Are veneers permanent or can they be removed. What causes veneers to fall out or become damaged. How long do dental veneers typically last. What should you do if your veneers come loose or break. How can you properly care for your dental veneers to ensure longevity.

Understanding Dental Veneers: Permanence and Removability

Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain or composite resin that are custom-made to cover the front surface of teeth. They are designed to improve the appearance of your smile by addressing issues such as discoloration, chips, or misalignment. But are veneers truly permanent, or can they be removed?

While veneers are considered a semi-permanent solution, they are not entirely permanent. The process of applying veneers typically involves removing a small amount of tooth enamel, which is irreversible. However, veneers themselves can be removed and replaced if necessary.

Can veneers be removed without damaging the teeth?

Yes, veneers can be removed by a dental professional without causing significant damage to the underlying teeth. However, it’s important to note that the tooth structure beneath may require additional treatment or protection after veneer removal.

Factors Affecting Veneer Longevity and Stability

Several factors can influence how long veneers last and how securely they remain attached to your teeth. Understanding these factors can help you maintain your veneers and prevent premature failure.

• Age of the veneers
• Quality of the adhesive used
• Underlying tooth decay
• Teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Proper oral care and maintenance

How long do veneers typically last?

With proper care, porcelain veneers can last 10-15 years or even longer. Some patients report their veneers lasting 20 years or more. However, it’s important to have realistic expectations and understand that veneers may eventually need replacement.

Common Causes of Veneer Failure or Detachment

Understanding why veneers may fail or fall off can help you take preventive measures and seek timely treatment if issues arise.

Age-related wear and tear

As veneers age, the bonding agent may weaken, causing them to loosen or detach. Additionally, changes in bone structure and jawline over time can affect the fit of veneers.

Poor adhesive quality or application

If the bonding agent used is of subpar quality or not applied correctly, veneers may fail prematurely. This is often a result of improper technique or insufficient curing time during the application process.

Underlying tooth decay

Decay in the tooth beneath a veneer can compromise its attachment. This underscores the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene even with veneers.

Teeth grinding (bruxism)

Habitual teeth grinding, especially during sleep, can place excessive force on veneers, leading to chipping, breakage, or detachment.

Lack of proper care

Neglecting oral hygiene or subjecting veneers to harsh treatment (e.g., using teeth to open packages) can lead to premature failure.

Immediate Actions When Veneers Fall Out or Break

If you experience a veneer falling out or breaking, it’s crucial to act quickly and appropriately to minimize further damage and discomfort.

1. Do not attempt to reattach the veneer yourself
2. Carefully store the detached veneer in a small container
3. Contact your dentist immediately for an emergency appointment
4. Avoid chewing on the affected side of your mouth
5. Use temporary dental cement from a pharmacy if necessary (consult your dentist first)

Is it safe to temporarily reattach a fallen veneer?

While it’s not recommended to attempt permanent reattachment yourself, using temporary dental cement for a short period can protect the exposed tooth. However, always consult your dentist before taking any action.

Professional Treatment Options for Damaged or Detached Veneers

When you visit your dentist with a damaged or detached veneer, they will assess the situation and recommend the most appropriate course of action.

Reattachment of existing veneer

If the veneer is in good condition and the underlying tooth is healthy, your dentist may be able to clean and reattach it using fresh bonding material.

Replacement with a new veneer

In cases where the original veneer is too damaged or no longer fits properly, your dentist may recommend creating and applying a new veneer.

Alternative treatments

In some situations, such as significant tooth decay or enamel loss, your dentist might suggest alternative treatments like dental crowns to better protect your teeth.

Preventive Measures and Proper Care for Veneers

Taking good care of your veneers can significantly extend their lifespan and maintain their appearance. Here are some essential tips:

• Practice excellent oral hygiene (brushing, flossing, regular dental check-ups)
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste
• Avoid biting on hard objects or using teeth as tools
• Wear a night guard if you grind your teeth
• Limit consumption of staining foods and beverages
• Quit smoking or using tobacco products

Can veneers be whitened like natural teeth?

Unlike natural teeth, veneers cannot be whitened with traditional bleaching methods. If you’re concerned about the color of your veneers, consult your dentist about potential solutions, such as replacement or professional cleaning.

When to Consider Veneer Replacement or Alternative Treatments

While veneers can last many years, there may come a time when replacement or alternative treatments are necessary. Consider the following scenarios:

Signs that veneer replacement may be needed

• Visible wear, chips, or cracks
• Discoloration that doesn’t respond to cleaning
• Recurring detachment issues
• Changes in gum line or tooth structure
• Persistent discomfort or sensitivity

Alternatives to veneers for specific dental issues

In some cases, alternatives to veneers may be more appropriate:

• Dental bonding for minor cosmetic issues
• Crowns for severely damaged or decayed teeth
• Orthodontic treatment for alignment problems
• Professional teeth whitening for discoloration

The Importance of Regular Dental Check-ups for Veneer Maintenance

Regular dental visits play a crucial role in maintaining the health and longevity of your veneers. During these appointments, your dentist can:

• Assess the condition of your veneers
• Check for signs of wear, damage, or detachment
• Evaluate the health of underlying teeth and gums
• Perform professional cleaning to remove stains and plaque
• Provide personalized advice on veneer care

How often should you have your veneers checked by a dentist?

It’s recommended to have your veneers checked during your regular dental check-ups, which should occur at least twice a year. However, if you notice any changes or issues with your veneers, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment sooner.

Understanding the nature of dental veneers, their potential for removal or replacement, and the factors affecting their longevity is crucial for anyone considering this cosmetic dental treatment. By following proper care guidelines and maintaining regular dental check-ups, you can enjoy the benefits of a beautiful, enhanced smile for many years to come. Remember that while veneers are designed to be durable, they are not indestructible. Promptly addressing any issues that arise and working closely with your dentist will help ensure the best possible outcome for your dental health and appearance.

What to do if you damage your veneers or they fall out?

Veneers are a wonderful tool to improve your smile. It can transform even a dreary smile to a million dollar one. Usually, veneers are built to last for a long time. But, in a rare  event where your veneers fall out or get damaged, get them fixed right away.

Why do veneers fall off?

Let’s consider the reasons for veneers to fall off. There are various causes to make veneers break off and fall off or get damaged.

Age of veneers

The primary reason is age of the veneers. Porcelain veneers should last at least for ten years, although many people claim that their veneers lasted forever. But conservatively speaking, veneers last for more than 10 years in most cases. As the time passes, the veneers get slowly detached from the teeth as the adhesive bonding gets weakened over a period of time, making the veneers come loose and fall off. Sometimes with age, the bone and jawlines recede, which results in mal fitting of veneers causing them to fall off.

Poor adhesive

The second most common reason is the bonding agent used for veneers to stick on teeth was not of prime quality in the first place. Either enough time was given for adhesive bonding to take place or the technique was not proper. In either, it is a problem of the dentist not of veneers.

Tooth decay

The third common reason is when the teeth on which veneers are placed gets decayed. There are many reasons for teeth decay. It happens because of lifestyle choices and in some cases because of the effects of the prescription drugs that some individuals cannot escape.

Teeth grinding

One more common reason is the patients’ habit of grinding teeth during sleep, or bruxing, for either physical or psychological reasons. If bruxing occurs regularly, the force on veneers is great. Veneers cannot hold up to the pressure on the inside edge and may chip or break or get damaged.

Lack of proper care

Last but not the least common reason for veneers to fall off or break off is negligence and disregard for them. Veneers are delicate devices which require care. If they receive harsh treatment from the wearer, like chewing in hard foods very often, or grinding teeth, they show it in breakage of falling off from the mouth.

As a rule, when your veneers fall off or break or get damaged in any way, DO NOT try to put them back yourself. Getting them fixed by you will further damage them. Carefully put the device in a small container and call your dentist for an emergency appointment.

You may think of how the problem can be solved, once you know why your veneers have fallen off, or broken.

1. If you have been wearing the veneers for more than 10 years, you can guess that the wear and tear may have caused them to get dislodged and fall off or break. In such a case your best is to keep the fallen off or damaged veneers carefully in a small box wrapped in soft material and try to get an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. The dentist will have a look at the veneer and decide whether it is in a shape to get back to its place, or whether new veneers are due. Depending on its state, the dentist will gently put it back momentarily and see if they still fit. If it dies fit, the dentist then will clean the veneers of its previous adhesive and see the inside surface of the veneers.  Then the inside surface will be chemically treated and rebonding will be done. This kind of repair will again last for years.
2. When your dentist has not used the correct bonding agent to attach the veneers to your teeth, and they have fallen off, you need to see another dentist. After the damaged veneer has been taken to the dentist office, and he declares that veneers are good and the problem is bonding them to the teeth, it is time for you to seek second opinion.
3. When teeth get decayed, the adhesive gets loosened and the veneers fall. It is important to change your lifestyle, to stop or lessen the tooth decay. Tooth decay is detrimental not only for veneers but for your overall health. If on the other hand, you are on life saving drugs that hastens tooth decay, you need to consult your medical doctor about the side effects of the drug and may be get your dentist to talk to your medical specialist about the problem. In some cases like patients with the history of bulimia, the sides of the teeth have lost the enamel outer covering and have exposed dentine. This will not bond with veneers, and the bonding on dentine fails eventually. The veneers should not have been applied on such teeth in the first place, but it will be a mistake to reattach the veneers on the same teeth again. The best option is to go for porcelain crowns. This will protect the backs of your teeth where enamel has been wiped off completely and there is exposed dentine.
4. When you suffer from the habit of grinding teeth in sleep or bruxing, it is advisable to wear teeth guard, which will help in avoiding the veneers getting stressed out and get chipped.
5. The most important rule to avoid getting your veneers fall off and get damaged is to look after your veneers well. It is important to take good care of them. Avoid chewing on sugary candies very often. Chewing or biting on hard foods like ice, and toffee should be avoided totally. The veneers cannot take so much pressure. They will give way. Veneers are a high end product and needs to be handled with care.

Finally, do remember to never ever try to glue back your fallen veneers yourself, even if they are undamaged and in one piece. The adhesive used to bond veneers to teeth is a special kind of dental adhesive and cement only dentist can have access to, with their license. Also ordinary glue is not for use in the mouth. Not for consumption, because it is toxic.

Visit your dentist as soon as possible if your veneers have fallen off or are damaged.

Why do veneers come off?: 9 possible reasons explained!

Even though permanent veneers are supposed to last for at least 10 years before being replaced by new veneers, sometimes patients might experience their falling off much earlier which is not normal. The main question here is “why do veneers come off?”. Usually it’s because of problems affecting your teeth under the veneers, because of the quality of your veneers or because of a bad installation from your dentist.

In this article, we dive deep into the reasons that cause dental veneers to fall and what to do following this incident.

Without further ado, let’s begin.

Why do veneers fall off?

Dental veneers are designed to last for a long time but on rare occasions, they can detach from the tooth surface and come off. The reasons vary from the patient’s not being so attentive to their oral health to the problems on the dentist’s side. Knowing the causes can help prevent them and have a beautiful smile with the desired veneers’ longevity.

In this article, we will discuss 9 reasons why porcelain veneers come off. The reasons being:

• #1: You have outdated veneers
• #2: Your veneers are damaged by what you eat
• #3: Your tooth is decayed
• #4: You may have faced physical injury and trauma to the face
• #5: You might have neglected dental care
• #6: You may have a  bite abnormality
• #7: You might grinding or clenching your teeth
• #8: You have temporary veneers
• #9: The dentist’s negligence

Let’s have an in-depth explanation for each number.

#1: You have outdated veneers

Permanent veneers are expected to be functioning correctly for at least 10 years, with reports of people claiming their porcelain veneers have lasted for more than 25 years. As time goes by, the bonding agents start to loosen, finally causing the veneers to fall off. This means they are old and should be replaced.

#2: Your veneers are damaged by what you eat

Patients should avoid applying too much pressure on their teeth and consequently their dental veneers by bad chewing habits. Biting down on hard stuff, such as candies, so often causes the veneers to become weak and fall off. Chewing sticky candies and ice also causes damage to your veneers, the latter being dangerous for your natural teeth as well.

#3: Your tooth is decayed

Decaying of the tooth on which the veneer is bonded is another common reason. Other than destroying the tooth and facilitating the falling off of a veneer, tooth decay can weaken the chemical bond between the tooth surface and the veneer, and leads to its detachment. Before installing the veneers the dentist should examine the oral cavity properly for tooth decay or gum disease.

#4: You may have faced physical injury and trauma to the face

Direct or blunt trauma to the face can damage the tooth structure, dislocate it, and cause the dental veneers on their surface to come off. People with cosmetic dental works such as veneers should wear a mouthguard during contact sports that have high possibilities of facial and physical injury.

#5: You might have neglected dental care

Undoubtedly, proper dental care plays a crucial role in oral and dental health, improving the results of a cosmetic dental procedure and the longevity of the cosmetic veneers. Inappropriate approaches to dental care result in the failure on veneers, a few of which we mention here:

Poor oral hygiene

Not following the standard of care for the oral cavity can end up as tooth decay which is an important reason for falling off of the veneers.

Improper dental care products

Oral care products that contain alcohol can damage porcelain veneers and should be avoided. Alcohol softens the bonding agents and loosens the porcelain veneers attached to the tooth surface. Recent studies have shown the long-term use of alcohol-containing mouth rinse can affect the thickness of the veneers and thus their falling off. (1)

Another frequent question patients ask their dentists is “could Listerine make veneers come off?” The answer to this question is yes, as it is an alcohol-based mouthwash that can destroy the bonding agents. However, there are alcohol-free Listerine mouthwashes that might be useful. We highly recommend you to discuss using this product with your dentist.

Using the right toothbrush with non-abrasive toothpaste also plays a significant role. Brushing with a toothbrush that has hard bristles is harmful to the veneers on the teeth, weakens them, and facilitates their falling off.

#6: You may have a bite abnormality

Teeth in the upper and lower jaws should be aligned to distribute the biting force evenly. If teeth in the upper and lower dental arches don’t meet perfectly in an aligned way an abnormal bite occurs. It is also called malocclusion and has many types such as overbite, underbite, crossed bite.

The presence of any kind of biting abnormality increases the chances of veneers detachment due to the imbalanced distribution of pressure on teeth.

#7: You might be grinding or clenching your teeth

Grinding teeth, or bruxism, for either physical or psychological reasons, during the day, night, or both can leave them chipped, broken, or detached from the veneers. Continuous and regular grinding and clenching of the teeth impose more force on veneers than they can endure, causing them to come off.

#8: You have temporary veneers

Do temporary veneers come off? Temporary veneers are not meant to last for a long time, as they are installed just to be replaced by permanent ones once they are ready. Temporary veneers stay for about a week and they might come off during this period since they are not strongly bonded. However, by choosing the right dentist you can rest assured even your temporary dental veneers won’t fall off easily.

#9: The dentist’s negligence

The way veneers are applied by the cosmetic dentist can determine their stability and duration. Negligence during the procedure can cause the permanent veneers to be short-lived. The mistakes a dentist can make include:

Aggressive preparation

While preparing the tooth, the dentist removes a layer of enamel as thin as less than one millimeter. Excessive tooth preparation leads to loose veneers that can’t adhere properly to the tooth’s surface and will eventually come off.

Bonding process

During the bonding process, many factors can contribute to veneers weakening and falling off. The dentist must apply the appropriate bonding material in sufficient amounts. Using the proper bonding technique which is decided by the dentist for each individual, and spending enough time for veneers adhesion can prevent them from becoming loose and falling.

Ignoring any pre-existing condition 

Just like any other cosmetic dentistry procedure, before planning a treatment the dentist should perform a thorough dental examination. They should check for possible pre-existing dental and oral problems. For example: gum disease, tooth decay, teeth misalignment, or broken tooth. Leaving any of these conditions untreated before getting permanent veneers leads to poor adhesion and coming off earlier than expected.

What to do when your veneers come off?

In case of a veneer coming off, the patients should not attempt to put them back themselves. Veneers are sensitive materials that can easily be damaged when unprofessional work is done. So what to do?

Collect all the pieces

The first thing you should do is to put all the fallen-off pieces in a small box or container. That protects them from further damage

Call your dentist

As coming off of veneers is considered a dental emergency. Once a veneer falls off you should immediately contact your dentist and arrange an appointment. At the dental office, the dentist will take a close look at the veneer to see if it is possible to put it back or if a new veneer is required. If the same veneer is applicable, the dentist will evaluate it precisely and will put it back with the correct bonding agent. This veneer is expected to last for a long time before being replaced by new ones.

The veneer came off, what are the causes and ways to restore the tooth

Hello Marina. You addressed your question to an orthodontist, but veneers are orthopedics, so your question was forwarded to me.

The first reason that the veneer could come off is the condition of the teeth. That is, the teeth on which problem veneers are installed are somehow damaged, for example, by caries.
The second reason for is that the quality of tooth preparation for veneer, the quality of processing many years ago was different, one might say rougher.
And the third reason is that all the nuances can be associated with bite characteristics, including changes in bite, for example, unremoved figure eights that push the dentition and form crowding in the anterior section and the position of the teeth relative to the lower teeth changes and, accordingly , the lower teeth are knocking down these veneers due to bite problems in the patient.

In any case, the veneer cannot simply be removed and reattached. To remove the veneer, you need to cut it down, in any case it will deteriorate. And if the veneer chipped, then you don’t need to try to glue it at home, since there will be no benefit from this and the chip will repeat very quickly.

If new veneers are to be fabricated and placed, the specific clinical situation must be considered. It often happens that after wearing veneers, the patient needs to make a crown. That is, it turns out that on the palatine side, now with a veneer, the tooth is covered by only ¼ by ⅓, and it will be covered from all sides, in fact, the crown differs from the veneer in that the veneer is an overlay on the front surface, and the crown is two overlays on the anterior, palatine surface and two lateral ones. In fact, a dental crown is a cap on a tooth. The cap will no longer be able to bounce off the tooth, it can only break if some kind of cementation has occurred.

Therefore, two options:

• or alteration of veneers with preparation quality control, we can’t add anything if there is more tissue removed than necessary,
• or making a crown for that tooth. But again, you need to look at a living tooth or it is depulped, that is, according to the indications, a veneer is made or just as a tribute to fashion at one time, everything is very individual – you need to look.

There are different materials for fixing veneers, in most cases these are the so-called dual cements. Dual cements have a dual curing, that is, when the components are mixed, the materials harden, it hardens on its own, and we also illuminate it with a lamp to stabilize the primary hardening. In fact, this cement continues to line up and harden for another day (sometimes longer) and, by the way, the cement is also selected by color. All cements are strong enough, if all the technology is observed and, in general, it is quite difficult to tear off the veneer from this cement, it is difficult to remove it.

I hope I have described in sufficient detail the nuances that lead to decementation of the veneer and its peeling off the tooth. The price of veneers varies depending on their quality, such issues are best resolved at an in-person consultation in the clinic. Contact us, we will be happy to help you!

Teeth after veneer removal | Dentistry in Riga Smile Office

If you want to put veneers on your teeth, then you have probably heard the information that they will need to be ground. But the question arises: “And then what?”. After removing a fairly large layer of enamel from a tooth, it will finally lose its appearance, which cannot be restored. Is this really so, and what will happen to the teeth after the removal of the veneers, we will consider further.

Installation of lumineers

Lumineers are translucent ceramic onlays, no more than 0.3 mm thick, which makes them almost invisible on the teeth. They are installed if the patient has beautiful and healthy teeth, but wants to improve his smile. Lumineers (also known as non-prep veneers) do not require extensive grinding of the tooth, allowing most of the enamel to be preserved. You can read more about Lumineers in this article.

Teeth after lumineers

Lumineers can serve you for quite a long time (up to 15 years), and certain indications are needed to remove them. For example, functional, when the veneer is peeled off, broken or cracked, or aesthetic, if you want to improve your smile.

In these cases it will be necessary to remove the non-prep porcelain veneers and do all the installation work again. During the removal of lumineers, a layer of enamel is also grinded off a little more. In rare cases, a new veneer can be glued on top of the old layer, thereby injuring the tooth less.

Installation of ceramic veneers

If the patient has fillings, caries, or wants to completely change the color of the teeth, then in this case it will be necessary to install ceramic veneers, which implies a more aggressive tooth grinding. In addition to the fact that you will need to cut out old fillings, you will also have to cut down the front of the teeth, along the way removing a certain layer of enamel. This is necessary so that the veneer can be easily installed on the teeth, as it will be much thicker than the lumineer, which will allow it to completely cover the natural color of the teeth. If you do not grind, then the volume of the teeth will increase, which will make your smile look like a horse.