Can you get a cavity with veneers?
I have 6 veneers on my front teeth. I have had them
for three years. I am starting to get very sensitive to cold or hot on one
of them. Is this normal? I didn't think I could get a cavity with veneers,
can I? How is a cavity fixed?
—Michelle from Ohio
Michelle:
Yes, it is possible to get a
tooth decay with
porcelain veneers. The porcelain
itself can't decay, but any part of the tooth that isn't covered by the
veneer can still get a cavity.
The good news is that this kind of cavity is easy to fix, as
long as the dentist catches it early, so be sure you are faithful with your regular checkups. It is also easy to see. There isn't really
much difference between fixing a cavity on just your natural teeth, versus
having the veneers. It's the same process. There is one slight difference
if it occurs right next to the porcelain, which is that a special bonding
procedure needs to be used to bond the composite filling material to the
porcelain.
The junction at the edge of the veneer is the most
susceptible place for decay. But we really see very little decay around
veneers, because these patients seem to take much better care of their
teeth once they've invested in a beautiful smile. Brush, floss, and watch
between-meal snacks. Check our page about techniques for
maintaining cosmetic dental work, or the page about
care of porcelain veneers.
You may also want to read about the
porcelain veneer procedure.
Read why a tooth can become
sensitive to heat or
sensitive to cold.
—Dr. Hall
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