Should I be worried about the shape of this temporary veneer bridge? (Photos)

Question

Should I be worried about this shape of the temporary veneer bridge? This is the second time it is having to be done due to the first one not being placed correctly.

Steven Davidowitz, DDS · Answer

Based on your photos, I do see several concerns with the shape and contours of these temporaries. While I can’t determine from photos alone exactly why they were made this way, I don’t think your question is unfounded.

Temporary veneers serve an important purpose beyond simply protecting your prepared teeth. They are essentially a test drive for your new smile. They allow both you and your dentist to evaluate the length, width, contours, phonetics, bite, and overall esthetics before the final porcelain veneers are fabricated. This is one of the biggest advantages of wearing temporaries.

That said, temporaries also have limitations. They are made from acrylic or bis-acryl materials, are hand-finished, and will never have the same precision, translucency, surface texture, or polish as the final porcelain restorations.

Even taking those limitations into account, I see several areas that could likely be improved. The incisal edges appear somewhat uneven, the embrasures between the teeth are not well developed, and the overall anatomy looks rather flat and blocky. The contours also don’t appear as refined as I would expect if these were being used as a true esthetic prototype.

This raises another possibility. Some dentists fabricate temporaries simply by duplicating the patient’s original teeth to protect the preparations rather than using them as a true smile design. If that’s what was done here, these may not be intended to represent the final shape of your veneers at all.

I would ask your cosmetic dentist one simple question: “Are these temporaries intended to be a prototype of my final veneers, or are they simply provisional restorations copied from my original teeth?” The answer will help set the right expectations.

If these are meant to guide the final design, I would recommend discussing the specific changes you’d like before the porcelain is fabricated. It is far easier to modify the design at the temporary stage than after the final veneers have been completed. A good cosmetic dentist welcomes this feedback, as the temporary phase is often where the best final smiles are created.

Should I be worried about the shape of this temporary veneer bridge? (Photos)

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Answers (1)

More Porcelain Veneers Questions

Are no-prep veneers over contoured?

Do my veneers look bulky or too long? (Photos)

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS