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POSTED UNDER Porcelain Veneers REVIEWS

While They Are Beautiful - They Are Easy to Break - Arlington, VA

ORIGINAL POST

My teeth are very nice. They look natural and the...

Christine2x2May 4, 2011
$4,000

My teeth are very nice. They look natural and the color is nice etc. The process is really not bad at all - a little Novocaine is needed. It is not a short process by any means but my new dentist has his own machine in his office which cuts out waiting for the lab to send them back.

I say new dentist because he has spent the last few years fixing the veneers I got about 8 years ago that at this point that have broken at least 2 or more times each. Veneers are not as strong as some people claim they will be. I cannot bite down on an apple or eat corn on the cob - not a big deal to have nice teeth but you never know what can cause an issue. I regret doing it.

My teeth were fine but I let myself get talked into the veneers to fix something that really could have been fixed nicely other ways. Also remember - your teeth may still be yours underneath - but they are a much smaller version so you can never go without fixing your veneers if you want to have a normal smile. They are beautiful but there are risks and they are higher maintenance in my opinion than they should have to be. .

Christine2x2's provider

Dr. Richard Gruntz

Christine2x2 ratings

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My new dentist is terrific and has fixed the previous mess - the old dentist - I wouldn't send my worst enemy to him - Dr. G is wonderful.

Replies (19)

BrittB
May 5, 2011

Hi Christine2x2,

Thanks for your review. While I'm glad they look nice, however yes it does sound like a lot of work and upkeep. Have you talked to your dentist to see if there is anything you can do to minimize that? We would love to see pictures of your new teeth. Please keep us updated.

Thanks so much for the review,

-Britt

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lonestargirl
June 30, 2011
This sounds strange to me! I have had 16 porcelain veneers (8 on the upper arch, 8 on the bottom arch) for over 10 years. Never have they broken, chipped, or popped off. I eat everything! Corn on the cob, apples, super chewy candy like Jolly Rogers (ah...I admit it!)...literally everything. I really believe the problem is that any dentist, regardless of training/experience, can claim to be a cosmetic dentist. It's really a buyer beware situation. Make sure the dentist doing your veneers has advanced training and lots of experience with porcelain veneers.
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DC Smiles
December 14, 2011
Experience plays a role. Materials play a role. And patient bite and parafunctional habits may play a role too. The more complex the case, the greater the need for a more experienced clinician. Of course the most experienced clinicians are going to have the most consistently better results. Without knowing more details it is impossible to assign blame for sure. That being said, in most cases I do I tell the patients they can expect their veneers to lsat a lifetime. My technique and eMAX porcelain have made the process very predicable
Christine2x2
June 30, 2011
I work with a woman who also recently got veneers and she's already lost 3 of them. I think my issue is more so an issue with my bite.
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DC Smiles
December 14, 2011
It is not reasonable to have veneers placed and have them pop off so soon. It seems there may be a weak link in this case. It is hard to know where to assign the blame. But, if veneers are done by a competent experienced clinician they should last as long as crowns and crowns. I have seen crowns last more than 60 years.
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lonestargirl
July 6, 2011
You're right, it could be a bite issue too. An excellent cosmetic dentist will first assess the bite and recommend corrections prior to cosmetic services like veneers, because he or she knows that a bad bite (malocclusion) may compromise the cosmetic work you've have done. Although correcting bite problems can add cost and time to the process, it protects your investment in cosmetic dentistry and can help you avoid future problems that could lead to reconstructive dentistry and even more cost down the road.
Megan P
July 12, 2011

I can definitely see how bite issues could play into how well veneers hold up, but I too would hope the dentist would take that into account before placing them.

It seems people have better & longer lasting results from porcelain veneers, as opposed to Lumineers. Do either of you happen to know what kind of veneers were used?

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