Peroxide and Porcelain Veneers
Posted by Annmarie SanSevero
I had eight porcelain veneers done in Central America. They look good but my gums have been red and inflamed since. I called their office and they told me that some swelling is normal and not to worry about it. Eventually it will go away. A friend suggested I do a peroxide rinse to help reduce it the inflammation. I’m happy to do that but just want to make sure that it won’t damage my veneers.
Kate
Dear Kate,
First, you should know that inflammation is not normal after a porcelain veneers procedure. In fact, if someone was presenting a case to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) in order to obtain accreditation, and there was any inflammation at all, they would be rejected.
This is a sign that something is wrong with your porcelain veneer placement. If it is not fixed, then you will end up with gum disease, which will sabotage your oral health. There are a few things that could be wrong with your case. The first is that there is some leftover cement that wasn’t removed properly. This is the easiest thing to fix.
The other two options are a bit trickier. One is that there is an overhang where the margin of the veneers and the teeth under the gumline don’t meet seamlessly. A second is when the veneer is overcontoured creating a bulge. Both of these can create a place for debris to get caught and lead to gum disease and decay.
I would go to an expert cosmetic dentist and have them look at your case and tell you what went wrong with it as well as what the repair for it should be. In your position, I would go to an AACD accredited dentist. They are in the top 3% of cosmetic dentists in the world.
I know people will try to use dental tourism as a way to save money on their dental work. Every once in a while that works out. But, when it doesn’t it’s often a disaster that can cost you a LOT more money than if you’d just done it with a skilled dentist here in the states to begin with. Finding the best dentist for a procedure is the safest way to go.
As for the peroxide, while it won’t hurt your porcelain veneers, it won’t distinguish between your good and bad bacteria. Using it too much will cause an oral yeast infection.
This blog is brought to you by Franklin, TN Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Christopher Weber.
