Porcelain veneers are a popular cosmetic dentistry method, helping to restore tooth function and shape. However, if not performed correctly, excessive tooth grinding can invade real tooth tissue, increasing the risk of prolonged sensitivity, pulpitis, and even tooth loss. This is the harm when porcelain veneers are not done properly, which many people carelessly overlook. In particular, a non-standard procedure can lead to serious consequences such as infection, bad breath, or malocclusion. Let My Auris refer to this article to learn how to prevent and ensure oral health.
What are the harms of porcelain veneers? Common complications
Porcelain veneers are currently considered an effective restorative solution in dentistry, offering many benefits such as improving tooth color, restoring chewing ability, increasing tooth durability, and protecting teeth from bacteria. According to quality-assured dentists, if performed correctly, with only procedures on the enamel surface, this method does not affect the tooth structure or the soft tissues of the oral cavity.
However, what are the harms of porcelain veneers if done with incorrect technique? Some complications of porcelain veneers can occur if you have them done at disreputable centers, where doctors lack experience or use low-quality materials.
Will porcelain veneers affect me later? Common harms:
Tooth sensitivity, discomfort: When the prepared tooth stump invades a lot of the real tooth, the dentin can be exposed, making the tooth sensitive. You may feel uncomfortable with cold food, uncomfortable with hot food, especially in the early stages after getting veneers.
Causes tooth pulp death: If the dentist’s technique is poor, it can lead to pulp damage, increasing the risk of pulp death and even permanent tooth damage.
Gingivitis, swelling and pain: Many patients report a feeling of discomfort and foreign body sensation after getting veneers, due to inaccurate tooth preparation. This condition can lead to gum swelling and gum pain, especially if you have a metallic allergy, are prone to root irritation or root infection.
Oral diseases: When porcelain veneers are not fitted tightly, food easily gets trapped in the gap between the veneer and the real tooth. If not cleaned thoroughly, you may experience unpleasant odor, tooth decay, periodontitis, and many other dangerous oral diseases.
Damage to the original tooth: The use of low-quality porcelain during the veneering process can cause many complications after veneering, typically inflammation, causing damage to the real tooth, which then leads to tooth loosening. If not detected and treated promptly, these dental complications can worsen, even leading to permanent tooth loss, directly affecting oral health and quality of life.
Why choose porcelain veneers instead of other methods?
Before deciding to improve their smile, many clients often compare cosmetic dental services such as fillings, porcelain veneers, or porcelain crowns. So why choose porcelain crowns when there are many other options?
For basic damages such as early tooth decay, mild gaps, or to prevent tooth decay in children, tooth filling/restoration may be a reasonable choice. However, when teeth are severely decayed, extensively fractured, or have significant tooth tissue loss, porcelain veneers are the optimal method, effectively protecting natural teeth and maintaining long-term chewing function.
For porcelain veneers, although this method ensures aesthetic appeal, it does not have high durability, chewing function is not guaranteed, and the cost is quite high. In contrast, modern porcelain veneer materials can provide both aesthetic effectiveness and much greater durability than porcelain laminates.
Outstanding advantages of porcelain veneers include:
High aesthetic effectiveness, significantly improving tooth shape and color
Excellent restoration of chewing ability, almost equivalent to natural teeth
All-ceramic teeth do not discolor or stain over time
Porcelain teeth act as a sturdy protective layer, helping to overcome the shortcomings of natural teeth
Benefits of cosmetic porcelain veneers to help your smile shine
Cosmetic porcelain veneers are increasingly popular because they offer many outstanding benefits, not only enhancing aesthetics but also effectively addressing oral health issues. Below are the reasons why you should consider choosing all-ceramic teeth to improve your smile.
High aesthetic value, visibly improving tooth condition
For cases of cracked, chipped, deformed, or severely discolored teeth, especially teeth discolored by tetracycline antibiotics, all-ceramic teeth are the only solution to overcome this situation, helping the teeth become even, beautiful, and natural-looking.
Quality porcelain veneers effectively resist discoloration
Porcelain crowns are coated with a stain-resistant layer of porcelain, which helps prevent teeth from yellowing and darkening from food, while avoiding discoloration over time. This is an ideal choice for those who do not want to experience material discoloration in dental methods like fillings, which often cause teeth to differ from their natural color.
High durability, long-lasting quality
One of the outstanding benefits of porcelain veneers is that all-ceramic teeth maintain long-lasting quality if you know not to apply excessive pressure when grinding or chewing, and avoid hard objects that cause damage. High-grade materials such as E.Max and HT Smile porcelain have the ability to ensure porcelain teeth maintain strength and stability in the dental arch, enhancing their lifespan.
Firmly fixed on the dental arch
Unlike removable dentures that can slip or fillings that can come loose, cosmetic porcelain veneers have a crown portion firmly attached to the real tooth stump, implanted titanium abutment, or anchored in place via a bridge, helping to replace missing teeth with high stability and firmness.
Effective restoration of chewing function
High-quality porcelain crown lines are often covered by a genuine warranty, with an average compressive strength of up to 360Mpa for metal-ceramic crowns and 900MPa for all-ceramic crowns – much higher than the strength of natural teeth (80 – 120Mpa). Therefore, porcelain crowns not only meet but also surpass the ability to withstand chewing and biting pressure.
Ensures clear and distinct pronunciation
Tooth loss or ill-fitting dentures can easily cause sound changes, lisping, or difficulty in communication. Furthermore, tooth loss leads to bone resorption, deforming the facial structure and creating an overbite or underbite. By restoring teeth with porcelain crowns, you can improve your voice quality, returning your voice to a normal tone, thereby communicating with greater confidence than ever before.
Protects teeth from jawbone resorption and bacteria
When placed over a damaged tooth, a porcelain crown not only restores the tooth’s shape but also protects it from deeper bacterial invasion. Like a binding splint, it helps stabilize the remaining parts of a fractured tooth, preventing plaque buildup and tooth decay – a crucial step in preserving the natural tooth.
Suitable for severely damaged teeth
If you are experiencing severe tooth damage or tooth loss, especially if your teeth are heavily damaged due to trauma, decay, dental issues, or antibiotic discoloration, you should consider aesthetic and functional restoration with porcelain crowns. This solution not only maintains durability but also ensures completely normal chewing ability and enhances your quality of life.
How to reduce the harms of porcelain veneers and prevent oral health consequences?
While porcelain veneers can help improve aesthetics and chewing function, if not done correctly, they can lead to many dangerous dental complications. Below are important notes when getting porcelain veneers that you should not ignore if you want to reduce the harms of porcelain veneers and protect your teeth for life.
Choose a reputable porcelain veneer clinic
One of the key factors determining the outcome of porcelain veneers is the dentist’s skill. Therefore, you should consider choosing a reputable dental clinic with a team of skilled, experienced dentists who use precise tooth preparation techniques and can effectively control and handle the veneering process.
This will not only deliver the desired results but also prevent dangerous complications later on. Additionally, having the procedure done at reputable dental centers also gives patients peace of mind regarding the quality and durability of the porcelain veneers, thanks to modern equipment supporting the treatment, providing a gentle, safe, and optimal experience for porcelain veneers.
Thorough porcelain veneer care
After getting veneers, you need to pay special attention to proper care to maintain their longevity and avoid the harms of porcelain veneers. Here are some important guidelines:
- In the first few days, you should eat soft, easy-to-chew foods, and distribute chewing force evenly on both sides of the jaw to avoid putting pressure on the newly veneered teeth.
- Absolutely do not use your teeth to open bottle caps or tear packaging, as this can easily cause the porcelain veneers to chip, break, or fracture.
- Limit eating overly hot or cold foods and avoid carbonated drinks, colored beverages, or smoking, as these factors can affect tooth enamel.
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush, combined with a water flosser, dental floss, and mouthwash to effectively clean plaque from your teeth.
- Have regular dental check-ups and professional teeth cleaning as recommended by your dentist to promptly detect and address any emerging issues.
Consider other methods if teeth are still healthy
Although the need for aesthetic dentistry to achieve a radiant smile is legitimate, as we only have one set of teeth for a lifetime, careful consideration is necessary before making a decision.
Porcelain veneers should only be applied in cases of severely decayed teeth, large fractures, or pulp damage. If the teeth are still healthy, it is advisable to prioritize other methods that are less invasive and help preserve natural teeth to the maximum, such as:
Porcelain Veneer method: Suitable for individuals who want aesthetic tooth restoration. The dentist only needs to grind a thin layer of the tooth (0.3 – 0.5mm), helping to minimize invasion of the natural tooth tissue, ensuring greater safety and providing high aesthetic results.
Dental Implant method: For cases of missing tooth restoration. This technique involves placing an implant post into the jawbone to replace the missing tooth root, completely avoiding the need to grind healthy adjacent teeth. Implants help patients achieve beautiful teeth and a youthful smile, while effectively preventing jawbone resorption complications.
