Will Porcelain Veneers Affect the Backsides of Her Teeth?

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My teeth look terrible, and I am considering getting porcelain veneers. I had braces in fifth grade, but I didn’t wear a retainer. I was not responsible, and my mom was to busy to make sure I wore a retainer. Now my teeth look worse than they did before braces.

My concern about porcelain veneers is how they will affect the outside and insides of my teeth. My teeth are quite uncomfortable on the inside against my tongue. I want that feeling to go away—not just to have veneers make my teeth look good on the outside. What can be done about that feeling that I hate? Thanks. Ashleigh from San Antonio, TX

Ashleigh,

Thanks for submitting your question to us. Observing how your teeth look and feel, and how they affect your confidence will help you choose an option that matches all improvements you want for your smile.

People who prefer porcelain veneers over orthodontic treatment want fast results without waiting months, or more than a year, to align their teeth.

Orthodontics or Porcelain Veneers?

Photo of the tip of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneer; from the Baton Rouge office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.

Porcelain veneers cover the fronts of teeth

But if your teeth are severely misaligned, braces or Invisalign are best. Severely misaligned teeth are hard to clean and avoid decay. A cosmetic dentist might recommend clear braces, like Clear Correct, instead of porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are bonded to the fronts of your teeth and may not improve the feeling on the backside of your teeth.

Orthodontic treatment will align the front and back of your teeth—where your tongue and teeth touch. If both aesthetics and the way your teeth feel against your tongue are important to you, choose orthodontic treatment over porcelain veneers.

Schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist who offers orthodontic treatment. He or she will explain your options and what to expect on the tongue side of your teeth.

Accredited cosmetic dentist, Steven Brooksher, DDS of Baton Rouge sponsors this post.

His Dentist Bonded Porcelain Veneers to His Teeth Even Though He Hated Them

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In February, I received eight porcelain veneers. My dentist did two different wax models, but I didn’t like either of them. He told me that the final veneers would look several times better than the wax model. Before he bonded the veneers on, he used some a paste to attach them to my teeth.

I wrote down everything I told my dentist about what I hated about the veneers: 1 – the shape was wrong, 2) the color was wrong, 3) they looked like they were sliding away from my gums, 4) the teeth were unevenly spaced.

My dentist said he sent the veneers back to the lab, but I am wondering if these are the same veneers that I hated. I don’t see any difference. I really didn’t get a good look at these new veneers, but my dentist bonded them on without telling me that they were final. He did tell me that he had to “push back” with the lab to get them to redo my veneers. When he had me look in the mirror, I felt like I had been cheated. Now, I’m sure I’ve been cheated.

Last month I found about serious illnesses for two family members. This is a terrible time for me to worry about veneers. My dentist is trying to convince himself that my veneers are beautiful. He will never convince me. I know that I can start over, but I used a lot of my savings for this dental work. I don’t want to take more money out to have it corrected. Do I have any options? Thanks, Russ

Russ,

Many things went wrong with the way your dentist treated you as his patient.

  • Ignoring that you didn’t approve either was model
  • Directing the lab to make veneers when you didn’t accept the model
  • Proceeding with his plan after you tried on the veneers
  • Bonding the veneers to your teeth without your consent
Before-and-after smile makeover photos. Top photo shows a missing tooth and poorly spaced and shaped teeth. A new smile is below.


Dr. Brooksher rejuvenated this patient’s teeth with a beautiful smile makeover

Although we don’t know your dentist’s view on what happened, your description of the events sounds as if your dentist isn’t skilled in cosmetic dentistry.

A trustworthy cosmetic dentist will ensure you are delighted with your new smile before bonding it to your teeth. And he or she will only bond on veneers with a patient’s consent. Your dentist’s approach doesn’t reflect that he wants you to have a confident smile.

If Your Veneers Were Bonded on Without Your Consent

If you didn’t agree that your dentist could bond your veneers, you can file a complaint with the state dental board, leave negative feedback online, and consult with an attorney.

We hope that your dentist will voluntarily resolve the issue to your satisfaction.

Accredited cosmetic dentist, Steven Brooksher, DDS of Baton Rouge sponsors this post.

Can I Get a Root Canal If I Have a Porcelain Veneer?

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Hello there,

My dentist says I have a periapical abscess and I will need a root canal on one of my front teeth. However, my front teeth all have veneers over them. Will this case discoloration? Or will I need my veneers replaced?

Brent, from Alcolu, South Carolina

 

Hi Brent,

Usually, when porcelain veneers are placed, they are done on teeth that have been prepared. Most preparation cuts ridges into the surface of the tooth. However, some dentists go too deeply, or even place crowns under the guise of  veneers. Doing either of these things will cause significant stress on the surrounding teeth. The stress could be the cause behind the root canal.

Getting a root canal on a tooth will cause the tooth to turn dark, and this can lead to discoloration. If the tooth beneath the veneer is discolored, it can show through the veneer. To avoid discoloration, your dentist will need to clean your tooth properly, and may need to replace the post with white fiberglass and use natural-looking composite to fill in any gaps. An expert cosmetic dentist should be able to help you avoid dental discoloration, but if you trust your general dentist, they can help you as well.

This blog post is brought to you by Baton Rouge porcelain veneer provider, Dr. Steven Brooksher, of Dentistry by Brooksher.

 

Which Should I Get – Porcelain Veneers or Invisalign?

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Hi there,

I want a whiter and brighter smile. I was interested in porcelain veneers, but my dentist suggested getting Invisalign first. My teeth aren’t that crooked, so I didn’t think I needed braces. I asked about Lumineers, but he doesn’t do them because they look too bulky. Invisalign would delay me getting porcelain veneers by about a year, and would increase the cost. What should I do?

Thank you,

Ada, from Wisconsin

 

Hi Ada,

Cosmetic dentists usually suggest porcelain veneers or Invisalign, but suggesting both is uncommon. If you have bite problems or crowding in your mouth, that could be one reason for getting both.

One thing you can do is get a completely blind second opinion from another cosmetic dentist. Cosmetic dentistry is not a specialty recognized by the ADA, but are a segment of dentists that have pursued additional training in aesthetics and restoration. If they agree, then you can choose which dentist you prefer to do your work. If you dislike the size or shape of your teeth, covering them with porcelain veneers is a good treatment. You also won’t have to wait until your teeth are straight to start, either.

Invisalign bracers are faster than traditional metal braces, and will make sure your teeth are straight and aligned. If you want to brighten your smile, you can get an in-office teeth whitening treatment, or a take-home whitening kit. Your Invisalign bracers can even be used as custom bleaching trays. If you don’t want to rush into treatment, Invisalign is a good option for you.

This blog post is brought to you by Baton Rouge Invisalign provider, Dr. Steven Brooksher.

Lackluster Smile Makeover After Just 2 Months?

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Hi,

I hope you can help me. I recently had extensive cosmetic work on all my upper teeth. My restorative dental work was an expensive undertaking, so I want to take care of my teeth, so they’ll last a long time. I’ve been brushing and rinsing with over-the-counter products. However, after two months of this, my bright, white veneers have become noticeably less shiny. I even tried restoring their brightness with baking soda, but that had no effect. Did my toothpaste or mouthwash do this to my smile? Was it too abrasive, or was I just overdoing it? I made another appointment with my cosmetic dentist, is there anything she can do? I was very happy with the whiteness of my smile makeover, so I hope I can get it back.

Thank you,

TJ, from Hippo, Kentucky.

 

Hi TJ,

A smile makeover can involve dental implants, porcelain crowns, or porcelain veneers. No matter what you had done in your mouth, it would involve ceramic or porcelain, both of which is stronger than your natural tooth enamel. Smile makeovers are designed to stand up to the repeated wear-and-tear of brushing, and last 10-20 years with proper care. If your mouthwash had acidulated fluoride in it, that could cause the porcelain to dull, but over-the-counter products don’t have that. Be sure to let any dental hygienists know about your restorative dental work before they clean your teeth; the Prophy Jet tool they use can wear down the glaze on porcelain veneers and dull their shine.

The only way brushing and rinsing can cause your smile makeover to dull is if it were made from composite, rather than porcelain in the first place. Unfortunately, composite is much softer than your tooth’s natural structure. Anything from an abrasive toothpaste to mouthwash with alcohol in it can weaken composite, making it dull and susceptible to scratching. Talk to your cosmetic dentist about your concerns at your next appointment, and in the meantime, stop rinsing with any alcohol-based mouthwashes.

This blog post is brought to you by Baton Rouge smile makeover provider, Dr. Steven Brooksher, of Dentistry by Brooksher. Please note that Dr. Brooksher is a general dentist who has had additional training in restorative and cosmetic dentistry.

How Can I Be Sure I’ll Like My Smile Makeover?

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I have what I consider an awful smile and am searching for a way to enhance it. But I’m worried it’s not going to turn out very good. I have a friend who got porcelain veneers and she is telling me she’s sorry she ever did it – she actually liked her smile better before anything was done.

-Sondra from Indiana

Dear Sondra,

Get a Qualified Cosmetic Dentist

The most important thing to do when you want a smile makeover is to get a qualified cosmetic dentist.

While cosmetic dentistry is a highly specialized field, for political reasons it isn’t recognized as a specialty by the American Dental Association. And during dental school, dentists are taught a lot about science, but really nothing about the art that is so important in creating a beautiful smile makeover. This is why the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry began its accreditation program. It’s a course of study followed by a series of examinations that, if followed, will certify that a dentist has the required expertise in cosmetic dentistry. There is a written examination to make sure the applicant has a grasp of the specialized knowledge of cosmetic dentistry, and then a clinical examination consisting of five procedures, followed by an oral examination. The testing is rigorous enough that the patient can be assured that any accredited cosmetic dentist will do beautiful, functionally correct cosmetic dentistry.

The Digital Smile Makeover

Beyond that, we can tell you how we make sure, in our office, that patients love the smile that Dr. Brooksher creates for them. One important step we undertake is the digital smile makeover. After discussing with the patient what changes they want to their smile, Dr. Brooksher will create the smile design they want, digitally, on a photograph of their face. They can see what it will look like before he starts any work.

The Beautiful Smile Guarantee

Another way we reassure our patients is with our beautiful smile guarantee. This is a mindset that pretty much all really great cosmetic dentists have. This principle highlights a big difference between general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry. General dentistry is about fixing things that are broken, and dentists are taught in school to have an authoritative approach because this is reassuring to the patient. The dentist knows best how to solve the problem. Is a cavity too big for a filling to work? Your dentist is trained to know. But in cosmetic dentistry we’re treating the self-image of the patient. Are you embarrassed to smile? You are the best judge of that. It’s a reversal of the mindset we’re taught in school. But for Dr. Brooksher, a smile makeover isn’t successful unless the patient loves it. So before permanently attaching it to a patient’s teeth, he will try it on and make sure the patient loves it. If the patient doesn’t, any needed changes, including possibly going back to the ceramist to be re-made, are made before it is affixed to the teeth.

BEFORE
AFTER

Here’s a sample of a smile makeover created by Dr. Brooksher. This photograph illustrates the importance of personalizing each smile makeover. Many patients want a bright, dazzling, sparkling smile. This patient, however, wanted a more subdued, even smile. You can see by the expression on his face that he is very comfortable with it.

These are some guidelines. I hope they are helpful in finding a dentist who will create a beautiful smile for you and making you comfortable with your choice.

This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.

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