At Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, our doctors use porcelain veneers to create beautiful smile makeovers. But they are even more concerned about your oral health and providing dental treatment that lasts.
Below is a question from a patient from another dental practice about how teeth grinding affects veneers.
Can you get porcelain veneers if you grind your teeth? My teeth are very small and I want veneers to make them longer. I spoke about this to the dentist I had when I lived in Ohio, and he agreed that veneers are a great option for me. Now that I’m in Atlanta, I have a new dentist who won’t give me porcelain veneers because he says I grind my teeth.
He said it’s a waste of his time and my money because I will probably break the veneers from grinding my teeth. Then he told me I need a night guard to protect my teeth. This is news to me because my Ohio dentist never mentioned that I grind my teeth. Is this new dentist trying to rack up more dental work on me and sell me a night guard that I don’t need? How can I tell? Thanks. Adam
Response
Adam,
Getting porcelain veneers can be an exciting improvement to your appearance. But if teeth grinding is a concern, your doctor may want to have this addressed before you move forward with veneers.
Consider three facts about porcelain veneers and teeth grinding.
1. Porcelain Veneers Can Improve Your Smile
Porcelain veneers are very effective in improving the appearance of your smile. If your teeth are small, a skilled cosmetic dentist can use veneers to make them appear longer. They also improve the following imperfections in teeth:
- Chips
- Discoloration
- Small gaps
- Misalignment
- Misshaped
- Worn down by teeth grinding
Below are before-and-after photos of one of our patients. As you can see, our dentists create beautiful, natural-looking results with porcelain veneers.
2. Veneers Are Affected by Teeth Grinding
Porcelain is very strong and durable. But just as your natural teeth can chip or crack from the pressure of teeth grinding (bruxism), so can porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers can loosen, chip, crack, or fall off from the continuous stress of teeth grinding. Teeth grinding can also lead to TMJ disorder which can cause pain in your jaw.
3. How to Tell If You Grind Your Teeth
A dentist can see signs of wear on your teeth from grinding. Your dentist will look for, and ask you about, the following signs and symptoms:
- Teeth that are chipped, fractured, or flat on the biting surface
- Worn tooth enamel
- Toothaches or sensitivity
- Jaw or neck pain
- Earaches
- Jaw clicking or popping
Porcelain Veneers Second Opinion
We welcome you to schedule an appointment for a second opinion with one of our expert cosmetic dentists. They can help you determine the best plan of action to improve the overall appearance and functionality of your smile.