Gum Line Decay on Veneer -- Composite Bonding Repair?

I think that repairing your veneer with dental bonding is a good "short term" approach.  It would not be a good idea to replace that one veneer with porcelain if you are planning on getting new ones in the next 12-18 months. Hope this helps. 

A composite restoration next to a porcelain veneer can be a nice way to extend its life.  I would recomendation that you ask your dentist how extensive the decay is and how the restoration will affect the future margin placement of the new veneer.  Your next veneer will need to cover the composite that was placed to remove the decay thus changing the esthetics of the veneered tooh.  Your dentist will need to compensate for this issue with your next set of veneers.  Good luck.

By all means get the decay out, most of the time placing a small composite filling is a viable way to manage this situation.  This sounds very reasonable and should work out fine in the hands of a skilled esthetic dentist.. 

 

I have nothing to add to all the responses you have received.  Do the Composite!!

While not ideal, veneers can be repaired. TRY WHITENING to see if the discoloration is decay or stain. There is some discussion that you can use whitening to bleach out stain. I have had success with the combination of whitening and PATCHING with composite filling. Patching to remove the decay once you have gotten out the stain can work but you must make sure the dentist is bonding both to the porcelain and dentin with their products. Long term, we all agree that replacing veneers is your best bet but there are conservative treatments to try in the short run. Much success!

Go and remove decay, add resin to match, then redo them all when you are ready. This is a great way to treat the tooth witout removing the whole veneer and making one new one which may not match.

If you are planning to replace all your veneers in a year or two, I would definitely try to prolong the life of your "decayed" veneer with a composite repair.  Even if the decay extends under the veneer and you have to remove it, composites are so beautiful today that a composite veneer should be able to match the old porcelain veneers very well.  The colour of the composite veneer should also be stable over the short term (2 years - no problem).  This will save you from having to pay for 2 porcelain veneers on that tooth, and you will be able to get a better esthetic result when you do all the veneers at the same time.

Yes this can be viewed as acceptable treatment. The decay must be removed in order to stop the disease process. The bigger question would be whats underneath the veneer. Is there more decay? The veneer has been in the mouth for 15 years. There is a possibility that there is recurrent decay and the entire veneer should be replaced. If the composite is bonded to the current porcelain restoration, the treatment chosen, placing composite in the site of decay, will be a very temporary fix. I always prepare my patients for the worst case scenario and if I am wrong we are both happy.

Dr. C

Repairing decay around a veneer with bonding is a good short term solution.


all decay must be thoroughly removed

color matching should be simple

cost is minimal

result is immediate

12-18 months is a good prognosis

In your case where you are planning to redo te case in 12-18 montths anyway I think that removing the decay could be an option depending on location and depth.  Composite bonding would hold that until you are able to get them all replaced.