Can I Get Dental Veneers if I Have Bad Teeth?

Dental veneers can be a quick and convenient solution if you want to improve the appearance of your smile. Dental problems such as stains, chipped teeth, crookedness, or gaps between teeth can easily be treated with dental veneers. But can you still get veneers if you have bad teeth?

There are some dental problems that can prevent you from receiving veneers as they can cause the dental veneers to fail over time. Before you can get dental veneers, your dentist will do a comprehensive oral examination to see whether you need additional treatments prior to your veneer operation.

Let’s look at what problems can be corrected with dental veneers and what needs extra treatments.

What Are Dental Veneers Used For?

Some of the small dental problems that can be treated easily and painlessly with dental veneers are:

  • Stained, yellow, or discolored teeth
  • Minor cracks and chips
  • Crooked teeth
  • Diastema (Gaps between teeth)
  • Eroded, short, or misshapen teeth

Since these issues are usually superficial in nature, veneers are an ideal alternative for patients experiencing these issues.

Dental veneers are thin shells usually made of porcelain or composite material and they adhere to the outer surface of the teeth. As veneers cover the surface of the teeth, they can be used to hide minor dental problems and whiten the appearance of the teeth. 

What Problems Shouldn’t Be Treated With Veneers?

There are some major dental problems that will put your oral health at risk and escalate if the underlying factors are not treated. These are the problems that cannot be solved with veneers:

  • Cavities in the teeth
  • Root Canal Infections
  • Gum/Periodontal Disease

Though these issues will affect the aesthetic appearance of your teeth, it is neither correct nor effective to cover them up with dental veneers. Treating them with veneers is almost the same as avoiding the problems and hoping that they will go away on their own. But these conditions need to be treated as quickly as possible by a dentist in order not to worsen.

If untreated such dental problems will also cause the veneers to fail. For example, if you insist on getting veneers over a tooth with cavities or develop cavities after receiving veneers, the tooth could continue rotting underneath the veneers and eventually result in veneer failure.

This is why getting a thorough oral examination prior to your dental veneer treatment is of utmost importance. After the examination, you and your dentist can discuss the best course of action for your dental treatment.

What Needs to Be Treated Before Getting Veneers

Poor Dental Hygiene

While no cosmetic dental treatment is guaranteed to be permanent, veneers can last up to 15 years if properly cared for and your natural teeth are maintained. If you did not have healthy oral hygiene habits such as regular brushing and flossing before getting veneers, you need to change your lifestyle to incorporate better habits. If you do not properly maintain your veneers as well as your natural teeth, the lifespan of your veneers will shorten and you might develop additional dental problems.

Gum Disease

If you have gum (periodontal) disease, you can’t have dental veneers unless you treat it first. To be a candidate for veneers, your gums must be in a healthy condition. The signs of gum disease include swollen gums, gum tissue that bleeds easily, tooth decay, bad breath, and bright red or purplish gums.

When left untreated, gum disease can cause inflations, receding gums, and even tooth loss at later stages. As it can cause many dental problems, treatment of gum disease is a requirement not just for dental veneers but all dental treatments.

Cavities

Damaged areas of the teeth that turn into holes or small openings are called cavities. If you have a cavity on a tooth that you wish to get a veneer for, you must have it treated before you can get veneers. Otherwise, the condition of your tooth would continue to worsen behind the veneer.

It is also possible that your teeth develop cavities after you have received dental veneer treatment. This is why it is important to regularly visit a dental clinic and get check-ups so that you can solve the problem quickly without causing damage to your veneers.

Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a condition in which people clench or grind their teeth unconsciously during the day, at night, or both. Grinding teeth can cause them to become blunted, fractured, or short.

Teeth grinding will have a negative effect on veneers and it must be addressed before the patient can receive veneers. While porcelain veneers are extremely strong and durable, teeth grinding can damage them. The pressure of grinding or clenching can cause even natural teeth to crack or chip and porcelain veneers are no exception. Veneers can chip, crack, loosen, or fall off due to the constant pressure of teeth grinding. If you grind your teeth, discuss your condition with your dentist first and they will guide you to what can be done.

On a related note, it is recommended that patients do not eat hard or crunchy food often, use their teeth to as a tool to open packages, and bite their nails after getting veneers. Like teeth grinding, these can also put pressure on the veneers and cause problems.  

Smoking

Technically, you can still smoke after getting veneers. However, it is strongly advised that you do not smoke after getting veneers because smoking is known to have numerous adverse effects on oral health such as causing gum disease. This can negatively impact the veneers.   

Another common concern of smokers is staining. If you are getting porcelain veneers, the veneers would not discolor or stain due to smoking. However, while adhering the veneer to the tooth, a composite is used as a glue. Smoking can turn this composite yellow or brown over time and it might be visible around the veneer.

While quitting smoking can be difficult, it has many benefits for overall oral health.

Dental Veneers in Turkey

Today, traveling overseas for dental treatments is becoming more and more widespread. One popular destination among dental tourists in Turkey. Because of its highly professional and successful dentistry practices, Turkey is visited by thousands of people from around the world each year. Cities such as Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, and Kusadasi are chosen both for their great dental treatments and exciting holiday opportunities.


CureHoliday is working with some of the best dental clinics around the country. We researched the most affordable and effective dental clinics for you.

For more information about dental veneer treatment, dental holidays in Turkey, and package deals for veneers in Turkey, you can contact us directly for consultation.