I am interested in porcelain veneers to improve my smile. My teeth are tiny and I think porcelain veneers would give me the smile I’ve always wanted. But, my dentist doesn’t agree. He said that I would not be a good porcelain veneers candidate because I grind my teeth.
This is heartbreaking news. Do you know if it’s possible to move forward with porcelain veneers even though I’m a grinder? Would a cosmetic dentist be a better fit for helping me figure it out?
-Paula in Missouri
Paula,
First, it would be wise to determine the source of your grinding. If grinding is left untreated, you may begin to develop TMJ disorder. It would be in your best interest to find a TMJ dentist or specialist in your area. Better yet, find a cosmetic dentist that also can diagnose and treat your grinding.
When you grind your teeth, it damages the enamel of your teeth and they become worn down. So, if you had porcelain veneers and the grinding wasn’t treated, you would end up damaging the new porcelain veneers. The porcelain veneers would be at risk for coming off or even breaking.
Once your grinding has been diagnosed, you may end up being a porcelain veneers candidate after all. An expert cosmetic dentist will be able to tell you the best course of action. And as mentioned above, you’d be in the best hands if that cosmetic dentist also thoroughly understood TMJ.
It may turn out that a simple mouth guard is all that will be required to protect your new porcelain veneers. But, you need to be sure that the cause is examined, evaluated and treated.
Another thing worth noting is that not any dentist does beautiful cosmetic dentistry. In order to be an excellent cosmetic dentist requires extensive training and schooling beyond dental school. The advanced bonding techniques and materials are complex. The other thing that you may not realize is that cosmetic dentistry is not a designated specialty area within dentistry. So, any general dentist may actually make the claim to be a cosmetic dentist.
So, it would be wise to see multiple cosmetic dentists, check their credentials, find out their experience in treating TMJ, as well as ask to see samples of their work. A little work upfront research to take care of the grinding, and you may be on your way to beautiful porcelain veneers.
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos.