Will Gum Disease Affect Veneers?
When your Tampa, FL dentist examines you to see if you’re a good candidate for dental veneers, they’re looking for overall healthy teeth and gums. Remember, dental veneers are not a form of treatment, although they can address certain issues of the teeth. Veneers are a purely cosmetic “fix,” though. They fix appearance, not underlying problems. For instance, veneers fix a smile so that gaps, permanent stains and other certain imperfections are hidden behind the veneers. When it comes to serious conditions such as gum disease, dental veneers and gum disease don’t mix well.
Problems With Gum Disease
Gum disease, also called periodontitis, is a serious condition where the gums of the mouth are infected with bacteria. It’s serious because gum disease often makes teeth loose and—untreated—can end up with permanent tooth loss. This is something that no dental veneers, no matter how beautiful they are, can address.
Gum Disease and Dental Veneers
Your dentist will need to treat any existing gum disease before applying veneers. But in the end, after your teeth and gums are free from periodontitis, you can enjoy the more attractive appearance made possible with the veneers.
If you develop gum disease after the dental veneers are in place, the sad fact is that the veneers can’t protect your teeth or gums. Again, they’re only there for cosmetic purposes. If you don’t get your gum disease treated, your affected teeth may loosen and fall out, just as they would if you had no dental veneers at all. And in a scenerio like that, you’d be looking at restorative—not cosmetic solutions.
If you have dental veneers in Tampa, FL, or you’re thinking of getting dental veneers, it’s important to visit your dentist for routine dental exams. Contact us today to start!