I just had porcelain veneers done and I was super excited to see the final results. The doctor really hyped me up about it and even had me try them on before cementing them and they looked great. Before I got them, the bottoms of my teeth weren’t straight, so that was my main concern. They fixed that and I was happy. Well, now I’m noticing more and more that my gums look uneven. I don’t know if they were that way before or if they did something, but it’s kind of a downer to still not be happy with my smile. Is there something the dentist can do to fix it or should I just live with it? — Amanda
Amanda,
Hopefully you’d know if they made any alterations to your gums as part of your porcelain veneer preparation. They probably would have referred to it as a “gingivectomy” or “gingival surgery.” Sometimes doctors will give it a more friendly name, like “recontouring” or will simply refer to it as a “ginge.” Your dentist is supposed to discuss any treatment with you ahead of time and obtain your consent, but this can be done in a conversational manner and sometimes miscommunications occur.
If you don’t recall hearing anything like this in your consultation or during treatment, it probably wasn’t done. More than likely, your uneven gums stand out to you more because your teeth are straighter. The only way to know for sure, though, is to ask the office.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to correct gum issues after the porcelain veneers are done. Doctors usually address the gum line as part of the process, and any reshaping is done during the preparation. After the fact, removing gum tissue will likely expose the margin, which will decrease aesthetics further and make your teeth more prone to decay. The best thing you can do is schedule a follow-up with your doctor and tell him your concerns. At this point, however, the only recourse you’ll probably have is to start over.
This blog post is brought to you by Des Moines cosmetic dentist, Dr. Phelan Thomas. For more information on the services he provides, please visit his Des Moines cosmetic dentist website.