Do Veneers Damage Your Natural Teeth? Getting the Facts
With their power to transform smiles, it's no wonder porcelain veneers have surged in popularity. But their enameling covers come at a cost. Getting veneers cemented permanently onto teeth is an irreversible process. And some people wind up regretting issues that can arise down the line. So it's important to closely examine the question: Do veneers mess up your teeth?
How Do Porcelain Veneers Work?
In order to grasp if and how veneers can damage teeth, you first need to understand what getting them entails. Veneers consists of wafer-thin covers usually made of porcelain custom crafted to slip over the front surface of teeth.
To install veneers, your dentist must first slightly file down the fronts of your teeth. This compromises the integrity of the natural enamel to ensure sufficient room for fitting the replacements. Cement then permanently bonds the veneer shells into place.
Benefits Veneers Can Offer
Understandably, the prospect of altering real tooth structure gives some people pause about veneers. However, when done properly, many patients feel the rewards outweigh the risks. Potential perks include:
- Reshaping uneven teeth
- Closing unsightly gaps between teeth
- Repairing chips and cracks
- Whitening discolored teeth beyond normal means
- Limiting stain buildup and decay in problem teeth
- Boosting smile uniformity and symmetry
For these reasons, many receive veneers to correct flaws, revitalize smiles with age, or simply enhance their appearance. And initially at least, most recipients feel pleased with their revamped look.
Risk Factors of Veneers
What about the dangers though? Does disrupting your natural teeth for artificial enhancements come at a price? While every patient and every mouth differs, some common pitfalls to know include:
Tooth Sensitivity
Shaving away protective enamel insulation can spike sensitivity to hot and cold. Fortunately, this often fades over weeks as the teeth, nerves, and veneers adjust.
Nerve Damage
Excessive drilling risks hitting nerves inside teeth, occasionally causing severe pain or needing root canal treatment.
Permanent Alteration
Unlike contacts or invisalign braces, veneers entail permanent change. So if you later want to go natural again, that becomes challenging without a full mouth restoration.
Additional Dental Work Down the Road
While today's porcelains are quite strong, veneers won't realistically last forever. Estimates range from 10-30 years before replacement becomes necessary.
Excess Tooth Reduction
Overly aggressive shaving can structurally weaken teeth and eventually contribute to fractures or necessity for crowns.
Factors Affecting Risk of Harm
As with most procedures, when and how you get veneers impacts success versus problems. Elements influencing results include:
Skill of the Cosmetic Dentist
An experienced professional understands how to selectively reduce enamel for an optimal fit without going overboard.
Oral Health Going In
Teeth already compromised with substantial decay or prior damage become more susceptible to further weakening.
Lifestyle Habits
Those prone to teeth grinding, jaw clenching, nail biting, opening packages with teeth, etc. raise odds of veneer damage occurring sooner.
Weighing Your Options and Alternatives
Given the mix of pros and cons with veneers, taking time for careful evaluation makes sense before pursuing them. What else should you consider or discuss with your dentist first?
Less Invasive Options
For some cosmetic dental goals, alternatives like teeth whitening, dental bonding, orthodontics, or recontouring may suffice without trimming natural structure.
Starting Small
Trying a trial run with one or just a few veneers lets you test drive their look and feel before fully committing your smile.
Special Precautions
Custom mouthguards for nighttime teeth grinding or sports can help protect veneers and your investment.
Touch Ups Over Time
Plan on periodic checkups to monitor veneer wear and integrity so they can be promptly repaired or replaced when issues emerge.
Contingency Plans
Know in advance what options exist if you later want veneers removed or have complications requiring major remedial work.
Final Takeaways on Veneers and Tooth Health
Do veneers spell doom for your precious natural teeth? Not necessarily. But messing with a healthy smile solely for aesthetics does disrupt its normal state. This carries risk anytime you permanently alter body parts surgically or otherwise.
The reality about veneers is they can bring meaningful improvements to dental appearance and self confidence when done carefully. Yet they also have the capacity to create regrets or unintended harm if patients rush in unaware or dentists exercise poor judgment.
With realistic expectations about pros, cons, alternatives, and unknowns ahead of time, you can determine if potential benefits outweigh chances of veneers messing up your teeth for your situation.
FAQs
Why do some dentists recommend against veneers?
Reasons dentists may oppose veneers include requiring tooth reduction, chances of nerve damage, their irreversible permanent nature, replacement needs over time, and risks if done incorrectly.
Do veneers typically harm teeth?
Veneers can damage teeth to some degree since installing them involves altering natural tooth structure. But when performed carefully, problems after the initial adjustment period are generally minimal.
What increases the risk of veneers going wrong?
Factors raising risks of veneers damaging teeth include poor dentist technique removing too much enamel, preexisting tooth decay or cracks, and heavy-handed lifestyle habits like grinding.
How long do veneers usually last?
With good oral hygiene and avoiding damage-causing habits, today's durable porcelain veneers can realistically last 10-30 years before replacement becomes necessary in most people.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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