Bleeding gums after porcelain veneers indicate irritation or developing gum disease. They should be consulted with a dentist as soon as possible.
It is not normal to have bleeding gums after wearing porcelain veneers. Veneers shouldn’t cause bleeding to your mouth. Bleeding gums means something is wrong with the treatment process or your oral health, which may directly or indirectly be related your veneers.
5 Reasons You Have Bleeding Gums After Porcelain Veneers
1. Gaps between your gums and teeth
If your cosmetic dentist is not qualified or experienced enough to place your veneers perfectly onto your teeth, they may leave a tiny gap between your gums and teeth.
The condition is otherwise called having bulky margins.
You may still have bulky margins even if your experienced dentist does an excellent job. There can be many reasons for that, including your lifestyle, oral hygiene and eating habits.
However, this condition is treatable. Consult your dentist immediately if you suspect you have bulky margins.
Also read: Botched Bad Veneers: How to Avoid Them?
2. Increasing gum disease
Your oral health will degrade if you do not brush and floss regularly. Over time, gum disease will form.
Your teeth may still look beautiful because of the porcelain veneers and remain fully functional. But soon they will deteriorate, causing inflammation and bleeding to your gums.
In such a case, it is the gum disease that is causing the bleeding and not your actual porcelain veneers.
3. Change in Your Regular Oral Hygiene
You may not have noticed it, but your regular oral hygiene has changed the moment you have taken porcelain veneers.
Upon regular about brushing and flossing, you now have veneers to take care of. That means you have to take additional steps to ensure that all spots of the teeth and veneers are thoroughly cleaned.
You can follow the instructions below to make sure that your veneers are in great shape and do not cause you inflammation or bleeding:
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to brush your teeth
- Floss your teeth as recommended by your dentist (at least once daily)
- Do not try to open a can with your teeth
- Do not bite hard objects such as pencils or candy with your teeth. Your veneers may chip or break
- Use a mouthguard to protect your teeth if you are into physical games
- Avoid eating crunchy or sticky food
- Seek medical attention if you have bruxism
- Visit your dentist for a routine checkup
You may prevent the occurrence of bleeding gums if you follow the instructions mentioned above.
Point to Remember: Research shows that the presence of mouthguards substantially reduces the impact stresses in the veneers and tooth structures.
4. Tooth Decay Under Veneers
You may wear veneers, but you still have your original teeth under them. Those teeth are subject to decay and death under certain conditions.
Maybe bacteria have reached the apex of your teeth causing serious inflammation to your gums. In that case, you may start having loose teeth requiring root canal treatment or composite filling.
The infection can be as serious as to kill the dental pulp in the pulp chamber, compromising your dental health further.
This condition may not be caused by your veneers but can still affect them. The veneers may have to be removed to make room for crowns.
Your dentist will be able to recommend a treatment plan after a thorough examination of your teeth.
5. Dental Trauma
According to American Association of Endodontists (AAE), more than five million teeth are knocked out every year in children and adults.
The situation does not have to reach that far for you. You may hurt your mouth by falling face down on ice or by stumbling down on uneven grounds.
Consult a dentist as soon as possible if you experience dental trauma. The dentist can stop the bleeding of your gums and save your teeth.
Examining your veneers after a mouth trauma is important. Your oral health is directly connected to the condition of your veneers. If the veneers are cracked, they have to be replaced.
Veneers are permanent solution to cracked teeth. But they too can crack, although possessing a high survival rate.
What Are Some of the Veneer-Related Complications?
You may experience the following as a result of getting veneers:
- Your teeth may become sensitive following your veneer treatment
- Feeling a little bit of pain in your mouth is normal. But that pain should disappear in a day or two. Consult your dentist if it does not
- A certain level of gum inflammation is normal after getting veneers. But do consult your dentist if that inflammation intensifies and causes bleeding
- Removal of tooth enamel to make room for veneers always poses a risk to your dental health. The condition may turn into pulp disease and tooth loss. Therefore, do not choose veneers if you have already lost some tooth enamel. Choose dental crowns instead.
Also Read: Do Teeth Have to Be Shaven Down for Veneers?
Yes. Experts believe that the teeth underneath your veneers are more protected because they’re not exposed to food and bacteria. However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore proper dental hygiene. Poor hygiene is the leading cause of gum inflammation and bleeding.
Veneers are safe, although they have some side effects. They are biocompatible. The bonding cement that is used to place them on your teeth is also safe for human health.
Veneers are invasive and non-reversible. That means your teeth enamel has to be shaven off to make room for your veneers. You cannot regenerate your tooth enamel after removing your veneers. They have to be replaced with new veneers.
Bleeding Gums After Porcelain Veneers: A Note from SupreDent
Bleeding gums after porcelain veneers treatment is not normal. While it’s not an urgent cause for alarm, it shouldn’t go unnoticed. It indicates more significant problems such as gum disease, irritability, or incompatibility.
Consult your dentist to address these concerns immediately so they won’t become more severe with time.
References:
Bragança, G. et al. Influence of ceramic veneer thickness and antagonist on impact stresses during dental trauma with and without a mouthguard assessed with finite element analysis. Dental Traumatology: official publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology. 2021 Apr;37(2):215-222. doi: 10.1111/edt.12631.
American Association of Endodontists (AAE). Knocked Out Teeth. Accessed on 12 December 2022.
Blunck, U. et al. Ceramic laminate veneers: effect of preparation design and ceramic thickness on fracture resistance and marginal quality in vitro. Clinical Oral Investigations. 2020 Aug;24(8):2745-2754.
Also from SupreDent:
