Porcelain Veneer Bonding Failures

Laminate veneer bonding products and procedures have become quite popular in Cosmetic Dentistry. Commonly referred to as Instant Makeovers and Instant Orthodontics, the amount of exposure this veneer bonding procedure has had on popular TV programs like ABC-TV’s Extreme Makeover program has stirred great interest and desire.

Latest Porcelain Bonding Update

The New Age Porcelain Veneers in Brentwood

The newest technologies are the new age porcelain veneers. Patients can now have porcelain veneers that are made of stronger materials. These porcelain materials can hide dark colors more naturally and can have surface texture that is more like natural tooth structure.

Bad Porcelain Veneers

The key problem with all bad porcelain veneers is the ability and thoroughness of the cosmetic dentist to predictably and successfully integrate the porcelain veneers to the natural tooth structure. We are still getting too many patients that have porcelain veneers that fall off.

Fake Looking and Bulky Porcelain Veneers

Fake porcelain veneers are also the fault of the cosmetic dentist because they lack the ability and the understanding of the shapes and contours of natural tooth structure. Additionally, the price competition and low priced porcelain veneers are made by large production dental porcelain veneer labs that produce bad or fake looking teeth. We continue to see bad porcelain veneers that the patient hates and the same dentist has tried it twice!!

Replacing Bulky Fake-Looking Veneers

Experienced Porcelain Veneer Dentists

Experience matters because there are wide variations in patient needs. The dentist needs to be able to customize and create the best look and smile for the patient. Otherwise, all of the cosmetic dentist’s patients look alike. The dentist makes the same porcelain veneers for everyone. If you want quality that will last and look natural, find the dentist with the best before and after photos of the entire face of the patient. It is worth your time. Dr. Sam Muslin appears to have one of the best photo galleries in the United States at this point in time as he shows the actual results on his patients rather than photos of movie stars.

Last Updated Aug 31, 2010

Makeover Frenzy

The “makeover experience” is now a common desire for patients who want great looks in almost an instant. There has also been a similar effect for dentists. Many practitioners are taking crash courses in veneer technologies so they can better serve their patients.

This frenzy however has caused an alarming number of treatment failures that essentially stem from the lack of diligence on the part of patients… and on the part of dentists.

Veneer Bonding Problem Failures

Stories of veneers popping off, cracking and causing discomfort (severe in some cases) are beginning to accumulate nationwide. As with most components used in restorative and reconstructive dentistry, veneer laminate failures are usually not related to specific product failures…. but rather a failure of application or technique.

Premium lamination procedures are technique specific and require substantial experience in the use of different types of veneer products for different types of lamination needs that can differ quite significantly on a tooth by tooth basis for all patients.

There is no single veneer product that can fulfill every veneer need. Popular veneer products have different structural and cosmetic qualities that must be used effectively and creatively by dentists so certain functional and cosmetic goals are obtained…. as desired by patients.

Dr. Muslin uses a variety of popular veneer products… recommending specific products for whatever cosmetic goals are defined by the patient.

Invasive versus Non Invasive Veneer Tooth Preparation

A common complaint that surfaces with veneer dentistry is the experience of having teeth that mysteriously become ultra sensitive to temperatures and pressure after veneer treatment.

Some veneer products and/or veneer results (as desired by patients) require invasive reshaping of the underlying tooth structure. Inadequate or over preparation of tooth structures can create poor adhesive properties that become the basis for the complaints mentioned above.

The dentistry sciences have created a variety of lamination products and technologies that can successfully treat almost any appropriate veneer need.

Most Common Cause of Failure

As mentioned above.. failures tend to be technique specific rather than related to the brand of veneer product. Most failures are caused by errors or contamination in the bonding process. These types of errors are difficult to control or eliminate if a dentist does not have access to certain technologies.

Our high tech operatories practically eliminate bonding problems related to treatment technique or contaminants. In special situations where adhesive properties are critical (based on location or shape of tooth structure), Dr. Muslin has a proprietary formula for creating a bonding formula that assures successful treatment regardless of the uniqueness of the tooth structure.

To further control and limit veneer failures, most of our porcelain laminates are made through our private ceramist. Complaints of having fat, unattractive or goofy looking Chiclet style veneers do not occur. Errors in cosmetic appearance (e.g., not white enough.. or too white), by virtue of having immediate access to our lab resource, are corrected immediately and without fail.

Dr. Muslin’s access to and experienced use of proprietary bonding technologies has enabled him to correct veneer and generalized bonding failures (bonding is also involved in crowns) reported by patients.