Your teeth are one of the first impressions people have of you. Dental veneers can help you improve the look of your teeth and boost your confidence with the perfect smile. However, when learning about dental veneers, a lot of people are curious if they can go ahead with the procedure with gum disease. We will explore that in this article.
Will Gum Disease Rule You Out as a Veneers Candidate?
Whilst having gum disease won’t rule you out from getting veneers in the future, it’s important that your gums are treated before beginning the veneers process to prevent the gum disease from worsening and damaging your jawbone. Getting veneers requires customised moulds, which won’t sit properly if your gums are swollen as a result of disease.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Veneers are coatings or fittings attached to teeth to improve their appearance. They’re customised to the shape of your teeth and bonded to your tooth’s original enamel in the treatment procedure.
Veneers are a fast and effective treatment option manufactured using materials like composite resin or porcelain. Learn more about dental veneers.
Why Gum Disease Can Affect Your Veneer Results
Gum disease, or periodontitis, doesn’t just irritate the gums; it changes your entire mouth.
Inflammation, swelling and bleeding can alter the shape of the gumline, while more advanced cases can begin to weaken the underlying bone. Veneers rely on stability. They’re crafted to the precise shape of your teeth and the surrounding gum contour, so anything that distorts that shape will affect the final fit.
If your gums are swollen when impressions are taken, the mould won’t reflect your mouth’s true structure. As the swelling reduces after treatment, the veneers may no longer sit flush, creating gaps or an uneven appearance. The same goes for gum recession: as the gumline moves, veneers that once fitted perfectly can start to look mismatched.
There’s also the issue of stability beneath the surface. If gum disease has caused significant bone loss, you may need bone grafting before veneers can be safely placed. Without a strong foundation, veneers struggle to bond properly and are more likely to fail.
Multiple Variations of Gum Disease
Gum disease can occur in different forms of varying severity. The most common being gingivitis and the most severe being periodontitis.
Gingivitis:
Also referred to as gum inflammation, gingivitis usually occurs before periodontitis sets in. It’s a common condition of the gums and carries mild symptoms that many people ignore. It’s important to treat gingivitis, no matter how moderate the effects, to prevent further problems for your mouth such as inflamed gums causing bleeding when brushing, or bad breath.
Periodontitis:
A more concerning issue that involves pockets developing as the bone and gums’ inner layers pull away from your teeth. These gaps inevitably allow for the debris to build up and become infected, leading to destruction of bone and tissue and eventually the loosening of teeth.
It’s vital that gum disease is treated, not only if you’re beginning to consider getting veneers, but to ensure you are protecting your mouth from irreparable damage. Practising good oral hygiene, brushing twice a day and flossing regularly, are key to aiding and preventing gum disease.
Can Gum Disease Be Cured?
Yes. Gum disease can be reversed and controlled with regular professional cleaning and a good home oral routine, especially in the early stages of the disease. Your dentist or hygienist can successfully treat severe gum disease with more extensive treatment like corrective surgery, scaling, deep cleaning or medications taken by mouth or placed under the gums.
Treatments like laser gum therapy can help cure moderate to severe gum disease using a specific type of laser which helps eradicate the bacteria causing the infection and is painless and risk-free with a short recovery time.
I Have Gum Disease, When Can I Look At Getting Veneers?
You can only get veneers after treating gum disease and controlling the infection by maintaining proper oral hygiene. Veneers are only cosmetic dentistry solutions that improve the appearance of your smile and will not cure gum disease.
The right dentists will require you to use an effective gum disease treatment plan and practice good dental hygiene before getting veneers.
If you have questions or need guidance on proceeding, speak to an expert today by booking a free consultation with Bespoke Smile.