1. Do porcelain veneers stain with the consumption of tea, coffee and wine?

Generally not; while we sometimes see staining, it is on the surface, and can be easily removed. Porcelain is a very dense material upon which a glaze is placed, making it very difficult to stain. It’s very similar to porcelain china- treat it that way and you should be fine. What can happen though, is that the tooth behind the veneer might stain, resulting in some show-through darkening due to the translucency of the porcelain. If this happens, take home whitening may be of some help to whiten the underlying tooth. The best thing is to brush immediately after consuming anything that can create stain. If you notice stain building up, visit your Dental Hygienist to have it removed.


2. If I have my upper teeth treated with porcelain veneers will my lower teeth still be a different color, or more yellow?

Treating the upper teeth with porcelain veneers won’t change the color of the lower teeth, but because the uppers are now whiter, the lowers may look darker or more yellow. Because of this, when starting a porcelain veneer case, it is always best to begin by whitening your teeth. This creates a baseline tooth shade which will be far easier to work with and gives you an easy guide to refer to in the future- when you see that your other teeth no longer match the color of the veneers, it’s time for a touch up with some whitening.


3. What are realistic expectations?

Veneers are great for helping to improve a smile that has teeth which are chipped, stained, poorly spaced, or slightly misaligned. They are not so great for teeth that already have large fillings, are severely misaligned, and in patients who grind their teeth or want very minor imperfections corrected. These expectations are best managed by talking with your Dentist before you begin treatment. We spend countless hours learning how to do these procedures, but also learn when not to – there are some situations that will guarantee future problems, so if you are told you are not a candidate, or maybe need something like Orthodontics first, heed the advice. Don’t worry, you can still get to your goal of a beautiful smile, you just may need to take a different path. And, it may be easier…

There are many cases where patients have thought they ‘needed’ veneers, but were very happy when a conservative combination of whitening and reshaping were used. If that is an option, try it… you can always get veneers later if you aren’t satisfied. Remember, porcelain veneers are NOT reversible (though some of the new ultra-thin ‘no prep’ veneers come close) and they do not last forever. This is not a once and done procedure- EXPECT to replace them every 5-15 years, at full cost, for the rest of your life. Their longevity will depend on how well you take care of, and protect them.

To that end, after your veneers are cemented, you will wear a nightguard every night to protect them from all the nasty things that people do to their teeth while sleeping. This is very important, because clenching and grinding WILL break them, and veneers are not something you can ‘patch’. Broken means a new one.

Well done porcelain veneers should look, feel and function like natural teeth. That said, just as natural teeth do not always have exactly the same shapes, sizes and colors from one to the next, you may see the same with veneers. However, while you may be able to see differences close up, at conversational distances these variations usually disappear. The greatest thing in the world for us is to change people that were always afraid to smile out of embarrassment, into ones who now can’t stop smiling! That’s our expectation.

And finally, expect to spend money! Veneers, like parachutes, are not good places to look for bargains. They are a technically demanding procedure for the Dentist and laboratory to do well, and so will usually cost at least $1,200 per tooth. After doing them though, most people feel that the incredible change in their life has made the cost almost unimportant. Plus, there are now ways that we can make this affordable through interest free and long term third party financing. You can find out if you qualify before you even speak to the Dentist. Believe me, your veneer consult will be a lot more fun if you aren’t worrying about how to pay for it.


4. How do I maintain my veneers?

You’ll take care of your veneers just like your natural teeth- brush, floss, be nice to them, and see your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings. While the porcelain itself cannot decay, the tooth underneath it still can; and it would be tragic to lose your beautifully restored teeth to periodontal disease.

Be careful what type of toothpaste you use- it should always contain Fluoride, but be aware that some of those that advertise their stain removing ability are very abrasive, and can dull the surface of the veneer. It is well worth the extra expense to buy better toothpaste and protect your investment.

If you play any type of sports always wear a well fitting, professionally made mouthguard, but that’s true whether you have veneers or not.

And, as mentioned before, wear your nightguard!


5. What can I eat and what foods should I avoid?

You can eat pretty much anything! There is very little ‘normal’ food that you can eat or drink that will damage your veneers- the things that will damage veneers are the same things that damage your other teeth. Very tough foods, like beef jerky, hard nuts, bones, chewing ice or un-popped popcorn kernels have always caused unplanned trips to the Dentist, but you’ve probably already heard about that already. Veneers are no different. Apples, corn-on-the-cob, pizza and things like that? No worries!


6. What habits should I avoid or stop?

Let’s start with smoking, since you should quit that anyway. First there are the obvious effects- the cancer, the smell, the making your skin look like an old saddlebag- but you already know about those. It also causes staining of the outer surface of the veneer, which can be removed, and the areas between the teeth, which is removable if you sit in the dental chair long enough; but more importantly it can get stain into the junction (margin) where the tooth and porcelain come together. This is almost impossible to fix without new veneers. Dentists are a great resource to help you to quit smoking- use them.

There are many things that teeth were never meant to do, but happen anyway. Biting fingernails probably tops that list. While they seem soft, nails are tough, and there is a LOT of pressure built up- we see teeth broken this way all the time and it will break veneers too. Using them as tools is next in line- don’t grab, twist, or try to loosen things with your teeth. They aren’t meant to be used as pliers or wire strippers either. And sewing needles- don’t even think about holding them in your teeth! Getting stuck is the least of the problems.

Remember, any of these can easily break the edge of a front tooth, one of the hardest things in dentistry to fix well. With veneers, even more so... And, it’s very, very, very difficult to match the shade when replacing just one veneer. Remember, Difficult = Expensive! Just (don’t) Do It!

There are also things to avoid that you may not even know about- isn’t that grand! Clenching and grinding your teeth isn’t something you normally do for fun, but it happens none the less. If you find yourself doing this, let your Dentist know immediately. If you are told that you do it (an elbow at 3am!) or you wake up with sore jaw muscles, let them know. If it’s an ongoing problem, they will have already noticed and allowed for it. Certain medical conditions like chronic pain, stress, or sleep apnea can make you more likely to grind or clench, so be sure to let your Dentist know if you are suffering from these.

So… you’re probably thinking that I’ve sucked all the fun out of learning about veneers. I don’t mean to, by any stretch. It’s just that there are some very important considerations, and the more you know about it, the better. In reality, porcelain veneers are one of the most rewarding things that Dentists can do, with just one simple procedure. This really is life changing stuff. Enjoy!