• Home
  • About Us
    • Dr. Phelan Thomas
    • About the Staff
    • Request an Appointment
    • What Can I Expect My First Visit?
    • Financial Policies
    • Contact Us
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Smile Gallery
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Beautiful Smile Guarantee
    • Porcelain Crowns
    • All-Porcelain Bridges
    • Invisalign
    • Composite Bonding
    • Tooth Colored Fillings
    • Teeth Whitening
  • Implants
    • Dental Implants
    • Dentures
  • Technology
    • DIAGNOdent
    • Electrosurgery
    • Air Abrasion
    • Panorex Imaging
    • Computerized Anesthetic
    • Dental Implant Placement System
    • Diagnostic Wax-up Model
    • Smile Blueprint
    • Intraoral Camera
    • Digital Photography
    • Vizilite
  • Other Services
    • Endodontics
    • Periodontal Disease
    • Pediatric Dentistry
    • Emergency Dentist
    • Occlusion Therapy
    • Preventive Dentistry
    • Gum Tissue Sculpting
    • Mercury-Free Dentist
  • Make a Payment

Iowa Center for Family and Cosmetic Dentistry - West Des Moines

Iowa Center for Family and Cosmetic Dentistry –  West Des Moines
  • Best Des Moines Dentist
  • Des Moines Holistic Dentist
  • Privacy Policy
  • Blog

Gum Inflammation with Porcelain Veneers

August 30, 2019 by writeradmin

I had porcelain veneers put on four teeth. Since then, my gums have been inflamed. I went to see my dentist and they said they’ve never seen that happen and it must mean I’m not brushing well enough. Not only did this annoy me because it wasn’t true, it did nothing to help me. The dentist did remove some leftover cement which did help a little, but the gums are still inflamed and sore a week after he did that.

Betsy

Dear Betsy,

An image of a porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

A good cosmetic detnist will not cause inflammation on your gums

It’s extraordinarily annoying when medical “caregivers” blame us when they don’t know what is the best solution. Inflammed gums are a no-no after a porcelain veneers case. In fact, if a dentist is trying to get accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, one of the things the judges look at is the gums. If there is any inflammation, the dentist does not pass.

I haven’t examined you, so couldn’t definitively diagnose what is going on with your case, but I can give you some possibilities.

Excess Cement

This is the most likely culprit. I say this because your dentist removed some at your last appointment. If he’d done his job properly, all of the cement would have been removed at the original appointment. The fact he still had some left tells me he isn’t thorough.

Bulky or Irregular Margins

If your veneers aren’t flush, it can allow food and bacteria to get trapped between your porcelain veneers and your gums. This is pretty serious because it could lead to decay.

Veneers too Far Under the Gums

If the veneer intrudes onto the gingival attachment, it will cause inflammation.

So…how do you know which of these possibilities is actually your problem? You’ll need to get a blind second opinion. You’ll need to see an expert cosmetic dentist. Check with aacd.com and look for an accredited cosmetic dentist in your area. Then tell them you’ve had some inflammation and ask them what the cause is. Under no circumstances are you to tell them who your dentist is. This is because they could be friends and knowing that would be it difficult for the second opinion dentist to say anything which could make his friend look bad.

One thing to always bear in mind when it comes to having cosmetic dental work done. There isn’t a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry, nor are smile makeovers taught in dental school. It is up to the dentist to invest in the training necessary. This makes it hard for the patient to know who is skilled and who isn’t. This is why I suggested you see an AACD accredited dentist in order to get your second opinion. These are the most skilled and knowledgeable cosmetic dentists in the country.

Best of luck to you. This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.

Filed Under: Cosmetic Dentist Tagged With: AACD accredited dentist, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, finding an expert cosmetic dentist, getting a second opinion, gum inlfammation, porclain veneers, smile makeover

Recent Posts

  • Switching Dentists After Invisalign
  • Zoom Whitening for Uneven Tooth Color?
  • Fixing a Gummy Smile
  • My New Crowns are Turning Yellow
  • A Fortune Wasted on My Smile Makeover

Categories

  • Best Des Moines Dentist
  • Cosmetic Dentist
  • Dental Bonding
  • Dental Emergency
  • Dental Implants
  • Emergency Dentist
  • Full-Mouth Reconstruction
  • Gum Contouring
  • Holistic Dentist
  • Invisalign
  • Porcelain Veneers
  • Teeth Whitening
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014

Contact Us

Iowa Center for
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
4100 University, Suite 105
West Des Moines, IA 50266
New Patients Call:
Office: 515-223-8800
URL of Map

Office Hours


Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm

Read Our Reviews


SEO by Infinity Dental Web


View Map and Get Directions
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Dr. Phelan Thomas
    • About the Staff
    • Request an Appointment
    • What Can I Expect My First Visit?
    • Financial Policies
    • Contact Us
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Smile Gallery
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Beautiful Smile Guarantee
    • Porcelain Crowns
    • All-Porcelain Bridges
    • Invisalign
    • Composite Bonding
    • Tooth Colored Fillings
    • Teeth Whitening
  • Implants
    • Dental Implants
    • Dentures
  • Technology
    • DIAGNOdent
    • Electrosurgery
    • Air Abrasion
    • Panorex Imaging
    • Computerized Anesthetic
    • Dental Implant Placement System
    • Diagnostic Wax-up Model
    • Smile Blueprint
    • Intraoral Camera
    • Digital Photography
    • Vizilite
  • Other Services
    • Endodontics
    • Periodontal Disease
    • Pediatric Dentistry
    • Emergency Dentist
    • Occlusion Therapy
    • Preventive Dentistry
    • Gum Tissue Sculpting
    • Mercury-Free Dentist
  • Make a Payment
  • New patients
    (877) 631-9967

  • Existing patients
    (515) 223-8800

©2000-2022 Phelan R. Thomas, DDS. • All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy