Veneers are a great way to get that smile you have always wanted even when your teeth are in less than stellar shape. In fact, veneers are able to cover up your natural teeth with a whole new material that is likely whiter, straighter, and better looking. Veneers are made of porcelain and are designed to cover the front part of the teeth in order to improve the appearance of them. Porcelain veneers are known to be very strong and in some cases can last up to 20 years. Unfortunately, you have to administer proper oral hygiene if you want your veneers to last. Grinding and biting into hard objects can break a veneer. When this happens, you want to be careful about what you do next.  

Deciphering What Came Off

When you see that something is wrong with your veneer, you need to check out and see whether it has actually debonded or if the veneer has actually broken. If the veneer has only debonded, then it is possible for your dentist to salvage the piece which can save you a lot of money. If the veneer is broken, your dentists will have to make you a new one. 

Saving the Veneer

If you see that the veneer is whole and there are no pieces left on the tooth, you will want to be sure that you wrap it in some tissue to help preserve it. A veneer can cost up to $1100 so you want to do everything you can to ensure that it can be salvageable if possible. Make sure to put the tooth in a container when transporting it so you don't end up damaging it worse. 

Make an Appointment

Once you have stored the veneer safely, you want to call and schedule an appointment with a dentist (such as one from New Image Cosmetic & Family Dentistry) right away. Before the veneer is placed onto your tooth, it is likely that your tooth was shaved down to make sure the veneer fit properly. Your tooth may feel and look weird without the veneer on it. You can avoid any embarrassment by going ahead and seeing the dentist to have it put back on. If your dentist has to recreate another one, you will likely have to wait for this to be done. In the meantime, you can use wax to cover the tooth in order to avoid temperature sensitivity when eating a drinking. This will help in providing you comfort during the wait.