Langmore Dental is home to the premium porcelain veneers Berwick is smiling about. Shells of pearly white, porcelain veneers fall among the few smile solutions that tackle tooth shape, alignment and colour. When you fit and affix porcelain veneers to your teeth, you’re giving yourself the gift of an aesthetically ideal smile. But what happens when the cracks begin to show — literally?

First things first: in a best-case scenario, porcelain veneers will have zero problems and complications. There are certainly some measures you can take to prevent problems from arising, as well. So, before we learn how to handle the common issues and risks of porcelain veneers — such as tooth sensitivity, chipping, cracking, and detachment — let’s break down how to prevent a breakdown in the first place.

Preventative Measures To Keep Porcelain Veneers Intact

1. Biannual Dental Checkups

We give this advice to everyone, regardless of whether they have veneers or a more basic relationship with dentistry: you should visit the dentist every six months. At these biannual checkups, your dentist can not only catch issues early but also identify any gaps in your approach to veneer maintenance — advising you on how best to fill them.

2. Quality Home Dental Care

Some more crucial advice for those with porcelain and natural teeth alike: you need to brush your teeth at least twice per day, and floss at least once per day. In the case of veneers, quality home dental care is crucial, as issues with the natural teeth beneath the veneers can spell decay or gum disease, which can compromise the veneers.

3. Gentle Dental Practices

Building on the above point: when you brush your teeth at home, ensure you’re using a soft-bristled brush and non-abrasive toothpaste. If you use a toothbrush or toothpaste that goes too hard on your veneers, you may scratch — or lessen the shine of — the shells, negating their effect altogether.

4. Taking Careful Bites

Biting down hard on anything can chip or crack veneers. For this reason, you should avoid biting anything with a hard surface — be it an ice cube, pen, finger nail or boiled lolly. Though it’s best to avoid hard or chewy confectionery altogether, sweet tooths who cannot forgo such indulgences should take extra care of the teeth beneath their veneers, which are more vulnerable to tooth decay than those without the cosmetic shell.

5. Treating Bruxism

If you experience bruxism (teeth grinding during sleep), this can wreak havoc on your natural teeth, as well as your veneers. In the case of veneers, grinding can cause wear and tear that shortens their shelf life — which is less than ideal, because veneers aren’t cheap, and you’ll want to get your 15 years’ worth of use from them. The best remedy for bruxism is a nightguard — preferably one customised to your mouth. Speak to your dentist if you’d like to explore this option.

When Issues Arise

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, veneers can still have teething issues. Now we’ve covered what to do — and what not to do — to keep veneer issues at bay, let’s learn how to handle the common issues and risks of porcelain veneers — such as tooth sensitivity, chipping, cracking, and detachment — should they rear their ugly heads.

Managing Tooth Sensitivity

Veneers are porcelain shells bonded to the teeth with resin cement. By virtue of their nature, they may feel a little uncomfortable — especially at first. If you’re experiencing the very natural reaction of sensitivity or discomfort, here’s how you can manage it:

1. Use Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth

While it won’t work overnight, toothpaste for sensitive teeth will build immunity to pain with repeated use. It contains an ingredient that blocks the pain sensors that respond to heat, coldness and sugar.

2. Avoid Hot & Cold Temperatures

If you’re experiencing teeth sensitivity, put hot food on the back burner — and freeze out cold food for a while. Stick to drinks at room temperature, and definitely skip the ice cubes. Unfortunately, temperature is a huge — if not the hugest — trigger for sensitive teeth, so you’ll want to keep your median oral temperature lukewarm until the sensitivity subsides.

3. Wait It Out

Amid the discomfort, find a small comfort in the fact that this is a normal phase following the veneer procedure. Bear in mind that the issue should resolve itself in the coming weeks.

4. Over-the-Counter Pain Relief

If the pain becomes distracting, you can always use over-the-counter pain relief, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. When using these products, ensure to use them as per the directions on the packaging.

5. Book a Dental Appointment

If the pain persists following a few weeks, book the dentist Narre Warren can count on. We’ll check for any causes or issues, providing advice and treatment where appropriate.

When Veneers Chip or Crack

Whether your veneer has sustained a minor chip or a significant crack, the only fix is a complete replacement. Dentists can repair composite resin veneers, but not veneers of the porcelain variety. 

If you’re thinking that the ‘fixable’ composite resin material of composite veneers makes them a better choice than porcelain, think again. In most cases of composite veneer breakage, dentists will recommend replacing them anyway, as:

1. To fix is to compromise on aesthetics and longevity. Even when pieced back together, veneers will still feature the cracks, making them more vulnerable to future damage — which may call for further repairs or replacement down the line.
2. The costs — potentially including those of future repairs — will either come close to, match or surpass what it would have cost to get replacements.

If you chip, crack or break your porcelain veneers, drop into Langmore Dental. We can replace them without issue.

When Veneers Detach

When a dentist places veneers, they bond them to your teeth using resin cement — ergo, veneers should fit firmly by design. That said, should your veneers detach or dislodge, this is something only a dentist can fix. Arrange an appointment with us as soon as possible and one of our expert dentists will assess the situation, determining whether they should reattach the veneers or replace them altogether.

When Veneers Don’t Sit Right

Over time, your bite and jaw alignment will undergo natural changes. Because veneers are artificial additions, they miss the memo to move with these changes. If you notice your veneers don’t fit together as they once did — or if they feel off in relation to your jawline — follow it up with your dentist. They can adjust your veneers accordingly or recommend corrective treatments.

Experiencing Another Issue?

If you’re experiencing another issue with your porcelain veneers — or if you need assistance with a chipped, cracked or detached veneer — Langmore Dental is the clinic in your corner. We not only pride ourselves on providing premium porcelain veneers, but we’re also the masters of ongoing maintenance. Secure your appointment with us: call (03) 9796 1881 or head on over to our online booking portal. Stick with Langmore, and you’ll have porcelain veneers to outshine all of Berwick!