Porcelain veneers can fulfill your dreams of a perfect smile. But in the hands of the wrong dentist, a periapical abscess on a veneered tooth can be a nightmare. Before you accept treatment, there are several things you need to know.
1. What Is a Periapical Abscess?
A periapical abscess is a pus-filled sac at the tip of a tooth root. It’s usually caused by a tooth infection that spreads through the tooth and into the roots. Depending on which tooth is affected, the infection can spread into your cheeks, jaw, or the floor of your mouth. The pus can drain, get in your airway, and be life-threatening.
2. If You Have Porcelain Veneers and an Abscess
Although antibiotics can treat the infection, your dentist needs to remove the diseased tooth pulp. Leaving it untreated will compromise your oral and overall health. If your porcelain veneer was correctly placed, it should remain intact.
3. What Caused the Infection?
A tooth infection has several possible causes, some of which include:
- Decay – Untreated tooth decay can lead to an infection and root canal treatment.
- Aggressive preparation for porcelain veneers – Aggressive preparation of your natural teeth can increase stress on a tooth, irritate the pulp, and cause an infection.
- Trauma – Impact or trauma to your mouth or teeth can cause internal damage that results in an infection.
4. Retaining the Beauty of a Porcelain Veneer After Root Canal Treatment
Before-and-after porcelain veneers photos of Dr. Brooksher’s patient. Advanced cosmetic dentists understand how to retain the beauty of veneers.
If a dentist leaves remnants of filler material or cement from a root canal treatment in your tooth, they will show through your porcelain veneer and make it look dark. Your dentist must thoroughly remove any excess filler material that replaced your tooth pulp, as well as any cement.
Many skilled cosmetic dentists prevent the tooth from darkening by lowering a white fiberglass post into the root and filling the remaining space with a light-colored composite.
5. Ask Your Dentist What You Can Expect
Speak with your dentist about his or her process for removing the infected tooth pulp, preserving your porcelain veneer, and ensuring the veneer won’t look dark. If your dentist seems uncertain about the results you can expect, you can seek a second opinion from an advanced cosmetic dentist.
Baton Rouge, LA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post. Dr. Brooksher is an award-winning cosmetic dentist, and he has many loyal patients who think he is the best dentist in town.
