Hi. I’m in my third year of having porcelain veneers. Already I’ve had three different ones fall off, and one of the three has fallen off twice. One of these was embarrassing because I was in public with friends. What’s going on? – Nikki, Texas
Nikki – Porcelain veneers that are bonded correctly won’t come off unless they are ground off of your teeth. Unfortunately, your veneers have not been bonded correctly.
Re-bonding them requires techniques that few dentists know or have the equipment to perform. The process requires cleaning off the veneer with acetone and thoroughly cleaning the natural tooth to which the veneer was bonded—down to its natural structure. Then the porcelain has to be etched, primed and bonded. This process should be done only for the veneers that have fallen off.
The problem with your porcelain veneers repeatedly falling off indicates that your dentist is unaware of the techniques required to properly bond them. You can find a qualified cosmetic dentist who is proficient with the techniques. You can use the website mynewsmile.com as a reference for locating a cosmetic dentist near you. For a dentist to be listed on mynewsmile.com, he or she must submit photographs of his or her work. The dentist’s credentials will also be checked.
Consider asking your current dentist if he or she is willing to pay for the proper bonding of your veneers. Regardless, it’s worth your time and money to have it done correctly.
This blog is brought to you by the office of New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune of Metairie.