthodontic treatment, you will be advised to go for it ahead of time. This is because your teeth need to be straightened before anything else is done to them. If the crookedness is massive, excess material will be ground away and the structures will be reshaped. Not to mention, the orientation is essential as well. It is important how the occlusal surfaces of your dental arches for the top and bottom teeth impact enamel wear and tear.

So to sum it up, veneers are mainly used to restore a beautiful smile when sufficient tooth structure is available. They cannot be stained with coffee, tea, and wine. On the other end of the spectrum, dental crowns are used for more damaged structures because they provide wider coverage and protection, replacing missing teeth.

Our Commitment to Quality Dental Care

At Dental Designs Clinic, we offer same day crowns since we are capable of milling the restoration with our CEREC machine. Therefore, you only have to come for a couple of hours in one day to complete your treatment, unlike most other clinics which require two appointments. This frees up your valuable time.

Getting the restorations made in-house means we have total control over the designing, finishing, and quality of the process, as opposed to traditional dental laboratories whose work depends on the technician's skills. We strive to improve your overall oral health so you can have a normal life for years to come before you need to make another trip to your dentist.

References

Crowns and Other Extra-coronal Restorations: Porcelain Laminate Veneers
(A Walls-J Steele-R Wassell - https://www.nature.com/articles/4801489)
Clinical evaluation of etched porcelain veneers
(https://europepmc.org/article/med/2597374)
Clinical Observations Of Porcelain Veneers: A Three‐year Report
Gordon Christensen-Rella Christensen - (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1708-8240.1991.tb00994.x)
Us3934348a - Method Of Forming a Porcelain Crown
(https://patents.google.com/patent/US3934348A/en)
Effects Of Opaque and Porcelain Surface Texture on the Color Of Ceramometal Restorations
Alejandro Obregon-Richard Goodkind-William Schwabacher - (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0022391381902225)
Marginal distortion of the porcelain-bonded-to-metal complete crown: An SEM study
(https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3913(82)90178-0)