Understanding the Risks of Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are a popular cosmetic solution for improving the look of teeth. But like all medical procedures, they come with both pros and cons. What are some of the dangers and downsides of veneers that are important to consider?
What are Dental Veneers?
Veneers are thin shells, usually made of porcelain, that adhere to the front sides of teeth. Getting veneers requires slightly shaving down the tooths surface so the veneer can attach seamlessly.
Veneers create an immediate aesthetic transformation. But permanently altering healthy tooth structure when there are less invasive options is something to carefully weigh.
Financial Considerations of Dental Veneers
One major downside of veneers is their high cost, making them inaccessible for many people. Lets break down the typical pricing:
Cost Per Tooth
Each veneer costs $925 to $2,500 or more per tooth. Most people get between 6-10 veneers for a complete smile makeover spanning the upper and lower front teeth.
Additional Expenses
Beyond the veneers themselves, costs add up for preliminary exams, tooth prep work, temporary veneers, anesthesia, and follow up visits. This can total several thousand dollars more.
Since veneers usually need replacement after 5-7 years, their long term expense is significant compared to other options that don't require redoing.
Veneer Health Risks and Complications
While generally considered safe, veneers still come with risks both during the procedure and afterwards, including:
Nerve Damage
Prepping the teeth requires drilling and removing some enamel. This process can damage nerves inside the tooth, although it is rare with skilled dentists.
Anesthesia Problems
Dental anesthesia allows procedures to be painless but has risks like nerve injury, allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, or hematoma from IV sedation.
Bonding Issues
Improperly bonded veneers can have gaps allowing bacteria and stains underneath. This requires redo work. Temporary veneers falling out mid-process also requires reattachment.
Long term, veneer bonding can weaken, requiring replacement sooner than the standard 5-7 years they should last.
Veneers and Oral Health
Veneers also impact long term oral health and dental care requirements in various ways:
Can't Be Reversed
Shaving down natural tooth structure to adhere veneers is permanent. This forever changes teeth even if removing or replacing veneers later.
Increased Cavity Risk
With some enamel removed and gaps potentially forming under veneers over time, tooth decay becomes more likely requiring diligent oral care.
Chipping or Dislodging
Veneers can chip or fully break off from trauma or biting hard foods. Grinding teeth at night also increases likelihood of damage requiring repairs.
Proper nightguard use and avoiding very hard or chewy foods can help prevent such issues.
Alternatives to Dental Veneers
Given the risks, costs, and irreversible nature of dental veneers, many patients should consider alternative options first or instead:
Teeth Whitening
Whitening through dentist supervised treatments or custom fit trays can dramatically brighten teeth 5-8 shades without removing enamel.
Results take a couple weeks but can last 1-3 years with occasional touch ups. This is the simplest, most affordable option.
Dental Bonding
Bonding applies tooth-colored resin material to teeth to fix chips, gaps, discoloration, or uneven shapes. It doesn't require shaving down healthy tooth structure.
Bonding costs less than veneers but may need replacement after just 3-5 years as material can stain over time.
Dental Crowns
Crowns require shaving teeth down but fully encase the entire visible tooth rather than just the front surface. This makes them stronger and longer lasting than veneers.
Crowns cost more per tooth but last 10-15 years or longer before needing replacement compared to 5-7 years for veneers.
Who Should Consider Dental Veneers
While veneers have risks that make them unsuitable for many patients seeking a smile upgrade, others can benefit from them. Good veneer candidates include:
Those with Severe Tooth Damage
People with extensive tooth decay, staining, or cracking that is too severe to correct with just bonding or whitening may require veneers or crowns to reinforce teeth.
Those Seeking a Major Smile Change
Someone who wants to overhaul their smile by changing its shape, length, or color in ways beyond what orthodontics or whitening allow can benefit from custom fabricated porcelain veneers.
Committed to Proper Oral Care
To prevent veneer damage or decay risks underneath them requires exemplary, consistent brushing and flossing. Lack of oral hygiene shortens veneer lifespan and necessitates redoing them.
Discuss veneer pros, cons, alternatives, and aftercare considerations thoroughly with your dentist before deciding they are right for your smile goals.
FAQs
Do dental veneers damage teeth?
Veneers require shaving down some of the tooth’s enamel layer to attach them, which is permanent alteration. This can increase future cavity risks especially if oral hygiene is not excellent.
What problems can occur with veneers?
Issues like nerve injury during prep work, bonding failures causing gaps or need for reattachment, chipping or breaking from trauma, and coming loose prematurely can happen. Long term they require replacement.
How long do veneers typically last?
With proper care, dental veneers can last 5-7 years before needing replacement. Factors like oral hygiene, teeth grinding, chipping risks, and permanence of the initial bond impact durability.
Can veneer alternatives give similar results?
Depending on specific smile goals, improved whitening, dental bonding, or crowns can treat some aesthetic issues without removing as much natural tooth structure. These come with their own pros and cons.
Who should avoid getting dental veneers?
Those unable or unwilling to commit to excellent lifelong oral hygiene may want to avoid veneers due to higher decay risks. People who grind teeth or have financial constraints might be better served by alternative options too.
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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