Porcelain Veneer Liability Period?

Dentists are not obligated to warranty work, but it makes good business sense to do so to a certain degree.  We all have our opinions on what should be done and when.

 

When a veneer comes off, and it is NOT normal, it is often due to 3 things.  First is the bite.  If you grind your teeth, veneers are prone to fracture or come off.  Second is prep design.  Some preps are more retentive or have more surface area to hold onto.  Prep-less style would be more likely to come off.  And finally bonding technique/materials.  Some materials work better than others, and ALL materials have specific instructions that must be followed perfectly.

 

Once it came off the second time, I would have moved toward a 3/4 or full crown.  Whether I did it for free would depend on discussions at the start, as in were your teeth worn flat and we added length?  Then the odds of coming off were good and I would have warned you, etc....

A porcelain veneer that has come off eight times in 16 months has an inherent problem. A porcelain veneer that comes off is usually either a bite problem and/or a bonding issue. Because it has come off eight times and hasn't broken it sounds like a bonding issue. Because the other three veneers are doing fine it must be something to do with the specific tooth. It could be the tooth was over prepared or it is being bonded to old restorations. Porcelain veneers work best when bonded to enamel. If a tooth is over prepared (usually because it is way out of alignment with adjacent teeth) then the enamel is removed and the veneer has to be bonded to the next layer of tooth structure called dentin. Porcelain veneers  do not bond well to dentin and if you combine a bite issue (biting too hard on that specific tooth) then the veneer will have retention problems. If porcelain veneers are bonded to old dental restorations then once again the bond strength is not strong and will have a tendency to fall off.

This is a frustrating thing for both you and the doctor. If you were my patient the problem would be fixed FREE of charge until you were happy with the results. It might mean a different restoration is done to solve the problem and in my office I would not charge you for that new restoration. You have paid a lot of money to solve a dental problem but the problem has not been fully solved if the solution continues to fail.

Good luck!

Every dentist is different, i can imagine what you are going through with this particular veneer. Many facts could make a veneer to come off, but if you have signed a contract that explains clearly any replacing and cementation at no charge, you should go with it. You can always go for a second opinion to find out why that tooth is giving you so much trouble.

According to insurance companies, a porcelain restoration should last between 5-7 years for them to give you coverage at all, dentists do not have such a policy. As a courtesy and loyalty to our patients, we offer a certain coverage in case anything happens. Every case is different and time lenght is determine with the patient at the moment. We like to make our patients happy and for them to feel comfortable we will make it happen. In  some cases, accidents happen and other decisions are taken, but always making our patients happy. Go to the dentist that fabricated the veneers for you and tell them your concerns.